The doctrine of the Church of England with respect to the locality and condition of the soul between death and the general judg- ment-Literal meaning of the words "Sheol," "Hades," and "Hell"-The uniform signification of these words in the He- brew and Greek Scriptures-The inconsistency of the translators of our Authorized Version in using for "Sheol" and "Hales" expressions totally different in meaning-The error accounted for-A knowledge of Hebrew and Greek as well as Latin essen- tial to a right understanding of the Sacred Scriptures-The words in the Greek Testament for "Hades," "Grave," and "Hell," explained-A list of the leading names by which Hades The part of the universe in which Hades is situated-God's word alone decisive on the subject-Human objections in such mat- ters of no weight-God's ways not man's ways-Bishop Pear- son's opinion of "Sheol" and "Hades" considered-"Sheol" and "Hades" never used in the Bible for the grave or re- ceptacle of the human body-Hades always represented in Scripture as being underneath the earth-Why those who go to Hades are said to descend-Genesis xxxvii. 33, 35, fully ex- plained-Explanation of Genesis xv. 15-The distinction be- tween death, going to Hades, and burial clearly pointed out The number of compartments into which Hades is divided-Laza- rus in the upper and Dives in the lower Hades-The national belief of the Jews at the time of our Lord's first advent-The Jewish creed in reference to Hades confirmed by the Saviour- The respective conditions of the rich man and Lazarus both in this world and the next-No passing from the lower to the upper Hades-The nature of Abraham's answer-Lower Hades proved to be a place of punishment by numerous texts of Scrip- ture-Explanation of Psalm vi. 5 The difference between Hades and Gehenna-Hades, or the Intermediate State, not the abode of that complete happiness and misery that will be CHAPTER XXVIII. The first and second death-The first and second resurrection-The PAGE 212 UNIVERSITY CAT INTRODUCTION. Ir may, perhaps, be expected that I should assign some reasons for giving to the world the following Treatise on the Doctrine of Hades, or the Intermediate State of Souls between Death and the final Day of Retribution, when all men shall render an account of their conduct to the Supreme Judge. In the first place, then, it may not be improper to inform the reader that I was induced to write upon the subject in question, partly in deference to the request of numerous friends who had heard a course of my Sermons on the Doctrine of Hades, and to whom the theme was quite new; and partly because I felt convinced by the prevailing ignorance of people generally, that it had been much neglected, and that even the great body of Christians, who are well acquainted with the doctrines of our Holy Religion in other respects, cannot be said to possess all the information they ought on this particular branch; but what determined me more than any other consideration was a consciousness of the importance of the subject itself, and the desirability of making others acquainted with the same; for there is no denying the fact that, unless we have a correct knowledge of this theological point, it is simply impossible for us to penetrate into the depth of Scripture, and to discover the beauty and harmony that everywhere pervade the word of the Living God. On the contrary, many important passages will remain unintelligible and enigmatical; and when we make inquiries as to their import, we may expect the answer which we have so often received, namely, That there are many things in the Bible not to be understood; that we must exercise our faith, and all the apparent difficulties and perplexities will be explained in the next world. Who is not familiar with language of this description? To speak of Christ as the Substitute for man is perfectly true; but to make that substitution consist, simply and absolutely, in His death upon Calvary, because He said, "It is finished," must ever indicate a most imperfect and superficial acquaintance with the deeper meanings of the Bible; nor can the doctrine of "Substitution," in any proper sense of the word, be made to harmonize with such views. A few moments' reflection ought to convince those who thus regard and represent the great work of the Atonement, that they are building their house upon a sandy foundation which is utterly indefensible, deceiving themselves and others, and practically contradicting the express testimony of the Almighty Himself. So little, indeed, was actually known in that part of the United Kingdom in which it pleased Providence to place me respecting this great doctrine, that on my preaching a sermon relative thereto, in a somewhat prominent church, considerable excitement was, in consequence, caused, and much discussion and controversy ensued. Some of the members of the congregation, in whose presence the discourse was delivered, showed manifestations of bewilderment, and even went so far as to say they considered such doctrines repugnant to the word of God. Let it be further noted that this sermon, of which I am now speaking, was addressed to members of the Church of England; and if we find among that large, respectable, and influential body of Christians such an entire absence of all knowledge of the Scriptural doctrine of Hades, what amount of information can possibly be expected from many of the other religious denominations who do not, I think, profess, as a body, to believe in the detention of departed spirits within the confines of any region, distinct and separate from Heaven or Hell, during the interval elapsing between the time of death and the day of Judgment? A few days after the delivery of the |