 W7203 THE LIFE AFTER DEATH--Mary Baker McQuesten's Speech (sermon). Jan 1 1904 To: From: Mary Baker McQuesten Hamilton, Ontario THE LIFE AFTER DEATH--[Four questions] I.Is there Life After death? II.Where do the Departed Go? III.The State of the Impenitent After death IV.The Abode and State of the Faithful I.Is There Life After Death? Matt. 22: [?]: I am the God of Abraham & Isaac. God is not the God of the dead but of the living. There are many arguments and [explanations?] to be brought forward to prove that there is a life after death. (a)The best of mankind of all ages have had a consciousness of the survival of the soul after death. There has ever been an innate conviction on the part (turn over page) of mankind that only a part of us is to die so the European [??] [??] [??] refused it, "[??]" [I?] shall not all die [??] Socrates believed in an after life. Plato, his disciple, incorporated the idea in his philosophy. (b)The religions of the Ancient world embody the same idea in their teaching. The Egyptians in their "Book of the Dead." Buddha in his Nirvana Confucius with the worship of ancestors. Mohamed in a Sensous Paradise (c)The faculty of memory has been adduced as a part of the argument for the existence & survival of the soul. Our bodies change all the time, yet we can remember what happened 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Since then the elements of our ideas have changed again & again. What has survived? The soul [??would have??] Such arguments & turn to the Word of God for our positive proof as to the reality of a life after death. PAGE 2 I. The Testimony of the O.T. [Old Testament] to the Life after Death. The O.T. saints were God’s earthly people & hence they knew comparatively little of the future life 2 Tim. 1:10. (a) The phrase "gathered each his people" implied existence after death. Abraham, Gen. 49:33, Matt 22:32, [?] Num 20:21-26, Moses Deut. 32:50, Matt 17:3 (b) The translations of Isaiah & Elijah. Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5; 2Kings 2:11. (c)The Raising of Samuel the Prophet 1Sam 28:ff (1Sam 25:1). (d)The positive statements in Job 19:25,26. (?) "Though this body be destroyed yet out of my flesh shall I see God." (e)David, 2Sam 12:23 "I shall go to him but he shall return to me." Isa 57:1-2, Eccles 12:7. PAGE 3 II.The Testimony of the New Testament. (a) The transfiguration [?] testimony of the life after death. Moses & Elias appeared on the Mount & talked with Christ Luke 9:30,31. (b)We have many direct testimonies to the fact 2Cor. 5:6 & Luke 23: 43, Acts 7:57. DEDUCTIONS (a)death does not end all. There is no animation no soul, sleep. (b)This life is only the entrance to a greater life beyond. (c)The life hereafter will depend upon what we do here and now. (d)Be busy now. Work ceases at death. Eccles. 9:5,6,10. PAGE 4 II.Where do the Departed Go? Eph IV: 8. "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive." [Four lines illegible]. To which all tend as, either into restful [?] [?] confidence or Saints [?] [?] uncertainty [?] [?]. For instance the sighing subjects. Such questions as: Do Souls go directly to heaven or hell at death? is there an intermediate place? And if so then—All souls share in a transition state? Can they be helped by our prayers? Is there, in other words such a place as Purgatory or Limbos? Do these & similar questions, "a multitude of answers have been given & read for the most part upon the oldest speculations of men and according to [PAGE 4 cont'd] the Old Schoolmen there were as abodes for the departed beside heaven and hell at keast three other places, A Limbos [Ruromen?] where the souls [?] for unbaptized [?] and a Limbus Patnum know the fathers of the Church, Saints & Martyrs await the [?] [?] Resurrection & Purgatory. Dante divides his Paradise into (1) the Terrestrial Paradise, which is situated at the summit of Purgatory. (2) the Celestial consisting of 9 spheres, & (3) the Empyrean above all consisting of 3 different circles on which the Beatific Vision was to be seen--But we turn from all these [?] and times to ask what saith the Scriptures. For only as God has revealed it may we know anything of the other world. PAGE 5 Where do the departed go? Let me [?] the statement in order to clear the way for the answer to this question. A great change took place at Christ's Ascention both as to the abode & state of the faithful departed. This is referred to in [?] [?] is a vast difference between the abode of the faithful departed under the O.T. and uner the N.T., and it is largely confusing the teaching of the O. & N. T's that men have been led into sin. Let us examine these teachings separately. (I) Under the O.T. we find that the departed always & invariably went down. Where had they gone? Matt 22: 40; Eph. IV: 9, tell us "The depths of the earth" [?] "He descended into Hell." Good & Bad alike went there 1Samuel 1: 14, 15, 19; Num 15:33, but not to same condition Luke 16: 23. The compartment alloted to the faithful (turn over) [Page 5 continued] was called Paradise, Luke: 23: 43, then allotted to the unsaved was called Tartarus 2Peter 2:4. R.V. (II) Under the N.T. we find that all is changed & the faithful departed instead of going down, now always & invariably go up. The place of Paradise has been transferred from earth to heaven, 2Cor 12:2-4; Phil 1:23; Acts 7: 55, 59, 60; 2Cor. 5:6-9. This change took place at the Ascension, Eph 4:5. (III) Why did the O.T. Saints go down not to Heavan? Because the answer had not as yet been made for their sins & though passed over they were not taken away til Jesus died and roise again Rom 3:24,25; Heb 9:15-17. When Christ descended into Hell, He proclaimed the glad tidings to His finished word to the Saints confined there & [?] [?] He led them in triumph to Heaven 1Pet 3:18-19;4:6; Zech 9:11-12; Ps 79:10 [?]. PAGE 6--DEDUCTIONS There is no intermediate place now for the faithful. After leaving the body they go at once to Heaven. This is the teaching of the N.T. Scriptures & the Church of Old "Homily" on [prayer?] also statement in Visitation & Burial Sevices. If not saved in this life, there is no hope beyond to have. Prayer cannot affect the lost dead. PAGE 7 (III) The State of the Impenitent after death. Luke 16:22-24 The rich man also dies. [large paragraph illegible] I.The present condition of the [?] II.Taking the cue of the rich man, that is understandably a real one or an illustration, we find that (a) They dwell in Hades in darkness, & gloom. Compare 2Pet 2:49 with Jude 6 & 15 (R.V.). These truths show (turn over) [PAGE 7 Cont'd] the souls in Tartarus (here) are in a "pit" (not "chains") of darkness & are there "reserved" with final judgment. They are in unspeakable misery & despair. This arises from (1) the pangs of conscience. The rich man remembers his "five brethren" whom he had never influenced for good. He grieves when too late over lost opportunities. (2) Insatiable desire, the point of suffering was his tongue-palate and had temptations [?] [?] day on earth. He had lived to satisfy his appetite, now it was insatiate & insatiable. Sins form habits, habits character, character, eternity. The "great gulf" is fired and impassable; John 3:36 :"The Wrath" of God abideth upon them" PAGE 8 [but not marked as such] II The Final Doom of the Ungodly Dead. They will be resurrected for judgement. Rev. 20: 11-13. They will be judged according to their works done in their bodies, Mark 9 40-48; Matt 10: 2; [?]. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire & Brimstone prepared for the Devil & his angels. This is Gehenna or the hell of the finally lost. Matt 25:41; 13: 40-42; Rev. 20: 13-15. Is there an eternal fire? 2 Pet. 3:7 says tht this earth is "stored with fire" (RV), unto the judgement of perdition for [?] men. Matt 9:43 The wrath in Sodom & Gomorrah is God's [?] and beacon in regard to us Jude 7 (RV); 2 Pet 2:6; Gen 19:24. Is it possible to have "Everlasting Life" without the consumption of the object it feeds upon. The "Burning Bush" proves that it is, Exod. 3:2 (Heb. 12:29). Here was real fire that burnt but did not consume, John 5:36. PAGE 9 [but not marked as such] IV The Abode and State of the Faithful II Cor 5:1. We know that if our rented house of this [?] [?] Observe the [first paragraph almost illegible] of the believer. "Those that now [?] liveth." We turn that idea [?] we shall be [illegible] & persuaded [?] His role to keep that [?] unto Him. "We know that if the [?]. Can we speak with the same confidence? Not, I hope, think, trust but "I Know." If Paul spoke for himself & the Corinthian Christians "We know" Why cannot Xtrians speak like this today? Because so few study the Scriptures to see what God has "prepared for them that love Him." 1 Cor 9-11. (turn over) [PAGE 9 Cont'd but not marked as such] I [see IV at beginning] Where and What is the abode of the Faithful Departed? Where do they go at death? To Heaven 2 Cor 5:6-9; Phil 1: 23; Acts 7: 55,59. (a)They occupy the place Christ went to prepare John 14:3, "I go to prepare." (b) The prepared place is the Father's House--the children's home John 14:2; 2 Cor 5:1,8. (c) This prepared place is the Heavenly Jerusalem Heb 11:10, 16; 12: 22-23; Rev 21: 2,10. (Rev 14:1-3 Mt. Zion). (d) This prepared place is Paradise Rev 2:7 with 22:2; 2 Cor 12:24. PAGE 10 II What is the condition of the Faithful Departed? (a) They rest from their labours. Rev 14:13. (Dan 12:13 Job 3:17) Rev 6:11. (b) They enjoy the Beatific Vision of Christ. Phil 1: 23; Rev 7:9; Ps 21: 4-6; Acts 7:55,56. (c) They are in Conscious Bliss. Rev 7: 145-17; Ps 16:11; 2 Cor 12: 4; Rom 8:18. (d) They are eternally saved. 2 Cor 4: 17-18 & 5: 1. III How may this Blessed abode and Condition be obtained? (a) By looking for it by faith Heb 11:10 [?} 2 Cor 4: 17-18. (b) By being washed in the Blood of the Lord. Rev 7:13-14; 22:14 (RV). Turn over (PAGE 10 Cont'd but not marked as such) Jerusalem on High. To see they face? "[?]God, with whom Do live the spirits of them That [?] [?] in the Lord & with whom the faithful Dwell in thy joy and felicity." Burial Service 1 1904. This has been transcribed from Mary Baker McQuesten's notebook jottings for sermons--some illegible--but they give some indication of Mary's religious convictions and her Presbyterianism.
For examples of Mary Baker McQuesten's Presbyterian Missionary Society and Public Addresses, see W7172, W7181, W7193, W7203, W8422, W8432, W8447, W W0127a. Several others are illegible: W7219 (Shintoism), W7188, W7191, W8449 to W8465.
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