AN EXPOSITION OF THE SIX FOLLOWING SUBJECTSO FIRST, THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN SECOND, THE ETERNAL DURATION OF THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE. THIRD, THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST, AND THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST. FOURTH, THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNJUST AND ITS DISTINCT NATURE FROM THAT OF THE JUST. FIFTH, A DEVELOPEMENT OF THE HARMONY OF SIXTH, THE RESURRECTION OF THE PROPHET SAMUEL BY THE WITCH OF ENDOR. W. WAKEHAM. DEVONPORT: PRINTED BY ELIAS KEYS, 6, JAMES-STREET. 1847. INTRODUCTION. In presenting these important subjects for the consideration of the public, we have placed the narrative of the Rich Man and Lazarus as the first in the order of our arrangement; and as a prefatory observation we have only to request, that as the rule of Scripture comparison has been the only method observed in their exposition, that the same rule may be observed in judging of their propriety as subjects of truth, and not by testing them by the standard of any human creed whatever. THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. LUKE XVI. 19. THERE was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried: and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and he cried and said, father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame: but Abraham said, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented; and beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would pass from thence. said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them, and he said nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent; and he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Then he Now, as I presume, that much misunderstanding has arisen from a literal application of this narrative, by interpreting its import as referring to the character and circumstances of two private individuals, who had once been the subjects of an animal life, and died a natural death, and were now passed into another state of creature exist |