The Immortality of the Soul
Laborious tractate on the immortality of the soul and the final condition of the wicked. Written by Robert W. Landis in 1859.
“An incident occurred some years ago, at the launching of a ship in Philadelphia, which may serve, in some respects, as an illustration of the point. As the vessel was one of the noblest that had ever been built in our country, an immense concourse of people assembled to see the launch. They thronged the wharves and surrounding buildings till every spot which could afford a view was occupied, while even the river for a great distance was covered with boats filled with men, women, and children, to enjoy the scene. By and by the appointed moment approaches, and every eye is turned toward the magnificent structure on the stocks, and the multitude, with breathless expectation, await the signal which is to dismiss her into her element. And now the loud booming of cannon gives the signal, and the cry, “She is coming!” bursts from the surrounding multitude. Just at that instant a man at the outer extremity of the long wharf misses his foothold and falls into the water. But the attention of the multitude is so intensely occupied by the grand pageant before them, that no one seems to notice the sufferer. He struggles and shrieks for help, and is within reach of hundreds, both in boats and upon the shore, but no one seems to hear him, and there he struggles, and sinks, and perishes, surrounded by those who could have rescued him, but whose minds are too intently occupied to witness his distress or hear his cries. Such is the all-absorbing power of a strong emotion; and when the redeemed are assembled before the throne in heaven, and behold before them the object of their most intense love and sympathy, and whom on earth they loved infinitely more than life itself, can any one suppose that they will be willing also to share their sympathies with those who have renounced his authority, despised his proffered love, “trampled under foot his blood,” and derided his agonies, and thus intimate that they think he has treated these his enemies too severely? It may comfort the impenitently wicked and ungodly in this world to be assured that here they shall, at all events, secure this tender compassion and regard; but let them remember, Eternal Truth declares that, if after the present probationary state they are found among the enemies of God, they will meet with no sympathy from any inhabitant of heaven.”