Bishop Foster was one of the leading bishops of the Methodist Church in his day, and was a very godly man. After an earnest search for thirty years he found what is here related in the hope that it may be a help to some other hearts who sought light as he did.

“I have perused all of the books written on the immortality of the soul, bought them at great prices, studied them with great earnestness. I have spent thirty years at it, hoping someday I might be able to present the argument with more force and make its impression stronger upon the mind and heart of the world.

“But when death came to my home and struck down my darlings, when I went and looked into their graves, I saw nothing but utter darkness. With an anguish I cannot express I went out into the deep woods, and looked up into the great vault above, and beat upon my breast and cried to my Father until my heart was crushed and broken. In speechless silence I lay with my face upon the earth to see if I could not hear Him; but I found that it was dark and silent; not a ray, not a voice.

“I went and sat down by the philosophers, but now I found they gave me nothing but husks. I read their arguments which once had cheered me, but now they broke my heart. There was nothing in them, not even enough for me to found a conjecture upon. I was desolate with an utter desolation. I wrung my hands in an agony I cannot describe.

“Nor did I find relief until I heard a Voice coming through the gloom. Out of the darkness and silence, with heavenly music and sweetness in it, it said: I am Jesus, the resurrection and the life; and thy dead shall live again.

“And with that single idea that I could rest my hope and my faith upon, He has revealed that great doctrine; He has established the truth which ever eluded mankind till He came down out of heaven telling the story of the Fatherhood of God and the immortality of His own spiritual children.”

I know not how that Bethlehem’s Babe Could in the Godhead be: I only know the Manger Child Has brought God’s life to me.

I know not how that Calvary’s Cross A world from sin could free: I only know its matchless love Has brought God’s love to me.

I know not how that Joseph’s tomb Could solve death’s mystery: I only know a living Christ, Our immortality.

MAJOR HARRY W. FARRINGTON

That which is not corruptible.—Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.—He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.—The children of God, being the children of the resurrection.—The uncorruptible God.

If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.—It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.

Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.—Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.—I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men . . . As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.—The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Our Saviour Jesus Christ, . . . hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

I am the resurrection, and the life.

Because I live, ye shall live also.

We are made partakers of Christ.

Partakers of the Holy Ghost.

Partakers of the divine nature.

The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Who liveth for ever and ever.

The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality.

Unto the King eternal, immortal, . . . be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

If the firstfruit be holy the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

The Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The firstborn from the dead.—If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.—I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.—He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.—For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.—God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.