“The Argument, a priori, for the Being and the Attributes of the Lord God, the Absolute One, and First Cause,” by W. H. Gillespie. Sixth or Theist's Edition. Edinburgh 1906.
This is a re-issue of what first appeared in a less extended form in the year 1833, and a lengthy survey of the work was given in the Presbyterian Review of that year by Professor P. C: Macdougal of the Edinburgh New College, afterward reprinted with other contributions by the same writer in a demy 8vo volume of some 304 pages under the title of “Papers on Literary and Philosophical Subjects &c.” Edinburgh 1852.
To those who are interested in the discussion of the a priori and a posteriori arguments on this subject, the above Review may not be without its use so far as it goes, but for our part we are bound to confess the insufficiency of all these reasonings which can never go beyond a must be, and fail to reveal to us the Being after whom the mind of man, however cultivated, does but vainly grope and confess as “God unknown,” apart from a divine revelation.
Creation declares “His eternal power and divinity” (θειότης); the law, that He is Jehovah, the God of a people brought out of Egypt to be in manifest relationship and responsibility to Him above all other peoples. But it is the Son, the only Begotten, who reveals the one true God, and Himself the Sent One of the Father, the true God and eternal life. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is” (not, must be). Man needs a divine revelation, and this God has given in His word—but more, He has revealed Himself in a Man walking this earth in perfect dependence on and pleasing His Father in all things—the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
It is no longer man left to his inferences or conclusions that there must be a divine Being (he knows not who), but that there is; and what a Being—One made known in the Lord Jesus Christ, and since redemption declared as “light,” and “love.” Do you, my reader, know Him thus?
We regret to have to call attention to the falsity of the argument of this book, in that it seeks to land us in annihilationism of those who die in their sins. Now, we do know froth. the Savior Himself, who says, “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen” (John 3:1111Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (John 3:11)), that there is a gehenna where “their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)). This is not annihilation, but the reverse, and to those; “that tremble at His word,” this testimony is conclusive.
Yet have we the veil drawn aside when time has ceased to be, and eternity now runs its solitary and never ending course (Rev. 21:1-81And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1‑8)). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” For man, there is no extinction of either spirit, soul, or body. The first death, if we may so term it in distinction from the “second death,” is the separation of spirit and soul from their bodily tenement, the latter finding its receptacle here, whether in earth or sea, whilst the former depart, if of believers, to be with Christ in paradise, as was the dying but believing robber (Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)); whilst the spirit and soul of the unbeliever await in hades the place of their torment meanwhile (Luke 16:2323And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23), 1 Peter 3:1919By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (1 Peter 3:19)) the “resurrection of judgment” (John 5:2929And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)). Then the sinner no longer in his disembodied condition, but again in his composite state (of spirit, soul and body), is cast into the lake of fire, where he has his everlasting association (and punishment) with the devil and his angels for whom (not, for man) this everlasting fire was prepared (Matt. 25:4-114But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (Matthew 25:4‑11). Oh, why evade the plain testimony of scripture, and of Him who “came to seek and to save the lost,” that we might be with Him forever, and praise Him and the Father for the “great” and “eternal salvation” now “proclaimed to the whole creation which is under heaven” (Col. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23))? “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.”