let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Pet. 3:3, 4.

How dark and godless the leaven of Adventism when compared with such scriptures as these, where immortality is so clearly brought to light in the gospel. How forcibly the language of Peter refutes this modern no-soul animalism. The subject is adornment, outward adorning and inward adorning. The former is condemned, while the latter is advised. "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning;" viz., adorning this body with costly apparel, gold, etc. Do not spend your time trying to adorn and beautify the outward man, the body, for it is corruptible and will soon decay and die; "but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible." Thank God for this plain text. A "hidden man" which is not corruptible dwells inside this corruptible and decaying body. The adorning of our hidden man is not something we put on, but is a state or condition of the soul. "Even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."

So man possesses both a corruptible and incorruptible part. The body, outer man, is corruptible, is mortal. Rom. 6:12. It is the only part of his being that will put on immortality and incorruption at the resurrection. See Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Cor. 15: 42-44,

But the inner or hidden man of the soul is not corruptible. It is of spirit substance. "For there is a spirit in man."

The words "not corruptible" in 1 Pet. 3: 4 are derived from the Greek word aphthartos. This word is found in the following texts: 1 Cor. 9:25, "Incorruptible [aphthartos]" crown; 1 Cor. 15:52, "The dead shall be raised incorruptible [aphthartos"; 1 Pet. 1:4, "Inheritance incorruptible [aphthartos]." It is also found in 1 Tim. 1: 17, where it is rendered. immortal. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal [aphthartos]." Here then we have its true meaning. The King of heaven is aphthartos, immortal. 1 Tim. 1: 17. The dead (corruptible body) shall be raised incorruptible (aphthartos). 1 Cor. 15:52. This is defined to be "this mortal shall put on immortality." Ver. 54. So aphthartos means immortal. And Peter declares that the hidden man of the heart is aphthartos. 1 Pet. 3:4. So this text is properly rendered as follows: "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is immortal." The words "not corruptible" in 1 Pet. 3:4 are rendered "imperishable" in Bible Union and Sawyer's translations.

Imperishable. "Not subject to decay; indestructible.-Webster.

To sum up all the scriptures cited in this chapter, the Bible plainly declares that man is a compound being. He inhabits a mortal body, mortal flesh. But inside this mortal covering lives a soul, which is a spirit being in form, the real inner man. The same

is a conscious entity; and this hidden man is immortal, imperishable, and does not go down in decomposition with the body. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Mat. 10:28. If the body were the soul, men could kill that. If by the soul was simply meant the physical life, or breath, man could take that from us. But the above text clearly teaches that the soul is a substance which is indestructible by material forces. Man can kill the body, but he can not kill the soul. So when the body dies, the soul still lives. Amen.

DEATH.

Death is a solemn event through which we all must pass. There have been but two exceptions in the history of mankind, in the cases of Enoch and Elijah, who were translated. Again Paul shows a mystery as recorded in 1 Cor. 15, that "we shall not all sleep." Those left over unto the arrival of the Lord in his second advent will be exempt from death, and shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. But with these exceptions we all must taste the pangs of death. "It is appointed unto men once to die." Our short life here is but a shadow, a dream. "It is soon cut off, and we fly away.' Amidst the hurry and whirl of this fast age, the rumbling and rattling of commercial, social,

and political life, men are apt to forget this solemn. fact, but still, in kindness, we would remind the reader that in the midst of the busiest scenes of life you are in the midst of death.

This truth is depicted in nature. In the springtime the trees put forth their leaves, and during sweet summer days furnish protection to the singing birds in their leafy bowers. But autumn frosts and winds turn the leaves to golden hue, they fall to earth, and while winter snows cover the earth with a white carpet they moulder back to mother dust. The flowers fade, the grass withers, the sturdy oak decays, the monuments crumble, and, in fact, whereever you look you can see the end of all-death.

O man, you must die! Death is no respecter of persons. It cuts off the young as well as the old. It comes in childhood's happy hours, and plucks the fairest buds. It comes in the bloom of youth, and with its sickle cuts down the noble son and daughter. It summons man in his busy days. While his bark of life is dashing through mad breakers, and stormy billows, while cares of life are pressing around him, it enters his home, and he must obey the summons. It comes to the few who reach hoary age, and tottering forward, they fall into the grave. Yes, we are all bending toward the tomb. Death enters the palace of the rich as well as the cot of the poor. Its silent tread is felt all over earth, where homes are left with vacancies, and hearts are saddened. The hour of death will be the most solemn hour of all

our life.

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But we can not linger here. As we pass down through death's valley, eternity's scenes loom before us. The curtain is now lifted, and we take a look into the unseen world. As I grasp my pen, solemn thoughts flash through my mind. Thank God for the unerring guide of truth, a lamp to our feet, a light to our pathway. But what is death?

DEATH A SEPARATION.

"And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing (for she died), that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin." Gen. 35:18. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." Luke 12:20. How plain the declarations from Heaven's truth. Death is simply the separation of soul and body. The soul departs when the body dies.

But let us glance briefly at this last text again. This man had spent all his time and talents in accumulating wealth. Probably without one thought of God or eternity intruding upon his visions of anticipated bliss, he plodded onward towards the goal of wealth. Finally he reached the summit of his worldly ambitions. He had all of earthly goods that heart could wish. He thought to himself, I have labored hard all through life to accumulate this, now I will take my ease; I have "much goods laid