III. “Anonymous”—Consciousness Utterly Ceases in Death

Apart from writings whose authorship is known by name, some anonymous works of merit appeared from time to time. One was issued from London in 1729, with the title, The Mortality of the Soul of Man, and its Sameness with the Body, asserted and prov’d from the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. Shewing, that, upon the death of the Body, all Sensation and Consciousness utterly cease, till the Resurrection of the Dead. ^{1313) Abbot, The Literature of the Doctrine of a Future Life, no. 2147.} It was an able treatise, differing from others in that its argument is confined to Scripture evidence alone. First, general objections against Conditionalism are answered. Then some twenty “arguments” founded on Bible texts are examined.CFF2 228.4

The Preface states that the purpose of the work is to defend the Scripture truth on the nature of the soul and to rescue it “from oblivion and the inventions of Men.” Dealing with the common assertion that “the Soul is a principle in Man, distinct from the body,” the writer challenges the contention. Here is part of his answer, based on Genesis 2:7:CFF2 229.1

1. DEATH IS “UTTER EXTINCTION” OF CONSCIOUSNESS

“Adam, was altogether unactive, until God had breathed into him the breath or spirit of life .... Life only then is the cause of all our operations, under God, who is the fountain of life. And when life ceases, all the properties, powers, passions, attributed to the mind and heart of man, cease together with it. For, according to the Holy Scriptures, death is an utter extinction of all consciousness, reason, wisdom, knowledge, memory, thought, affections, &C. ^{1414) Quoted in Mills, Earlier Life-Truth Exponents, p. 39.}CFF2 229.2

He then cites such supporting texts as Ecclesiastes 9:5 and Psalm 6:5.CFF2 229.3

2. FLAME OF LIFE “REKINDLED” AT RESURRECTION

Continuing his argument, the writer says that in death—CFF2 229.4

“the life, properties and powers of man continue extinct in death (the Holy Scriptures no where teaching the contrary), till the resurrection: when the noble flame of life shall be rekindled in him by the breath of God.” ^{1515) Ibid., p. 40.}CFF2 229.5

Commenting on the thief and Paradise of Luke 23:43, and the common contention that “the soul survives the body in a state of sensibility,” he declares:CFF2 229.6

3. JEWISH PARADISE UNSUPPORTED BY SCRIPTURE

“‘The doctrine of the soul’s surviving the body in a state of sensibility, etc., is confirm’d and explain’d too by comparing it with the current doctrine of the Jews; which was this, That the souls of the righteous were carried, some immediately, into Paradise; but others waited a longer or shorter time, according as their lives had been here.’ What a dream is here!CFF2 229.7

“I call it a dream, because it has no being in Scripture. And yet a very learned person, who, on another occasion, has thrown the utmost contempt and ridicule upon the Jews for their whims and inventions, embraces ‘em for this, and thinks it gives a notable account and confirmation of his own beloved opinions. But such, indeed, is the practice and the levity of men of learning in general, who are teachers of Christianity: For when they cannot fairly ground a favourite opinion on the Scriptures, they support it with a notion of the Heathens, or the Jews; and though they reason against both, they are glad, on such an occasion, of a helping hand from either.” ^{1616) Ibid.}CFF2 230.1

Known or unknown, the witness is similar—and valuable.CFF2 230.2