A HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE SOUL. AMONG ALL RACES AND PEOPLES, ANCIENT AND MODERN, INCLUDING THEOLOGIANS, PHILOSOPHERS, SCIENTISTS, CAREFULLY BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME. BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, By D. M. CANRIGHT, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. Ir is with earnest prayer to God that I send forth this little book, hoping that it may be useful in the cause of truth. Very many candid and pious minds are coming to be satisfied that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul is not taught in the Bible; yet it is quite generally held by Christians. It is, therefore, both interesting and important to know how this doctrine came into the church, who has believed it, and who has not. To answer these questions is the object of these pages. I have studied long, and read extensively, to gather the facts herein presented. I have been brief in my comments and quotations, to avoid making a bulky book. Other labors and lack of opportunities to obtain access to libraries, have not allowed me to be as full and make the points as strong in some places as I would like to have done, and as I know can be done. If the Lord will, I shall do this in a future edition. Much care has been used in these quotations and references, so they may be relied upon. It seemed to me that such a work as this was needed. While much has been written upon the Bible argument concerning the nature of man, very few and meager have been the productions upon the historical argument. Indeed, I have never seen anything written upon several of the points here noticed. I hope, therefore, it may be of some little use to the friends of truth. MONROE, IOWA, 1870. (iii) D. M. CANRIGHT. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE previous edition of this work being exhausted, many inquiries have been made for a new edition. For years the author has been reading and gathering material to perfect what was only begun in the former issue. Perhaps few other subjects require so extensive reading as this, in order to get at all the truth in the case. It must be gleaned, a little here and a little there, from histories, travels, biographies, essays, sermons, and all kinds of literature. The author has been particular to give full and careful references to works quoted, so that the reader can satisfy himself of their correctness, if he desires. The facts plainly show that the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul is purely a heathen dogma. These pages point out its origin, its gradual development, the course by which it came into the Christian church, and the baleful effects which it there produced. They also show that the mortality of the soul, the sleep of the dead, and the destruction of the wicked, were doctrines held by all the apostolic Fathers, and after them by many of the most eminent of the early Fathers. Since that time it brings to light a host of pious men who have rejected the pagan doctrine of man's immortality. May the God of truth grant his blessing upon this work, and may it open many eyes to see that our only hope of a future life is through the Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead. D. M. C. OTSEGO, MICH., JANUARY, 1882. (iv) CONTENTS. CHAPTER ONE. TESTIMONY OF VARIOUS AUTHORS ON THIS POINT, . 22225 CHAPTER TWO. The Most Ancient Faith Taught that Immortality Was only to be Obtained through the 34 |