The contrast: evangelicalism and spiritualism compared

Front matter

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Preface

When, in the preface to another volume about four years since, I promised this, I had no thought of keeping my friends in waiting so long. But this is a busy life, and especially a busy age ; and other duties have pressed so continually, that, until now, I have not been able to answer this demand of my friends. Had it not been for acts of injustice on the part of "false brethren," I could not even now have found the time to have prepared this volume. One unrighteous act, that stripped me of the most of my earthly possessions, gave me time to write these pages.

Though the press gave me a severe castigation for once before stating that my thoughts were hastily thrown together, I must repeat the offence ; the same is true of this volume. I have written this book in little snatches, on the cars and in boarding-houses, never having lost the opportunity for a single lecture, or an hour's work in consequence of it.

4 PREFACE.

Newspaper scribblers need not tell me this is imperfect. I know it. Had I kept it from a hungry public until I could have found time to have revised and perfected it, I would have done them more injustice than I have in handing them this hastily prepared repast.

This book, too, has shaped itself; my plans have not been followed ; matter I had prepared for it remains unpublished, while some that is here I had not intended should see the light for some time to come.

I have used the term Evangelicalism instead of Orthodoxy, when, individually, I should have preferred the latter. My reason is, the term Orthodoxy signifies one thing in the East, and another in the West ; so that I could not make it so well serve my purpose.

Hoping this book may receive the favorable reception that has been accorded to my former works, I hand it out to a generous public,

Subscribing myself, as ever,

A Friend of Humanity,

Moses Hull.

Boston, January 1, 1873.

Chapter I. What Is Spiritualism ?

PAGE Author describes his own Spiritualism. — Division of the Subject. — Religion of Spiritualism. — Objections to the term Religion. — Ground of Objection. — First Ideas, God a Spirit.— Second, Man a Spiritual Being.— Is Man infinite. — " Communion of Saints." — Revelation not infallible.

— Some Parts of the Bible more important than others. — " Cause and Cure of Infidelity." — Burgon on the Bible. — What Spiritualism denies.

— Total Depravity. — Who believes it. — Chicago Fire and its Lesson. — Atonement weighed in the Balance. — Man in the Garden. — Clark on Genesis ii. 16. — Benson on Same. — Buck and the Confession of Faith on the Penalty. — " Spiritual Death " defined. — Badly mixed. — Adam and Eve in Court. — A foolish Judge. — Adam's Dialogue with Men and Devils. — An unjust Judge. — The Principle applied to our Courts. — Conditions of vicarious Atonement. — Did Jesus die a spiritual Death ? — How can Man be vicariously redeemed from Hell? — Formal Worship and our Duty.— Shall we ask the Blessing ? — The Time for Worship and Sabbaths.

— Vocal Prayer. — Jesus on public Prayer. — The Brotherhood of Man and its Corollaries. — Our Duty to the Family. — Endless Progression. — Man the Author of his own Heavens and Hells. — No Infallibility even among the Good. — Spiritual Philosophy and Philosophy of Spiritualism.

— Source of Power. — Philosophy of Enhancement. — The inward Monitor. — No perfect Standard. — Science of making People good. — Rules of Life developed out of Conditions. — The Treatment of Sin. — Should Consumptives and Cripples be hung. — History of Spiritualism everywhere.

— A. J. Davis's Prophecy. — Rapid Advancement of the Cause.— Foretold Evils have not followed. — The present Work. — Concluding Suggestions 11

6 CONTENTS.

Chapter II. Comparative Evidence Of The Bible And Spiritualism

No necessary Antagonism. — Christian Arguments used for Spiritualism.

— Nicodemus's Argument. — The Works of Jesus and Mediums compared. — Did Jesus raise the Dead ? — Modern Resurrections. — Testimony of Daily Papers. — A man resuscitated after having been buried ten Months. — Mrs. Lancaster resurrected. — Resurrection of Rev. William Tennent. — Jesus did not always succeed. — The healing at Bethesda only one of a thousand. — Why did he not heal others? — The Pentecostal Evidences considered. — Same in Spiritualism. — • Suicidal Argument against Spiritualism. — Silly Spiritualism and the Bible compared.

— Jesus eating Fish and Spirits eating Apples. — " Devils and Darkness " of Bible Times. — Biblical Evidence not conclusive. — Second-hand Evidence. — Ignorance of the People. — The Difference now. — Reporters on the Ground, Witnesses in Court, etc., etc. — Bible Evidences through bad Hands. — Testimony of Lardner, Casaubon, Selmer, et al, — Lying for the glory of God. — Testimony of eminent Christians. — Internal Evidences. — Abraham chasing his Enemies four hundred Years into the Future. — An old Boy. — That flock of Quails. — Samson jawing the Philistines. — Those fiery-tailed Foxes. — Can the Bible stand before its own Guns. — Did Samuel, Moses, and Elijah come back? — Bible can not be true and Spiritualism false. — Living Witnesses. — The Walls of Jericho.

— A Dialogue 38

Chapter III. Teachings Of The Bible And Spiritualism

The Boast of Christians. — Age of the Bible no Argument in its favor. — A few knotty Questions. — Author does not dispute the Designs of Christianity. — Testimonies of Christians on the failure of Christianity. — Christians accuse each other. — Paul in a Dilemma. — His Plan of Escape.

— Confessions of modern Christians. — Jesus' Parables leading in the wrong Direction. — The prodigal Son. — The unjust Steward. — Jesus commends the Scoundrel. — The unjust Judge. — Reasons for Prayer. — The Laborers in the Vineyard. — Does God play the same Game. — Bad Precepts. — Borrowing of the Egyptians. — Children of Israel not Slaves in Egypt. — What to do with bad Meat. — Punishment for religious Differences. —Treatment of bad Boys.— The Bible on Slavery. —On the treatment of Slaves. —The war upon the Midianites. — Biblical Temperance. — Sketches from Jesus' Sermon. — Jesus a disturber of domestic Relations. — A cool Reception. — Immoral Doctrines. — Works of no avail. — Character of the biblical God — The Difference. — The modus operandi of Salvation. — Proper Generation vs. Regeneration. — Recipe for making Hogs of Children. — How to cure Depravity. — Rest when Nature rests; work when she works. — North and South ends of People.

— Ten syllogistic Arguments. — Conclusion. 54

CONTEXTS. 7

Chapter IV. The Mission Of Spiritualism!

Spiritualism necessarily iconoclastic — A superior Light. — Jesus vs. Moses.— The World's Light and Saviours.— Relation of Spiritualism to Christianity. — The Decay of Institutions. — Babylon, Greece, Rome. — Republicanism as it was and is.— All stationary Institutions doomed. — The Good of all preserved. — A moving World. — A Glance at the Christian World. — " What went ye out for to see." — A lethargic State. — The Infidel World. — A Feast of Negatives. — Dominion of Orthodoxy. — Programme changed. — Ministers on their good Behavior. — A Thoughtawakener. — The Hydesville Manifestations. — The Fox Popidi. — Table Tippings. — New Theories of Explanation. — Writing Mediumship. — A new Set of Thoughts awakened. — Entrancement. — Sublimity of the Subject. — Efforts to confound the Media. — Opposers confounded. — A Change of Base. — Anew Element of Success. — A Hearing obtained. — Number of its Adherents.— Elements of Success. — Not a Matter of Faith. — Quality of Spiritualists. — Their Happiness. — Questions for Skeptics. — Death and the Grave destroyed. — An outside Work. — A few Words with Spiritualists. — A Bid for your Spiritualism. —Our Duty 101

Chapter V. The Cui Boso Of Spiritualism

A proper Inquiry. — Its Work slow. — Jesus' Argument. — " By their Fruits shall ye know them." — Author's Experience. — A Struggle with Poverty. — Letter from Dr. Newton. — Reflections on the Same.— Author takes Courage. — Dr. Newton's Three Months' Work. — Suicide of a Girl.

— Her dead Mother kept her from Sin. — Worldly Good of Spiritualism.

— Serfs liberated. — Lizzie Keizer and the Apple Peddler. — Experience as a Healer. —Cure of a withered Hand. — A Lady saved. — That Bread Fund. — A Medium saved from a Railroad Accident. — A Train of Cars saved by Spirit Interposition. — Peter West saves a Train of Cars. — A Collision avoided. — A Conflagration saved by Spirits. — Pair of Shoes sent to a Beggar. — Inventions by Spirits. — Moral Good of Spiritualism. — A Methodist Lady in Trouble. — A Dialogue. — Petty Tyranny. — A Drunkard saved. — A Case in Wisconsin. — Case in Chicago. — Spirits curing Appetite for Tobacco. — A Medium compelled to restore his illgotten Money. — Other Stimulants to Purity. — " Be sure your Sins will find you out." — Mental good of Spiritualism. — Lady saved from Insanity by her Spirit Son. — Asylums cheated out of Subjects. — Case in Iowa. — Only a few Grains. — Spiritualism in a dying Hour, 122

8 CONTENTS.

Chapter VI. Minor Questions

Asking and answering Questions, the difference. — Can not answer every Question. — Spiritualism necessarily crude at first. — May be modified. — How do Spirits operate? — Their Power over the Will. — Does Mediumship indicate a weak Mind. — The controlling Spirit not necessarily with the Medium. — Author's Experiments. — Spirits control more than One at a time. — Sometimes control without knowing it. — A. J. Davis and Professor Vaughan. — " Arabula" and *« Human Nature." — E. D. Keene gives a Communication from a Man yet on Earth. — Why do Spirits lie ? — Fault often in the Medium. — Psychological Experiments. — Cause of Failure. — Reason why some get better Tests than others. — Why do not all Mediums give Tests. — Tests not always from personal Friends. — Psychology and Spiritualism. — All are Mediums. — David and his Mediums. — Philosophy of Dark Circles. — Biblical Manifestations in the Dark. — The Explanation. — Morality of Spiritualism. — Mediumship a Quickener. — Spiritualism and Sunshine. — Webster, Clay, et al. t whittled down. — The Explanation. — How to receive Spiritualism. — Why so many Indian Spirits. — The Indian Element positive. — Belongs in this Country. — Better Magnetizers. — More easily imitated Humbugs and the Self-deceived. — Experience of the Author. — Where are the Ancients. — Reasons why they do not return. — What Good can Spiritualism do ? — For what should we go to Spirits. — Demonstrates a Future. —What will Science do ? — Spiritual Sense. — Immortality Triumphant. . 151

Chapter VII. Acts Of The Apostles And Spiritualism

An interesting Book. — Then and now, the Analogy. — A solemn Warning.

— Skepticism of the Disciples. — " Infallible Proof." — Better Manifestations To-day. — The waiting Time. — The Promise. — What is the Comforter ? — Jesus' coming. — The Holy Ghost. — The two Men. — Synopsis of Acts II. — The Cripple healed. — How it was done. — Peter in Court. — Admissions of his Adversaries. —House and Furniture shaken.

— Ananias and Sapphira. — Shadow Cures. — The Same now. — Case in St. Louis. — Apostles imprisoned. — Liberated by Spirits. — Report of the Committee. — A modern Case. — A " Mysterious Man." — Stephen's Sermon. — Stephen a Clairvoyant. — Assassination of Stephen. — Peter as a developing Medium. — Simon does not understand the Matter. — Philip a Medium. — Angels talk to him. — A Spirit carries him away. — Author carried by Spirits. — Another Case. — A new Star 174

CONTENTS. y

Chapter VIII. More Of The Same

Saul of Tarsus. — A good Manifestation. — The Points stated. — Ananias a Medium. — Did Paul see Jesus? — Another Case of Healing. — Reanimaation of Dorcas. — Cornelius's Vision. — A Test. — Peter's Entrancement.

— Another Test. — Angel, Spirit, Man. — Peter's preaching. — Spirits eating and drinking. — A second Edition of Pentecost. — Peter's Defence before his Jewish Brethren. — Agabus prophesies under Spirit Power. — Peter released by Spirits. — Particulars of the Case. — Peter at the Gate, his Angel. — Is this true? — Elymas's psychological Blindness. — Paul on the Appearance of Jesus. — Paul heals a Cripple. — Narrative of Paul and Barnabas. — Who is the Man of Macedonia ? — Who is the Lord ? — Paul and the female Medium. — Who was the Spirit cast out? — Paul and Silas let out of Jail. — Prison shaken and Bands fall off in the Dark.

— Iron Rings removed. — Strange Gods. — Apotheosized Men. — Heathen Gods once Men. — Developing Circle at Ephesus. — " Handkerchiefs and Aprons." — A Minister denying his Bible. — The Spirits and the Sons ofSceva. — An Accident. — Paul prophesies. — Another Medium prophesies. — Paul relates his spiritual Experience. — Paul in a Trance. — Takes Sides with the Pharisees. — Communication to the Sailors. — A Ship saved by Spirits. — Among Barbarians. — A Snake Bite. — Success

as a Healer.— A few Questions. — A word of Warning 190

Chapter IX. What Is Evangelicalism

A general Departure from Evangelicalism. — Bible on Infant Damnation. — The Gods of Orthodoxy. — Eternally begotten Son, meaning of. — Eternal Decrees. — Prayer and the Decrees. — Predestination and Reprobation. — Consequences of the Doctrine. — Presbyterian Justice. — The World made of Nothing in six Days. — The Fall of Man. — The Devil in the Snake. — All for God's Glory. — Adam totally depraved. — The Result. — Very God and very Man. — God his own Son and Father. — A naughty Ghost. — Mary God's Mother. — A Pyramid of Absurdities. — Justice satisfied. — No Power to will. — Who are the Called? — Elect Infants. — Doom of Non-professors. — Saved by Christ's Righteousness alone. — Is a second Payment demanded. — Catechisms on Punishment. — Sinfulness of Goodness. — Perseverance of the Saints. — Spiritualism, twenty of its Points of Superiority. — Conclusion 216

THE CONTRAST.

Chapter I. What Is Spiritualism ?

Author deseribes his own Spiritualism. — Division of the Subject. — Religion of Spiritualism. — Objections to the term Religion. — Ground of Objection. — First Ideas, God a Spirit. — Second, Man a Spiritual Being. — Is Man infinite.

— " Communion of Saints." — Revelation not infallible. — Some Parts of the Bible more important than others. — " Cause and Cure of Infidelity." — Burgon on the Bible. — What Spiritualism denies. — Total Depravity. — Who believes it. — Chicago Fire and its Lesson. — Atonement weighed in the Balance.

— Man in the Garden. — Clark on Genesis ii. 16. — Benson on Same. — Buck and the Confession of Faith on the Penalty. — " Spiritual Death " defined. — Badly mixed. — Adam and Eve in Court. — A foolish Judge. — Adam's Dialogue with Men and Devils. — An unjust Judge. — The Principle applied to our Courts. — Conditions of vicarious Atonement. — Did Jesus die a spiritual Death? — How can Man be vicariously redeemed from Hell? — Formal Worship and our Duty. — Shall we ask the Blessing ? — The Time for Worship and Sabbaths. — Vocal Prayer. — Jesus on public Prayer. — The Brotherhood of Man and its Corollaries. — Our Duty to the Family. — Endless Progression. — Man the Author of his own Heavens and Hells. — No Infallibility even among the Good.— Spiritual Philosophy and Philosophy of Spiritualism. — Source of Power. — Philosophy of Entrancement. — The inward Monitor. — No perfect Standard. — Science of making People good. — Rules of Life developed out of Conditions. — The Treatment of Sin. — Should Consumptives and Cripples be hung. — History of Spiritualism everywhere. —A. J. Davis's Prophecy. — Rapid Advancement of the Cause. — Foretold Evils have not followed. — The present Work. — Concluding Suggestions.

It can not be expected that the question at the head of this chapter can be fully answered in one chapter, or even in an ordinary sized volume ; yet a synopsis of Spiritualism can be so stated in a single chapter that the reader can get an idea of its general features. Its panorama can be so unrolled that the observer can get enough of a view to decide whether it is worth the time it would take to go into a more thorough analysis of its minutice.

I do not propose in this volume to be unnecessarily responsible for the general belief or practice of the great family of Spiritualists, nor are they responsible for anything I shall say or do. I can only, in my writings and actions, represent the Spiritualism of a single individual ; I shall therefore proceed to explain my own Spiritualism.

In making the outlines of Spiritualism I shall divide it into four parts. I will consider, —

1. Its Religion.

2. Its Philosophy.

3. Its Morals.

4. Its History.

THE RELIGION OF SPIRITUALISM.

I use the term Religion, especially when I apply it to Spiritualism, in an accommodated sense. Strictly considered, it is a term I do not like ; it was invented to imply the restoration of man from the fall. It implies original sin, total depravity, and all its et ceteras. The term religion is a compound of two Latin words, re and ligo, signifying to re-bind, or bind again. As I never was unbound or cut loose from God, I need no re-binding. I never participated in any man's fall, much less that of old father Adam, therefore have no part or lot in his restoration. When, however, the term religion is used in the sense of theology, or an effort to know and practice every duty, to arise daily to a purer and better life, Spiritualists are religious. Permit me, then, when I use the term religion in this chapter, to use it in this accommodated sense.

The first idea in my spiritual theology is that, " God is a Spirit; " or rather, that God is spirit; for I never like to put a definite or indefinite article before the three letters, G-O-D. I would like the phraseology quite as well, and it would be equally as true, if it was reversed, so as to read, " Spirit is God."

The next basic fact of Spiritualism is that man is a spiritual being, possessing all the attributes that belong to spirit anywhere. God has no attribute with which man is not endowed. Many of man's attributes and much of his power may be latent. Yet man has in germ all there is in the universe. Some do not know this, others do not believe it ; yet all recognize that they have powers to-day that they could not have used one year since. The fact is, you have no power to-day that was not born with you. It has taken all these years to develop and bring into activity the amount of power you now have. Man never has reached the Ultima Thule in any direction : that being the case, if there is an ultimatum, he does not know it.

Does the objector urge that, though man has not circumnavigated, weighed, measured, and found the limits of his powers, he may yet find them ? I answer, the same applies to God. How does the God power know but that some time it may find a power too much for it ? When this question is answered, I will apply the answer to the spirit of man, which is the repository of infinite possibilities.

14 THE CONTKAST.

As two drops of water find an affinity for each other and intermingle, as oil blends with oil, so spirit, wherever it may be, blends with spirit. As spirits out of the body may blend with each other, and spirits in the body may blend with each other, so spirits out of the body and spirits in the body may interblend. The reader is by this time ready to understand that the first definite article in the spiritualistic faith is the doctrine of the communion of saints.

Believing that under the proper conditions spirit can communicate with spirit, in either world, they of course believe in not only a daily, but, if necessary, a continuous revelation from spirits. All Spiritualists must therefore believe in inspiration and revelation ; yet they do not believe that any revelation is plenarily or infallibly inspired. Infallible inspiration to a fallible being is an impossibility.

All revelation partakes more or less of the nature of that through which it comes ; hence, until media can be absolutely perfect in their physical organisms, the manifestations given through mediumship must be more or less imperfect. Water sometimes tastes of the vessel in which it is kept. Light always partakes of the color of the glass through which it comes. The mediums who wrote the Bible were certainly inspired, yet the inspiration could not prevent the writers' manifesting their own idiosyncrasies ; hence, even the Bible, though the work of inspiration, lacks a great deal of being perfect. A little reflection will convince any reasoner of the truth of this proposition.

The most profound Bible believer regards some parts of the Bible as being more sacred and important than others ; but there can be no degrees in perfection ;

therefore the Bible is not perfect. Who admires David's cursing psalm (theCIXth) as they do the XlXth or XXIId ? Reader, I appeal to you, if you were compelled to see some portions of the Bible annihilated, and could have your choice as to which you would yield, would you find any trouble in deciding whether to retain the Lord's Sermon or the history of the love affair between Boaz and Ruth ? Which do you prefer, the Song of Solomon or the Lord's Prayer ? The very fact that you could make a choice is proof that you do not regard the Bible as absolutely infallible. I now submit that you agree with the Spiritualists that the Bible, though inspired, is not an infallible revelation from God. All the inspiration of the spirit world could not spoil Paul's education or logic, nor yet make an educated man or logician of Peter. His brain was not the kind that could be inspired in that way.

Occasionally one hears the idea advanced that the Bible is infallible ; but such cases are more rare than in former days. Rev. David Nelson, nearly a half century since, wrote a work entitled "the Cause and Cure of Infidelity" — a work, by the way, which, I think, has caused more infidelity than it ever cured ; in that he states that " every sentence and every part of a sentence of the Bible is plenarily inspired and infallibly true."

Rev. Mr. Burgon, a later writer, says, " The Bible is none other than the voice of Sim that sitteth upon the throne ! Every book of it, every chapter of it, every word of it, every syllable of it, every letter of it [Good Heavens ! won't the man permit us to drop out just one letter ?] is the direct utterance of the Most High ! The Bible is none other than the word of

God — not some part of it more, some part of it less, but all alike, — the utterance of Him who sitteth upon the throne — absolute, faultless, unerring, supreme."

The Rev. who penned the above doubtlessly would prize the obscene story of Onan, or Ezekiel's bread receipt, as highly as he would the " Golden Rule," or the first and greatest commandment. It is only occasionally that such fossils are met with. There are but few now who even think they believe in the absolute perfection of the Bible. A great majority of the most devout Christians now recognize that the. character of each biblical writer is indicated in his writings. Thus any one who would read the Song of Solomon would need no statement as to the number of his wives and concubines for intelligent readers could not help but know that the number would only be limited by his ability to obtain them.

Spiritualism in its dogmas is not purely affirmative ; it denies as well. Believing as it does that man is the offspring of the Most High, — that spirit sprang from spirit, — it necessarily denies the old church doctrine of original sin and consequent total depravity. It knows no one so low, morally or intellectually, but that there is a divinity within him or her 'which will some time assert itself. I am by this subject as I am by that of inspiration ; I doubt whether one who allows himself to think on it can differ with Spiritualists, much less argue an opposite side of the question. It is possible that an individual, while reading Buck's Theological Dictionary, may for the moment conclude that man is so totally depraved that he can not do a good act, speak a good word, or think a good thought, unless especially aided by power from on high ; but such belief can only last a few seconds after the volume is laid aside.

No mother ever yet pointed to her own unconverted child as a specimen of total depravity. No theologian will point to his own son, however wicked he may be, and say, " There is no good in him." Such calamities as the fire that consumed Chicago in 1871 afford an unanswerable argument against the dogma. That terrible calamity developed the fact that all — even theater actors, to whom the ministry had ever pointed as especial arguments in favor of the necessity of men and women being made better — had divine natures, which as spontaneously went out in words and deeds in behalf of the suffering, as was manifest in any church in the land. The late James Fisk, whom almost every editor and preacher in the land had denounced as being a sinner above all others, had a noble quality, which in this instance responded to the prayers of sufferers in a ten thousand dollar check. When such men as A. T. Stewart, of New York, count out fifty thousand dollars to help the sufferers of a single calamity, and railroad kings grant the free and unlimited use of their roads to two hundred thousand sufferers, I can not for one moment admit that they are totally depraved. Even the Heathen Chinee, in the " Golden State," who have suffered more from the depravity of Christians than Christians ever have from heathens, magnanimously stepped forward and contributed thirteen thousand dollars to relieve the sufferings of their Christian brethren.

Spiritualism, rejecting in toto the idea of the fall of man, has no use for an atonement. It does not believe that man has ever been separated from God, 2 therefore has no need to be made at one with him. Spiritualists generally regard the doctrine of the atonement not only as untrue, but as pernicious in its tendencies. Could they believe in an atonement at all, they could not believe in one based on vicarious suffering. It is said by Christians that Jesus suffered the penalty due for man's transgression, and in that made man at one with God, that is, placed him where he was before the fall. I know of no better way to explain this than to look after the results of the fall, as explained by Christians, and then apply Jesus' suffering and the atonement, and see the result.

Man, according to the theories which see so much evil in Spiritualism, was made of dust, about six thousand years since, and placed in a garden, where everything was beautiful and good except one tree, that may have been both beautiful to the eye and pleasant to the taste ; yet there was either something intrinsically poison in the fruit, or man for eating it was arbitrarily condemned. At least man was solemnly warned against eating the fruit, which warning he did not heed. The result is, according to orthodoxy, death, spiritual, temporal, and eternal death. Dr. Clarke says, —

" Thou shalt surely die. Moth tamuth ; literally, a death thou shalt die ; or dying thou shalt die. Thou shalt not only die spiritually, by losing the life of God, but from that moment thou shalt become mortal." — Clarke's Com. on Gen. ii. 16.

" The death here threatened is evidently to be considered as opposed to the life (or lives, rather) which God has bestowed on him. This was not only the natural life of his body, in its union with his soul, but the spiritual life of his soul in its union with God, and the eternal life of both. The threatening then implies, Thou shalt not only lose all the happiness thou hast, either in possession or in prospect, and be liable to the death of the body, and all the miseries which precede and accompany it, but thou shalt lose thy spiritual life and ' become dead to God — dead to God and things divine, and shalt even forfeit thy title to immortality, and be liable to death eternal, and all this in the day thou eatest thereof" — Benson's Com.

" The covenant of works was made with Adam ; the condition of which was his perseverance during the whole time of his probation. The reward annexed to his obedience was the continuance of him and his posterity in such perfect holiness and felicity as he then had, while upon earth, and an everlasting life with God hereafter. The penalty threatened for the breach of the commandment was condemnation, terminating in death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal." — Buck's Theological Dictionary, under " Covenant of Works"