Joseph A. Benton Journal

S. Sk. 4. [centered]

[left edge] March 18: 1849.

Job 14:14. [centered]

"If a man die, shall he live again?" [centered]

These are two grand, grand, questions which meet us.

(a) Shall I live after death? (b) Will my conduct here affect my condition hereafter? Shall now answer the first inquiry.

Immortality vital to true manliness – to all sincere piety, & religion. The Bible rather implies than asserts it; as with respect to the being of God.

1. Change does not involve destruction. Illus. [Illustrated] – by pers. [person's] – identity, Torpor – sleeping, swooning, trances, drowning &c. [et cetera] ~

2. Question of the soul`s immateriality, of itself, not decisive. God can perpetuate whatever he will – without regard to quaities [qualities] &c. [et cetera]

3. Argument is a moral one.

(a) From the excellence of its nature. (a²)Not like the soils rocks &c. [et cetera] in nature, (b²) Not like the vegetables. (c²) Is above all the brute creation. (d²) Is int. image of God – State this &c. [et cetera]

(b From its powers & capacities. Can know the universe, can reason, abstract, understand pure truths, moral wr [wrong], rt [right], &c. [et cetera]; know God; reach forth to infinities.

(c) Will not God cause it to answer its ends? If so, will he not perpetuate its being forever? He does so with all else, why not with man? Can we dispute this truth without impeaching God? Will the soul plunge into everlasting nothing? Will it tumble into annihilation, with every dog in the streets?

1 See how this doctrine affects all human conduct.

2 See how it is that good men can welcome temporal death ~

S. Sk. 5. [centered]

[left edge] April 8:1849

Proverbs 3:13-18 ~ [centered]

13."Happy is the man that findeth wisdom & the man that getteth understanding ........ 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace"

All men eagerly ask – "Who will show us any good? The bible answers – in the text – 1. Wisdom – defined &c. [et cetera] as the pursuit of best ends by best means. Highest good of man, the Universe, & God = the End. The means must consist in some pursuit – i.e. [in other words] – in some sort of action.

2. All man can attain to is comprised in three divisions = wh. [which] are so many sorts of good –. Gold & lands may represent one calss [class]; kn. [knowledge] & skill the second; while moral excellence is the third.

3. Estimate these by the kind & amount of hap. [happiness] each can poss. [possible] afford. (a) Material wealth can obtain for us many sensual qualifications & posts of honor & influence – but it cannot save from ignoring – or sickness, or the grave, or the penalties of sin.

(b) Kn. [Knowledge] & skill & reputation exalt us to the hights [heights] of human ambition. They gratify our cravings & tastes & feed us with rare & costly food, & beguile of cares, pains, & troubles – but save not from the pangs of consc. [conscience] from the jaws of death, or from the curse of the, nor do they open the gates of Paradise.

(c) But a pure character – & a right heart are permanent possessions. They can not perish – they cannot be torn away. The hap. [happiness] they impart is of the purest kind & fills all the Soul to its utmost. Nothing can, for a moment, compare with it.

1 To attain this good is wisdom. Happy he that secures it!

2 "The Sun of t. [the] mind – t. [the] light of t. [the] heart, is Wisdom" To-day be wise ~

S. Sk. 6 [centered]

[left edge] April 22 : 1849

Jude 1:3 [centered]

"And exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints"

Some men assent to truths – wh. [which] they practically deny. There are who to receive christianity. Not unfashionable now-a-days to profess belief in the Bible, tho, it is practically set at nought. We should content &c. [et cetera] –

I 1. Bec. [Because] it was reasonable from facts as they were to expect a Revelation from God to men. Light of nature & reason were long enough tried.

2. Bec. [Because] X^e is true historically – & is authoritative. The writers penned the books ascribed to them. They describe real events – poss. [possible] in nature. Their statements are confined by Jew & heathen authors. They are accurate, in the main, more so than any books half as ancient.

3. Bec. [Because] it comes with proper attestations – such as we should expect> when God speaks to men. Jesus wrought worthy miracles. The cas [case] was one worthy of such works – & God was anxious to vindicate the truth.

4. Bec. [Because] XF is such a system as we should look for from such, to such. Came with proper distinctness & in due time.

II 1. Bec. [Because] it has many opposers. Some of it friends are half-hearted. Many are entirely ignorant of it.

2. Such a defence is the only effective one – earnestness is the soul of it.

3. This is the only defence worthy of a theme so noble, so sublime.

1. See how earnest men can smile at martyrdom.

2. Learn how best to exalt truth – viz. [in other words] by rt. [right] ac. [actions] & generous self-sacrifice.

S. Sk. 7. [centered]

[left edge] May 13:1849.

First Peter 3:15 [centered]

"And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear".

Am now to speak of the manner in which Christian themes & doctrines sh'd [should] be exemplified in the life & conversation. This lies in the sphere of personalities. It has special applications. Consider – then –

1 What this readiness at rendering as reason &c. [et cetera] implies. (a) Some good degree of common sense. (b) Reflections on the nature of Evidence. (c) Considerable historical reading. (d) Not a small or limited aquaintance [acquaintance] with the Bible itself: "Search the S. S." .

2. What the nature of this reason is. (a) Must consist of defence rather than an apology. (b) Must be based on personal Experience; (c) adapted to circumstances; (d) framed as for reasonable men; (e) as few as possible, one capable of demonstration.

3. What the Hope is. (a) One of sin forgiven & life-eternal secured, thro. the death of C. [Christ], on condition of a new heart & a new life. (b) Well-based, not fallacious. (c) Differs from other hopes as it object differs. (d) Increases with Evidence & Experience.

4. The mode of rendering the reason. (a) As becomes one liable to mistake. (b) As becomes a theme of mighty Consequence. (c) With the meekness of Jesus the pattern. Men will find fault, Go straight on – but gently. (d) But be decided – have all courage, all faith – and be neither troubled nor dismayed.

1 See how vigilant & self-sustained a well-living Xⁿ [Christian] must be.

2 Learn how to give power & point to truth. Live it up – act it out.

S. Sk. – 8 – [centered]

[left edge] May 21: 1849

Psalm 107:23 & 24. [centered]

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in the great waters; – These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep."

The sea has attractions for all. A romantic interest gathers around it. Each one desires to behold it. God's glory is manifested every where – but is seen in peculiar forms at sea. The sea displays God's glory in 3 forms: –

I. Omnipotence. By its vast Extent. 2 Depth. 3. Pressure, up & down. 4. Capacity for animal life. 5 Power of waves, winds, & storms. "Ye winds – ye take t. cataracts sound sc. Ye dash upon the deep". ~

II. Wisdom. 1 In the laws stamped on it. 2 In its adaptations. 3 Comparative size. 4 The means provided for its purity, by composition & motion. 5 The flow of its currents & tides. 6 Its native wonders corals, pearls, gems, &c [et cetera] – & also, its deep mysteries of divers kinds. "Full many a gem &c. [et cetera]" Bryant's "Hymn to t. [the] Sea".

III. Goodness. 1 Not allowing the race too much territory at one time –. 2 In the proportionate adjustments & balancings of the same. 3 In the uses of the sea to equalize temperature. 4 Use as an international barrier. 5 As a grand store-house of food & wealth. 6 As a grand highway of Commerce. 7 Teacher of sublimity – Developer of Beauty – Giver of Instruction. "Roll on, thou deep, dark-blue ocean" – "Thou glorious mirror where the Almighty's form Glasses itself &c. [et cetera]." "These are thy glorious works Parent of good".

1 They that continually behold these wonders of God ought ever to be the most reverent and best of men; & not what they very often are.

2 Every one should be made a humbler, purer, nobler, man, by a long voyage at sea. Have we become so?