harmonies of truths in reality intimately related. Nothing can be believed to bo true which is clearly seen to be inconsistent with truth already certainly established. But, on the other hand, in the present stage of our development, the largest proportion of the materials of our knowledge rests upon independent evidence, and are received by us all as certain on their own respective grounds, although we tail as yet to reconcile each fact with every other in the harmonies of their higher laws. The principles of physical science are to be taken as true upon their own ground, i. e.} so far as they are matured, and the testimony of revelation is to be taken as infallible truth on its own ground. The one may modify our interpretation of the other, but the most certain of all principles is that a matured science will always corroborate rightly interpreted revelation.
12. How may the identity of our future with our present bodies be reconciled ivith 1 Cor. xv., 42-50 ?
In verses 42-44 this identity is expressly asserted. The body is to be the same, though changed in these several particulars. 1st. It is noiv subject to corruption, then incorruptible. 2d. It is now dishonored, it will then be glorified. 3d. It is now weak, it will then be powerful. 4th. It is now natural, i. e., adapted to the present condition of the soul and constitution of the world. It will then be spiritual, i. e., adapted to the glorified condition of the soul, and constitution of the " new heavens and new earth.'"
Verse 50 declares simply that " flesh and blood," that is, the present corruptible, weak, and depraved constitution of the body can not inherit heaven. Yet the passage as a whole clearly teaches not the substitution of a new body but the transformation of the old.
13. Wliat facts does physiological science establish ivith re- spect to the perpetual changes that are going on in our present
and what relation do these facts sustain to this doctrine ?
By a ceaseless process of the assimilation of new material and excretion of the old, the particles composing our bodies are cease- lessly changing from birth to death, effecting, as it is computed, a change in every atom of the entire structure every seven years.
444 THE RESURRECTION.
Thus there will not be a particle in the organism of an adult which constituted part of his person when a hoy, nor in that of the old man of that which belonged to him when of middle age. The body from youth to age is universally subject to vast changes in size, form, expression, condition, and many times to total change of constituent particles. All this is certain ; but it is none the less certain that through all these changes the man pos- sesses identically the same person from youth to age. This proves that neither the identity of the body of the same man from youth to age, nor the identity of our present with our resurrection bodies consist in sameness of particles. If we are sure of our identity in the one case, we need not stumble at the difficulties attending the other.
14. What objection to this doctrine is derived from the known fact of the dispersion and assimilation into other organisms of the particles of our bodies after death ?
The instant the vital principle surrenders the elements of the body to the unmodified control of the laws of chemical affinity, their present combinations are dissolved and distributed through- out space, and they are taken up and assimilated by other animal and vegetable organisms. Thus the same particles have formed, at different times, part of the bodies of myriads of men, in the successive periods of the growth of individuals, and in successive generations. Hence it has been objected to the scriptural doc- trine of the resurrection of the body, that it will be impossible to decide to which of the thousand bodies which these particles have formed part in turn, they should be assigned in the resur- rection ; or to reinvest each soul with its own body, when all the constituent elements of every body have been shared in common by many. We answer that bodily identity does not consist in sameness of constituent particles. See above, question 13. Just as God has revealed to us through consciousness that our bodies are identical from infancy to age, although their constituent ele- ments often change, he has, with equal certainty and reasonable- ness, revealed to us in his inspired word that our bodies, raised in glory, are identical with our bodies sown in dishonor, although their constituent particles may have been scattered to the ends of the earth.
PERSONAL IDENTITY. 445
15. What is essential to identity f