PRE-EXISTENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18198, 18 September 1922, Page 10

PRE-EXISTENCE.

Sir,—ln reply to Mr. E. Wilson it might be observed that lave of truth is displayed equally in its defence as in'pursuit. I did not quote the words, "If ye will receive it, etc." thinking that anyone considering the subject would conclude they were modified by the words of the angel to Elizabeth, "He shall go before in the spirit and power of'Elias," and also that when rebirth was the actual subject of discussion between the Lord and Nicodemus, spiritual rebirth was the only teaching of Jesus. The prophet Malachi predicted that Elijah sTioufd be sent before the coming of the Messiah, to prepare the way for him. By this was evidently meant, not that he should appear, in person, but that one should appear with a striking resemblance to him, or as St. Luke expresses it, "in the spirit and power of Elijah." But soma of the Jews understood it differently. They expected that Elijah would appear in person. They also supposed that Jeremiah and some other of the prophets would appear also to usher in the promised Messiah. This expectation was the reason why the Lord used the words, " If yo will receive it, etc.," implying that the affirmation that John was the promised Elijah was a teaching contrary to their expectation. Observe, also, that those who had {in idea of reincarnation were not the intelligent and good, as Nicodemun, but the ignorant and bad, a s Herod who thought Jesus to he John, whom he had beheaded, risen from the dead. If Mr. Wilson has a good idea of the purpose of life in this world he will not find it difficult to discover a logical explanation of the differences in human birth and life without the theoryhe supports. He simply lacks facts, that is all. Further, if ho has a criterion of truth he will be able to see the truth in i the Bible, and will understand that, no scientific fact whatever can be out of harmony with the Word of Wisdom by which were all things made that were made, and should an apparent divergence appear the fault is with the interpreter not with the Book. He should look for more facts. Mr. Wilson betrays a tendency in his iemarks about the Bible to drop the substance and pursue the shadow. Solid ground under one's feet is necessary before proceeding to walk. To offset the'opinion of De;<n Inge, Canon Wilberforce said this theory "is the gloomiest of all oschatological teachings." In conclusion, it may bo that the pre-existence the Rev. J. C. Fussell has in rnind has nothing to do with the reincarnation. Robert Strong. Landscape Road, Epsom, Auckland.

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