LOSE HIS OWN SOUL.

"For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole word, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"-MATTHEW xvi. 26.

The word here rendered "soul," should have been rendered "life," as admitted by many of the most learned biblical divines, among whom we may mention Dr. Adam Clarke, the distinguished Methodist commentator. In fact, the original word occurs in the preceding verse, and is there rendered "life." "For whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."

Jesus had just spoken of the dangers which those would encounter, who should make a public profession of his religion by taking up their cross and following him. They would receive such ill treatment and persecution, that it would be like taking their lives in their hands and going forth to meet the enemy. The Savior knew well that this persecution would prevent some from embracing his religion, while others would turn away from him and abandon his cause, in order to escape persecution and save their lives. But such would even lose their lives; hence the expression, "whosoever will save his life, or attempt to save it, by

joining hands with the persecutors, will lose it. And whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."

As though Jesus had said: "He who will accept my teachings, and obey my commands and instruction, and fearlessly meet danger and persecution, shall save his life; he shall be saved from destruction, when severe national judgments shall fall upon the persecuting Jew."

In the light of these suggestions, we readily apprehend the meaning of the passage under consideration. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul ?? As though the Savior had said: "Suppose you reject my truth and gain the wealth and honors of the world, where is the profit, as you will certainly be overwhelmed in the terrible calamities about to come upon this sinful generation! Even admit that you will lose your life at the hand of the persecutor, for embracing my doctrine and religion, you can but lose it, and if you reject me, you certainly will lose it, hence there is nothing gained by rejecting me."

This view of the subject is sustained by the parallel passages, recorded in the 9th chapter of Luke: "For what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole world and lose himself, or be cast away?"

Similar phraseology is found in the 10th chapter of Matthew, upon which Dr. Adam Clarke remarks as follows: "He that findeth his life shall lose it, was literally fulfilled in Archbishop Cranmer. He

confessed Christ against the devil, and his eldest son, the Pope. He was ordered to be burnt; to save his life, he recanted, and was, notwithstanding, burnt." He denied the truth to save his life, and then he lost it! Learned orthodox divines of different names take this view of the subject:

CAMPBELL." With the forfeit of his life; English translation, Lose his own soul. Forfeit comes nearer the import of the original word, which Doddridge has endeavored to convey by a circumlocution, should be punished with the loss of his life. But the chief error in the English translation lies in changing, without necessity, the word answering to psuche, calling it, in the preceding verse, life, and in this, soul. The expressions are proverbial, importing, it signifies nothing how much a man gain, if it be at the expense of his life."

CLARKE.-"Lose his own soul; or lose his life. On what authority many have translated the word psuche, in the 25th verse, life, and in this verse, soul, I know not; but am certain it means life, in both places. If a man should gain the whole world, its riches, honors, and pleasures, and lose his life, what would all these profit him, seeing they can only be enjoyed during life."

The legitimate sentiment here taught is, that we should not be so entirely absorbed in the pursuits of the world as to injure our physical constitutions and hasten ourselves into the grave. What does such a man gain? He has been consecrated to the world, amassed a large property, but lost his life. This we regard as the primary meaning of the passage under consideration.

SON OF PERDITION.

"While I was with them [the disciples] in the world, I kept them in my name; those that thou gavest me, I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled."-JOHN xvii. 12.

In whatever sense, Judas, the individual referred to here, was lost, that condition was essential to the fulfillment of the Scriptures. But, who will say that he must be consigned to endless perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled? We are not aware that any scripture required the endless punishment of Judas in order that it be fulfilled. Such an interpretation is too manifestly erroneous to require a moment's time to refute it.

The meaning of the passage is clearly this: while Christ was with the disciples, he kept them faithful to his cause, devoted to the work which engaged his attention; and what is meant by his having lost none but the son of perdition, is, that none had abandoned his religion, except Judas, who betrayed him. Long before, one had been spoken of, who should lift up his heel against him. (See Psalms xli. 9.) And when Judas turned away from his Lord and Master, that scripture was fulfilled, which

declared that "he that eateth bread with me hath lifteth up his heel against me."

When this disciple abandoned his Lord and Master, he was lost-lost to truth-lost in sin,—and because he was thus lost, he was called the son of perdition. It referred simply to his apostacy from the Christian faith, without regard to the future condition of Judas. Son of apostacy, means an apostate. Professor Stuart says:

"The word son was a favorite among the Hebrews, and was employed by them to designate a great variety of relations. The son of any thing, according to Oriental idiom, may be either, what is closely connected with it, dependent on it, like it, the consequence of it, worthy of it, etc. The son of eight days; that is, the child of eight days old of a hundred years; that is, the person who is a hundred years of age: the son of my sorrow; that is, the one who has caused me distress: son of valor; that is, bold, brave: son of Belial; that is, a worthless man: son of wickedness; that is, wicked: son of a murderer; that is, a murderous person: son of death; that is, one who deserves death: son of thunder; that is, a man of powerful energetic eloquence or strength: son of peace; that is, a peaceable man."

Son of perdition, means an individual in an apostate condition-lost in sin.

We quote from "Paige's Selections," the following from eminent commentators upon this subject:

WHITBY.-"And none of them is lost: i. e., either by temporal death, (chapter xviii. 9); or by falling off from me, but the son of perdition, i. e.,