The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Constable’s Pre-eminent British Contribution

I. Outstanding Champion of Conditional Immortality

Most conspicuous Conditionalist of his day, HENRY CONSTABLE (1816-1891), of Cork and London, and son of a surgeon, was born in Ireland. He was a graduate of the University of Dublin. In 1850 he was ordained an Anglican priest by the famous Richard Whately, archbishop of Dublin, himself an outstanding Conditionalist. After serving as a curate in Kilgarriffe and then at Cork, Constable was made prebend (or canon) of Desertmore, in which post he served from 1859 to 1872. CFF2 337.1

Soon after he went there a friend questioned him on the subject of eternal future torment for the wicked. This discussion marked the turning point in his life. He took his Hebrew, Greek, and English concordances and, after prolonged study, reached the unwavering conclusion that neither eternal misery nor Universal Restoration is taught in Scripture. All alone and unaided he groped his way out of tradition and misconception. That immortality is for God’s redeemed alone, became his profound belief, with eternal death or destruction for the lost. Text was now seen to buttress text, and the Bible became virtually a new book to him—a mighty chain of coordinated truth on the nature and destiny of man. This not only brought great relief to his own soul but confirmed and strengthened his faith in the basic evangelical doctrines of the Word. CFF2 337.2

1. HIS CONDITIONALIST BOOKS BECOME STANDARD

Soon after this, despite his known views on Conditionalism, Constable was made canon of the cathedral at Cork. This gave him more time for study and writing. In 1868 he made his first published pronouncement on Conditionalism, his book being entitled Duration and Nature of Future Punishment. This brought the issue squarely before the public, and soon became a standard work in the field, running through at least six editions. In 1872 he began writing for the London Conditionalist journal, The Rainbow, advocating the thought that death is an unconscious sleep, and that the dead know nothing until the resurrection. CFF2 338.1

Picture 1: Henry Constable
Henry Constable (d. 1891), canon of Cork Cathedral—writer of classics on conditionalism.
Page 338

This, however, aroused such opposition and led to such pressure from readers that the editor stopped publication of his series before they were completed. However, the editor, Dr. William Leask, soon adopted Constable’s view—persuaded by the evidence. In fact, it came to be widely held. And in 1873 Constable’s Hades; or, the Intermediate State of Man was published, with two editions by 1875. Meantime he was contributing to The Bible Echo in similar vein. A clear and logical thinker and writer, Constable came to be regarded as one of the outstanding British champions of Conditional Immortality of the century. But he preferred the pen to the platform. CFF2 338.2

2. CONDITIONALISM AUGMENTS EVERY BASIC DOCTRINE

To permit of greater freedom for study, Constable relinquished his Cork canoncy in 1873. Transferring to London, he became chaplain to the City of London Hospital, and continued to write. He later participated in the important Conditional Immortality conferences of 1879 and 1880, holding steadfastly to his Conditionalist views until death, having nothing to retract and constantly strengthening his positions. He also held, with deep conviction, that the Life Only in Christ view fully vindicated the character of God. And he insisted that, instead of undermining a single great doctrine of the Christian faith, it strengthened, sustained, and gave greater force to them all. He was ever known as an unwavering champion of truth as he saw it. He also contributed to The Faith Library (No. 1—“Man and Immortality”) and produced various periodical articles. CFF2 339.1