Elder Hassell on Means

Elder Sylvester Hassell wrote:

"...no true Primitive Baptist believes that any instrumentality of man has ever sent, or will ever send, a single soul to glory. As no means can be used to give natural life to one literally dead, so no means can be used to give eternal life to those who are dead in sin."  ("Interpreting the Scriptures-The Error of Meansism," in The Gospel Messenger, September, 1894)

http://primitivebaptist.info/mambo//content/view/834/36/

"No means can be used to give natural life to one literally dead"?  Did not God raise the dead through prophets and apostles?  Did not God use Ezekiel's preaching to bring the dry dead bones to life?  How can such a learned Elder say such things?  How did God give you and me natural life?  Was it not through natural birth?  Was it not through the medium of mothers and fathers?  Through procreation?