Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-06-22

SaIu, ls CuIlouS, " say Iiie least. we nope tC
have some further conversation with the s'spi
rlts,' when we may be able to make further
disclosures, though we fear we are too materi.
al to be made the subject of their special at.
tention.
Extract from a Discourse
Delivered in the First Congregational Church
BY REV. THEODORE cLApP.
To me it is plain that the phrase everlasting
contempt, which occurs Dan. 1872, affords nc
evidence in support of the doctrine of endless
woe. For, first, the Hebrew adjective olam, in
this verse, corresponds precisely, as all admit
with the Greek word aionios, Of the New Tes-
lament. Of course, being indefinite, it cannot
be lawfully used to prove the unlimited dura.
ton OF any thing whatever. Secondly, we are
told, verse 7th, Dan. 18th, that the prophecies
contained in the forepart of this chapter, would
all be accomplished within the space of time
times and a hayethat is during three years and
a half of prophetic time, which, DR.. Clark says
answers to one thousand taco hundred and siaty
gears. Are l,26o years equal to eternity? II
any one will read attentiyely and compare Matt.
24th, from the 18th verse to the 2lst, with the
lst I'd and Id verses of Dan. 18th, l think he
!
guage in Dan. 1872, to the destruction of the
Jewish nation by Titus. Our. Saviour thus
6xes the reference of Daniels language and we
should be careful not to contradict his testi-
mony.
Adam Clark was clearly of the opinion that
this passage referred to the things Of the pre-
sent world. He interprets the context, gen.
orally, as having reference othe events of time.
| 1P toh N Of vf hat Sc,
whether it relates to future state at all. But
who would attempt to rest the doctrine Of eter-
nal punishment on passage of dubious i'm
ports That profoundly learned divine, Grotius,
says: That this text is, in its literal meaning,
a prophecy Of the restoration of the Jewish
Government under the Macabees It really
goes no farther towards proving the doctrine in
question, than the first verse in Genesis In
the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth" 'A
The advocates Of endless woe, at the present
day, admit that there is no word in the Old
Testament which denotes place of eternal
punishment The word gehenna, which they
contend means he'll, in the New Testament, IS
used by no writer except our Saviour For
though it occurs once in James, it has no refer
ence there, to future State. And Jesus, him
self, in all those discourses and communications
addressed to the people at large, indiscrimi-
nately, has employed the term, think, on two
occasions only. Suppose an infallible preach
er, who knew with absolute certainty, that all
sinners are exposed to endless suffering, should
labor publicly, in this city, for the space Of three
years and a half, and during all this time should
never allude, but on two occasions, before pro-
miscuous audiences, to such thing as inter-
minable misery beyond the grave, what opinion
should we form Of his moral character! This
lquestion exhibits its own answer. Under these
circumstances, is it creditable that the word
gehenna means hell Ia word which is used so
seldom in the sacred pages; which in d faithful
translation would not once occur in the writings
of Paul, and Peter, and John; which we meet
in only four or Eve discourses Of Jesus, and
which all persons acquainted with Jewish geog-
raphy, know to be metaphor, Z figure Of speech,
and not literal expression. 3~& 5-,ssfs
".Why, if the doctrine of endless dnmnati0n
were true, it should not be difficult to find in
the Bible. It should be so plain that all could
see it at once. It should be written upon the
heavens in letters Of fire-Eternal torment for
the wicked The sun in his course should re-
veal it to every eve-Eternal torment for the
wicked! The spirits Of tho dead should cry
out to us-Eternal torment for the wicked!-
Every footstep of every man should echo it
Eternal torment for the wicked! All voices in
heaven and earth should utter it forth aloud to
every ear-Eternal torment for the wicked -
If God designedtit to be revealed III his gospel
to man, it should be spoken abroad upon the
winds, seen in the vivid lightning's flash, and
uttered in thunder tones of nature herself, that
at every football Of man he might pause to listen
to his doom-Etc-nal torment for Tie nicked =
And then, horror Of horrorsi they are such tor
ments as all the Devils in, Hell could not, in
vent-reserved for those whom God has pre-
destinated to be damned! II this were the truth,
it should be SO plainlyan frequently told, that
no man couldofai to see itsls Yet there are mil
lions who cannot see itat al, though they have
examined the Bible most carefully, to see il ii
be there. The orthodox themselves cannot
Epdsit there, % as 70 convince the world Of rs
truth. In the name of reason, whist yare We Id
think! Upon what principle are such horrible
dogmas held, in preference to the high. the
holy, the sublime Faith, that God intends I'd
blsss the whole shshaan family, and 70 bring
them fnAlly to > state Of etesnal Psiiy and
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at the elbowss sasaea ~ s.ss tiss;iss:ssis Il to
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