The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-12-07
Original,
For the JIG URNAI.
THE ATONEMENT.

deem it appropriate to review certain
part of your quaint structures on the late
Liberal Convention. Glad to discover
in the finale, that you are tending, tho
very cautiously, to stand On the main
planks of our platform, namely, the right
of individual Interpretation, mauger all
creeds-when a mans character shall
be the test of fellowship. Had you also
given utterance in that Convention to the
speciality of your inner life, we should
have had an addition to our "globular
body, formed of crystalline deposits and
bristling with pointed apexes."
Query::-Do not such deposits make a
natural globe? Is not the earth compo-
sed ofspecial Municipalities, together con
shutting beautiful unity? Were it all
ivory, as you happily represent an orthc
dox convention, .'smoothed and rounded
into perfect symmetry" low would it
suit your ideal mind? If can read the
nature and bent of your thought in re-
gard to religious matters, yoa also en-
dorse Paul, speaking of this law of unity
in diversity Now there are diversities
of gifts, but the same Spirit"
"Some firmly welded to church forms
and creeds, by the joint forces of educa-
ton and happy experience, look with
horror upon such proceedings, and find
new proofof total deprsvity in the action
of body of men who publicly scout the
Atonement of Christ, and rely on their
own individual merits for salvation"
Viewed in the light in which the Atone
ment is generally regarded, this is indeed
a very serious matter. only speak for
myself. l should wrong my colaborers
in our noble work, were l to assume to
speak in particular for them, for as YOU
well said, "each member stood upon his
Individuality" Knowing, however, how
unanimous the opinion is among the mem
bers of said convention, touching the sub
iect of tho Atonement, | may hope in a
general sense, to express Unconventional
thought. The resolutions adverting to
this Atonement, did not como up to my
idea. They were good 50 far as they
| went. so
We are charged with publicly igno-
ring the Atonement of Christ. Let us
see to whom this charge belongs. If |
rightly understand the popular opinion of
the Atonement as it is embodied in hu-
man creeds and preached in the majority
of our pulpits, it is expressed in one word
rs Sturgeon has it.. Substitution" BY
the fall of Adam, all the human race be-
came totally depraved; and by virtue Of
this condition, was doomed to endless tor
ment. Out ofpity for Us, Jesus took up
on himself the full penalty-suffered du-
ring the short time he was upon the cross
the infinite damnation due every son and
daughter Of Adam! By some 'twistifi-
cation" in the theory, this punishment
laid upon Jesus is of no account unless
we comply with certain conditions
With such as have faith, it is efficacious.
but without faith, it all''goes for nothing"
according TO the Arminian modification.
Judged by the known laws of Justice, it
would seem, that if Jesus paid the debt,
we ought not to be required to pay 1t over
again, even in the least part thereof
But human experience, despite the dog
ma, testifes that we are punished for sin,
that in Scripture language, "The way OF
the transgressor is hard" cannot see
why zoe should be punished here and here
after to all eternity, if Jesus in our stead,
has suffered this very merited DOOM
The inconsistency of such an an Atone
ment is apparent. Let us paint cor
responding picture and make it perfectly
plain.
Suppose an earthly parent has two
sons, one of whom is obedient, pure and
upright in all his ways; the other is ro-
bellious, reckless, and ungovernable.-
The father is angry and resolves to av-
enge himself upon the sinful, boy. The
penalty is death. When the father is
about to execute bis direful purpose, and
the young lad stands trembling in his
herculean grasp, unable to do anything
to placate the terrible anger, the innocent
loving brother falls upon his knees be-
seeching pardon. 40, is there no re-
} prieve," he says. "no reprieve, father =
"No-neverl' is the stern reply. 81
my brother repents and srsfornis is tLert
not satisfaction given r. No! says th'
s~egessg .ar.nH-wI WM ~ M