New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-06

be deserved First he assumed endless punishment,
then from that and the justice OF God deduoed the mn
mite character Of n and then he was far enough round
in the circle to establish beyond cavi that endless pun
ishment was the proper punishment Of sin. True, he
attempted TO infer from the Infinite character
Of God that sin against his laws must be ini-
mite in its nature but he left entirely cut OF this
calculation the finite character Of the sinner. This was
a fatal defect in his argument. Hence, Dr. Thompson
inferred the equality Of sins, that the child that steals
nut pin deserves the same punishment rs be who
steals man and cells him into perpetual Slavery 1ne
Bible was full Of contradictions of this, and Christ
himself had made distinction between him VINO
should be beaten with many and him who should be
beaten with few stripes And If there was distinction
between sins, could be infinite; distinctions ex
listed only between fnies. Further, an INFINITE Hn,
an infinite evil, would be an exceedingly unhsndy
thing in this little universe of ours. God himself was
nothing than infinite; IL would stand AIDE by side
with Him be could neither punish nor pard1n tnere
it would stand forever. Human folly could not take
such flight this. In illustration OF endless punish-
ment Dr. Sawyer said:
Let us suppose that every dn mortal ever CON-
mitted heinous enough to deserve his punishment
in "hell fire thousand or, DIR. Thompson deSres
it, @ million Of years. Let us further suppose that
mao living three score and ten year, should commit
sin every minute; or, II Dr. thompson prefer,
every second Of his whole life. lie not this hoeral
concede 10 the doctor that man sns every second,
and that every sin deserves bis being burned IN neil
million years. And yet little calculation VIII con-
vince my learned friend that sncb punishment 10 re-
tillions of wears which, he cannot but know would
hear no more proportion eternity than single drop
of water does 70 the ocean; nay, Tar es Tor crop
does bear rome proportion 70 the ocean, out e'erhiy
knows nothing Of year, Serveus was burned at the
stake In Geneva under the influence of John CALVIN.
They used handles Of green oak fagots and 1t IL re-
ported by Moshiem that the poor sufferer under re.
fgous persecution lived in such flames as they could
make for half an hour But leng before that short Pc
Rod expired the spectators could bear the scene no
longer and ran with accord TO hasten his exeeu-
ton and put end 10 his tortures. DO yeu think Dr.
Thompson or even DR.. Edwards could look steadily
down into hell for two quintons of years before be
would offer up prayer either TO release the sufferers
or if that could not be done, TO annhilate them and
put them out Of their misery The descriptions given
us of hell fire by DIR. Edwards Hnguarly full and
edifying. Some of you" says he, have seen build.
nps on fire. imagine therefore, with yourselves what
q poor hand you wonld make at fighting with the
fames if you in the midst OF 10 great and hercs
FIRE. You have often seen spider, or some other
noisome insect when thrown into the midst OF fierce
fire. and have observed how Immediately it yields to
the force of the flames. There long struggle, no
fighting against the fire. strength exerted to oppose
the heat fy from it; but it Immediately stretches
forth sef and yields and the fire takes possession oil
it, and at it becomes full of fire. Here is little
image Of what You will be in hell except you repent
and Ay 10 Christ" There is respect In which DIR.
Thompson differs widely from DIR. Edwards. 1t was
the custom of DIR. Edwards to make these terrible
punishments the effects OF Gods awful wrath. The
Divine anger it that kindled the res OF hell and
wrath II Is love. There is no malice, no revenge, in
God; He does not hate men, He finds no pleasure in
the torment Of His creatures. II Is pure perfect be
nevolence that built hell at first, and supplies it WITH
s undying fires. DR.. Watts, too, inclined to tie old
doctrine and sang:
Almighty vengesnce, how Il buns,
How bright lie fury slovs;
Vast msgaznes OF plagnes and stotTrs
Lie treasured for His foes."
Again:
"Fsr In the deep where darkness d~e1s
The land Of horror and despair
Justice has built dismal he'll,
And laid her stores Of vengeance there
Eternal plaques and heavy chains,
TorTnenting racks and fiery Goals,
And darts TO nfict immortal palms,
Dips In the blood Of damned souls
But al this says DR.. Thompson Ia the work Of In
finite love-" not vindictive vengeance, but love
guarding His holy law" Gods punishmeuts " are
Eever vindctive they proceed from heart of Infinite
pity-the heart Of the Almighty Father"
DR.. Sawyer concluded with few remarks TO show
that the penalty which DIR. Thompson says God en-
poysto maintain Hi law, would actually defeat it, and
by the final inquiry, If goodness can inAiet such tor
ments, what would mslgnity do Z