The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1864-04-15
MIR. WEBSTER TO MIR EYB,
LETTER Ill

DER Sir That you should pass
questions of such undoubted legitimacy
as the adequate punishment of sin, the con
dHi0aoliy of solpotioa, &C., in discussing
your proposition, isa circumstance hesv'
lily (raught with significance.
Your general argument from facts il
tie moral world. was that goodness was
triumphant in its contest with evil and
its availability for your system depends
npon the assumption, that its conquests
are always made by tho reformation OF
evil doors. | have urged, in many instan-
ce4 goodness is triumphant by the de
struCiion, and not the reformation of the
offender, (which you dare not deny. And
for you to ask in defence. "Can they still
sin ?" Can they do good p Is, to say
the least. kind of petit augmentation
But | will answer. Agreeable to your
definition of destruction-''The destruction
of any principle or thing, implies anuihi-
lstion"-+thcir case must be hopeless.
No one can justly say ve"passed over
the real ssue,' in respect to the abol-
ton OF moral evil. l showed in my last
that it was improbable that God would
abolish it absolutely as he had not pre-,
vented it absolutely y--that He had insti-
tuted moral means for its prevention bu,
yet it came into existence, ,also that he had
inaugurated moral influences for its ex-
bat as moral influences were re-
sistable, the scheme might, at least in
some cases be unsuccessful. The mora
influences set forth as the means of refor-
nation are /. The word Of truth E,
The light Of the Spirit. 3 The inter
cession Of Christ. These now operate ef
liciently, still many live and die in SIM
Why did you pass the very pertinent re
mark made upon this point-which
would have brought us to the tissue
Wig; II the moral influences which now
operate fail Of the result-reformatio
you are bound to show either that others
more efficient are employed in the future,
or that those now opera ing are employed
under mere advantageous circumstances
Is their any other reason than that the
burden of your affirmative was felt to be
100 onerous That God will abolish by
moral influences many eYilSwhich He did |
lot absolutely prevent, allow. Tnat he
las morally prevented all moral wrong |
,laim Hence, God will abolish no moral
wrong that lie did not morally prevent.
You ask GLOW spiritual rebellion can
md, whi lie rebels exist ?" Rebellion in
,ur land will be put down, and therefore
md, when the laws are executed, those
ebels refcrmable are reformed, and the
est duly punished. So spiritual rebelli-
IN will be put down when those that re
,ent ard believe, shall be reconci!ed, and
hose that repent and believe not, "shal
De damned" II you desire it more spe-
,ifc; when those that know not God and
,bey not the gospel, "shall be punished
With EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the
presence Of the Lord, and from the glory
IF his power" 9 Thess. /. 8, 9. You
'epudiate Speculation and exhort ad-
lerence to facts and then turn from the
act of the origin of evil, to the speculation
Is to whether God will succeed or fail"
n the salvation of all men. Now l sug-
,est that we rely upon facts to guide us
n our speculalions. 1. God did create
nan with power to transgress his law
,esist his will, 2. Man in the exercise
If this power did transgress, resist the
Divine will, and thus sinned. 3. God
instituted sufficient moral preventives
against moral detection, and had they not
oeeu abused, his holiness and happiness
would have bean secure fnrevc~ 4. Ne