The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-01
nov 70 EscApE HE'LL"
What swcssenborg 7eacLes--Lecfure by
Oliver Dyer.

What swosienbors 1eacLes--Lecfure by
Oliver Dyer.
Last evening Oliver Dyer, the author OF the
''WicEedest Man Ia New York" delivered lecture
IN the large hall at the Cooper Institute upon tue
above rather startling and peculiar subject Inc
audience was large and represented the respectable
masses OF the city, The lecturer prefaced his expo
sition with reading several passages OF scripture,
among them the eighteenth chapter OF ct.
Luke, the twenty-ffth chapter OF Matthew and
the parable OF the Prodiga son. These
set forth the grounds, he said, upon which
we shall escape he'll il we escape it all. when this
subject Is put In form OF question 1t is essentially
the same question put 10 our Saviour OF "What shall
do TO be savedf 20 The first question that always
assails the conscience OF sinner 10 how to escape
hell. Let him find that out, and he Will take care
OF the rest Men have more decided notion about
hell than heaven All the orthodox Christians In
the world have vague idea Of hell but 1t Is clear
and decided; but OF heaven their ideas are misty
extremely ioggy. 1t Is an interesting fact that
Old churchmen assert ana believe 10 know lnat
the souls of the saved are substantial beings.
those OF the damned must De indydualized, subject
to the torents OF hell fire, II not physical 1re some
thing worse; that they must have faculties 10 reco.
lect all they ever did, all the sins committed IN TACT
TO realize that they are the right men, and thus
through eternity eau Divine vengeance only be sati-
ated The new Church accepts all this, and even
goes farther 80 much 80 that the hair OF the most
lnyeterate orthodox viii stand ends. Ii this per-
II
not Just az truthful OF heaven9 why Is not soul
OF the redeemed in heaven Just as conscious OF perfect
bliss ana happiness as the doomed In he'll Is OF
miseryY Hell and heaven on perfect footing OF
individuality, postiveness aud identity, or else God
was so absorbed IN making the damned miserable
that he has forgotten to make the redeemed happy
The points then adduced by tho lecturer were:-
First, "a philosophical truth, every human being
has the clearest and best conception OF those things
! OF which he has measure In himsefn Man thinks
more OF hell than heaven because there Is more OF
the former In him. and this Is the clue how 10 escape
a. hnll np fnt N
| A man goes TO he'll because he belongs there, De
cause II fits him better than any other place and IL
Is the same with heaven In the latter place there
are no bad appointments Going to the one. one
or the other Is purely philosophical mater; there
are no arbitrary rewards or punisaments IN IN. .ne
| case, but only logical consequences. Goa oeas
| with all logically. Man with vengeance and aIbi-
| trarily, and because OF misunderstanding tnls
come part OF the spiritual death in Cnristendom.
| Man becomes anenaed from God, and He from MN,
because Of the teachings of His infinite yeneeance
| Trinity Of God-an invisible God-Gnd that J
vlcareous atonement were borrowed rom o tne
pagans. There IS no such thing as an implacable
deity. The Bible doesn't teach Il. ,.
| Mr. Dyer then referred to the judg nent OF NOR
| everyday dongs. Justice, truth and righteousness
come from physical iacts AS the ocullst treats Will
gh tn different degrees OF intensity or darkness nes
| the spiritual state OF man. We AL Will inevitably
gravllate to our own place. 10 eliminate the ele
them with those that viii elevate TO heaven,
we must keep Gods commaudments-there Is all
plenty of spiritual food and exercise. the funda.
| mental principle OF Swedenborg Is Ito do good
tiny ana on my e Goa na ET s 10 sGs
| Let your religion begin az home. set by prayer
| around each day q RIM to keep 1t from travelling
| men who as il often done IN Wall street, Will maze
q 'corner' 10 rob nelahpor calling y THEFT IN
| OF God, and you shall escape he.n