The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-02-24
Answer To 'sPerplexed."

| n III NV -
behind q himsy ''perplezed," we
know better how to reply, especial
" remembering 9 certain text in
Scripture.
OF course we all agree with
"Perelexed," about the question,
What's the Use of discusslng2"
Man doesn't care anything about
knowing the truth. He has no de-
SIRE, no inclination that way; it
ISN'T in him. Total depravity
would preclude such an aspiratlonl
Now suppose there is no hell, no
! devil, what's the use saying so?
Take away this rdea, you remove
all the comfort we hsvel Why, my
dear sir, e there is no hell, no end
less damnation, what would we
poor mortals do? There is moth
ing like it. In it we have comfort,
we have a warm foundation, which
is especially needful In winter, or
our religion might freeze. Then
the thoughts refreshing; it soothes
our aching hearts to know that
throughout the endless ages OF
eternity some of u friends-a
near and dear one perhaps-wlll
burn, scorch. seethe and broil in the
pleasant valleys of hell. Who
would wish to disbelleve a doctrine
so divine? Rev. Albert Barnes was
Joking when be said, IN his "Prac-
teal Sermons" (Lindsay and Blak-
istor, 1869, p. 40, II see not one
ray to disclose to me why man
must suffer to sll eternity. When
I see so many involved in this dam
ger, and when 1 feel that God only
can save them, and set He docs
not do SO, 1 am struck dumb. 1t
is all dark-dark TO my soul, and
1 cannot disguise it." Saurin was
also joking when he said that the
delectable thought was "a mortal
poison" and made his "life a cruel
BITTER"
Take away this doctrine; we
would have no way of showing our
philanthropy. Our lunatic asylums
might be in danger of becoming de-
populated. Then, you know, God
would have no way of asserting the
majesty of his power. Then the
Savlor's mission would be worth>
Iess-if the race OF han was not ex-
posed to the wrath Of Cod and the
pains Of hell, forever. 1t is all
f~oolishnsse TO talk about Christ's
coming to save mon from their sins.
1t wouldn't be worth The trouble.
With these reflections before us,
We are forced to conelnde that pub
lie discussions r not just the thing.
Then we are Conscious, (should we
get into q discussion with one OF
those hated Universaiists, that so
blasphemously assert that God is
love, and his love Is able and will
melt the hardest heart, and especial
iy that says, Goodwill have all men
to be saved and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth) shat some
would become perverted and be.
Iieye in that "damnable h~eresy."
Then u "selfsh" purposes might
be thwaFted.
But, my ''perplexed" sir, admit
ting that so-called orthodoxy is
true, Ire you faithful to your duty
In not using every far means in
your power TO convert others to the
belief in the horrors of hell and the
doctrine of monstrous devil? Are
you not, sir. in these things u little
lukewarm or Indifferent Now,
ST, If Universalists are not Chris
tians, if they are imposters, and
manufacture their doctrines"
would it not be an easy matter 20
prove 81 No opportunity would
DO better than that afforded by a
public discussion. There all could
hear both sides, unpervertei by the
prejudice of another. There you
would have every Universalist IN
communIty-you could show them
that their doctrines are only mans-
factared, and they r IntfdeIs. You
could prove that the doctrine of
endless torment is agooe tidings
of great joy that shall be to all peo-
Pc" also that it is "peace on earth,
good will toward men," As you
have the truth on your side CD you
would have no difficulty in sustain-
ing yourself, bat could show what
an awful thIngit Is to believe that
"God is good unto all, and HIS ten,
der uercles are over all His works"
If I'm ia fend in human shape,
and slowly but surely destroying
my n~eighbors with poison" and
you are DESTROYS of converting those
under my charge, L Will agree not
to use any "poison" IN debate, ex-
ceptiDg such IS is in the Bible. IL
will not bite you, nor rend You with
my horns ; in fact, Twill allo6 my.
self to be searched before entering
upon the stand, showing that dan.
gerous things are left behlcd, and
L act IN good faith.
If you should become "perplexed'