, 1874-09-06

Tint stage OF existence when moral and spiritual
accountability begin. Now as it is our object to
contrast the respective conditions Of tho infant
and the adult in regard to the claims Of each on
Gods mercy, ne will first examine concerning
the claims Of the infant. Hero the question
x1ises Why is tho infant made an
unconditional recipient Of Gods mercy? Tho
answer is simply this: Because it wonld
be violation Of tho principles of Justice to pun
ish IN Irresponsible moral agent. Again, let US
pursue tho investigation relative to tho " uni
yerBal taiut, through ADAM" with the Wow Of
arriving at just and truo conclusioua- Evidently
the infant dying in infancy, thereby escaping
the penalty Of damnaton, aud tho infant per-
! mitted to eojourn the allotted thrce-score-a
ten years. arc each go nearly related in prenatal
and post-natal destiny that it would bo or
trenely difficult II not impossible, to Indicate
the limo Of demarkation. Indeed, does not in
fancy, to speak correctly, e1tond throughout
earth-life? Tho infant that is suffered to attain
to admit ago does 80 undor the hereditary taint
through Adam; and this 'taint" must needs
prompt him to whatever transgresaions may
he laid to his charge, or ut least to greatly mt:-
gate their force; for oven the adult cannot DO
fully held Is frecmoral agent, as lie had neither
act nor part in tho transgression and full OF
Adam. True, Ada1nie postoritE may be so un-
fortunate as 10 inherit the Adamic weaknesses,
but can they be justly hold to such cruel, vim
dictive afteI-punishment as is so oft asserted by
tho apostles OF damnatlon !?
Now, ii it is unjust to hold tho infant respon-
BLDG loT Aunu LIaubilitseA Ao1cA4%AAy <ti3As
and curse, surely the nll-~ise God will hold tho
adult III guilty ut a!D fit subject for moIcy in
decd, it cannot be maintained TINT God, " the
great creator and maintaner OF oil things" ever
Furnishes, eave for tho ultimate wel}-beiug OF raf
ormntion ct tue punished. just hezo, however,
the believers in '' hell and damnation" deTiato
from Gods truth their idea OF punishment is
for utter and hopeless ruin,-Tlthout oven
hope for reformation. Such d dogma ss this
is evidently libel upon Gods attributes Of
Justice, goodness, mercy, and truth; nay, more,
it is an impeachment OF His wisdom in fofeor-
daining whatsoever comes to pasB." Therefore,
II infnnt salvation ls universal cud unconliton-
al then it would bo IN net ct injustice to mako
tbs punishment OF tho adult other than that OF
O reformatory chaructcr,-to educate him out Of
tho Adamic siongh OF depravity. up to stand
ard Of Intelligence md yittue. There is one
fact however, that We may rest assured Of, and
TINT ia, the Good Father will not lay upon any Ct
his erring children more than thoy ate able to
part OF partial or unjust judge. Pro
gtessiye Development, from tho rudimontal
state up to the perfect, ID Gods broad.
universal, and inyarlable law. Tho infant
called bence carries with it to tho Kingdom Of
Heaven whatever Of talnt it may lave inherited
through Adam and, moreover, wo cannot sup
pose that infancy is 8 permanent state; We COLI
cIudo, therefore, that Infants in Heaven must
grow and bo educated up to stato of moro OF
less perfection, as the case may be. And vino
will Say that like system Of moral and spiritual
elevation ia not employed in behalf Of the aduit
sinnar2
Ia it not at onoo more reasonable and in better
keeping with the spirit Of justice to hold that,
nB all arc partakers in . common n2.ure, SO arc
all partakers in common salvation .. 2.
DunrQuE, L.. September. 1s7d.