The Portland daily press., 1876-01-07
Week of PRAYER.

Yesterday afternoon Rev. Mr.. Hincks OF the
State street Congregational church, preached
the fourth sermon in the series from the text in
Matt. XIV 46: "And these shall 60 away into
everlasting punishment" If one of us had a
brother, skillful physician, and he should
tell US that we were suffering from very dam
gerous disease, and must use the utmost care
10 order to get well, we should think his words
deserved serious consideration; since his love
for US prompted him to warn u.s. So when the
Saviour warns US that we are in danger of be-
ing lost, remembering his deep interest in our
welfare, we should be impressed By his words.
They are not the preachers words; not theo-
logical speculations; not questions on the in.
Expectations of Greek words; but tie plain,
undisputed words of Christ, words spoken in
love and compassion, and we wish to know
what his words teach. We may say that the
Saviours words upon the subject of the future
life are the foundation Of his work and char
acter. If his words about that life are a ic-
ton, then he had no cause to come into our
world; and if so, what must we think of his
character? What did he think and teach of
those dying in their sins? He speaks to those
deliberately rejecting the salvation which he
provides; for he made provision for the safety
of all if they would accept it; and if any Of
those to whom his word comes are lost, it
is because they will have it so. First, what can
we infer of the retributions of eternity from
the prominence given to them by the teachings
OF Jesus? If he brought an inferior into I'M
due prominence, or placed an important one in
the background, he would mislead. But he
gives very great prominence to the thought of
the second death-hence he must have consid-
cred it very important subject. One half of
his parallels refer to this great theme, and in
his other teachings there are many warnin rs
respecting it. In the sermon on the Mount. in
the upper room, lat the supper, at the social feast,
on the way to the cross, he referred to it, and
only most momentous reality could call for
such reiterated warning. Again-We learn the
mind OF Christ upon this subject from the way
of second death. Think of his words to the
ScIlbes and Pharisees; his warnings to those
living in sin; his words to his hearers in his
sermons and other teachings! What but con-
vlction OF their great danger could call forth
such earnest and solemn warnings? They all
indicate intense feeling upon this subject, a
feeling excited by the great peril of those to
whom he was speaking. Let us ask what
Jesus taught upon the subject First-He
taught that the condition of the lost iu the flu.
ture world is one of retrlbution-away from
God-in pain, agony and despair. Second
That it is state of dreadful aud irremedaHe
woe. There is no basis in the Saviour's words
for the idea of the restoration of the impeni-
eOhu. Lie opUho VI tuclr lOSS as maj. Ills
words also refute another error-the idea of the
annihilation of the wicked. The closest inves-
tigation of the ablest scholars assures us that
the words OF the Bible upon this subject mean
just what the vast majority of its teachers have
supposed they mean: They teach the eternal
punishment Of the finally impenitent, and we
are compelled to admit this as the meaning of
the Saviour's words. 1t would be strange if
these teachings of Jesus did not come to our
hearts with power Some Christians losing
sight of the justice of God, think that this |
view of the subject must be incorrect, and that |
God and they love the impenitent too much to
pronounce so heavy doom upon them. But
these solemn words of Jesus ought to arouse |
them to more earnest effort to save men from |
this fate. They should put themselves under |
the power of the TRUTH and be impelled to Ia |
Dor and pray for the salvation of men, And |
II Christ felt SO deeply for the impenitent, with
to secure the eternal life which he came to Of |
fer, and which he urges them to accept.