The true northerner., 1877-11-23

In church catechism OF the middle aeeI
there 10 this dialogue; Qurey: Where is hell
Ans. 1t is IN the middle Of the earth. Query
Is bell very large Ans: Not very. for the
damned lie psche d in It one upon another. like
the bricks in brick oven.
It is not the Bible doctrine OF hell but these
heathen conceptions that we reject. The be-
ief in these barbarous conceptions of future
punishment must necessarily come very far
from producing Christian spirit in the one
who entertains such belief. Queen Mary ex-
cused herself for killing Protestants by say
ing "As the souls Of heretics are heres fter to
be eternally burning in hell there can be nothing
more proper than for me to initiate the divine
vengeance by burning them on EARTH" 1t
would be an act Of mercy for her to get them
used to fire Tertullian, . preacher OF the
gospel. Presbyter Of Carthage. about the third
century, speaks Of his neighbsrs who are not
Christians: "How shall admire, how laugh,
how rejoice, how exult, when I see so many
kings worshipped as gods in hell. together
with Jove himself. groaning in the lowest abyss
Of darkness. - So many sage philosophers,
blushing in raging fire. ," Then shall We see
the players (sctors) far more sprishtly amid
the flames, the chariotser al red-hot in his
burning car and the wrestlsrs hurled, not upon
the accustomed lists, but upon plain OF hre." !"
How the old Christian rsjoiced ~ be thought
Of this HIS soul was filed with ecestacy -
he contemplated the picture! This 10 not to
be wondered at, for he who believes IN hea-
then God will soon act, talk and think like
hesthen. Would you drive revenge, self-glory,
extreme cruelty. barbarity from the human
family, first drive these from the attributes Of
the God whom we worship. Like God, like
people.
It is not by these heathenish pictures OF hell
that God can elicit the affections OF the world.
Love is not thus won. Here is a gentleman
paying his addresses to young lady. He has
reason to believe that his love is not recipro-
Gated. In a rage he picks up chair, fourishes
it over his head and exclsims, Love me, or
will knock you down." Is that the way 10
court ? Is that the way to elicit affection p
God would win the affections Of the race. He
would have all men love Him. Does He ex-
pect to win that love by force3 Does He say
love me or will thrust you into the flames
This might cause me to fear God, but It would
never lead me to love Him.
Let us remember that character has much to
do with our escape from future punishment.
1t is right to hold up the hand and ask the
prayers OF the church. II is right to take part
in prayer-meeting. But Is there not danger Of
our calling the peoples attention to these things
until they lose sight OF the daily life that they
should lead VIM. McCurry WAS hung in Bal
timore for the murder OF Mr. Roux. OF course
the murderer in his cell repented after the
most approved style. He even went 30 far %
to say 1t was the murder of Roux that brough-
about his souls salvation, and that had he not
committed the act he never would have been
saved II this is orthodoxy, let US have hett
reodoxy! The farmer who brings me load
of wood and cords it up 30 loosely that can
throw my hat through the pile in several places,
must make very long prayers and great many
OF them before will believe that he has much
religion In urging people to escape future
punishment let us admonish them to look to
their life full as much as to their creed. Again,
to my mind it is highly probable that the muir
derers, the thieves, the confessed outlaws Of
society, will be pun ished far more severely than
the one whose only Gin is the failure TO connect
himself with any particular church.
In conclusion, let me state my idea Of future
punishment: Thou " renderest to every man
according 70 his Workso % God will rendar IN
every man according to his deeds" most
firmly believe this. The violation OF any OF
Gods laws will bring punishment. Every man
will be punished just as much as he deserves,
no more, no less, and God, the habitation Of
whose throne is Justice and Mercy. will be the
sole Judge Of what each one deserves