The true northerner., 1877-11-23


geologist the position OF the layers OF the
earth is not an accidental arrangement. There
is the primary, secondary and tertiary forma-
tions. These came into position in accordance
with law. In the human body we find that the
arteries conveying tho blood from the heart
are placed deeper in the flesh than the veins
conducting the blood back to the heart This
arrangement Is not chance. The rupturng of
an artery is more dangerous to life than 10 the
bursting of vein. Therefore the former is
covered deeper and thus better protected than
the latter. These laws are wise and good be.
yond all criticism. Sir Isaac Newton once con-
cluded in his Astronomical observations that
something was wrong In the action OF the
moon. He affirmed that it was gradually but
surely flying from it's orbit, and unless the
Almighty interfered by direct act terrible con-
fusion would in no very distant day reign
among the heavenly bodies. LsGrave reviewed
the calculations of Newton, and found (what
will ever be found) that human calculation and
observation were at fault and not the laws OF
God.
The penalty for the violation OF Gods laws
cannot be evaded. He who transgresses the
law OF the land may make good his escape to
foreign government with which we have no ex-
tradition treaty. But he who breaks one OF the
Jaws Of God, whether it be law of the body,
OF the brain, or soul, cannot escape the natural
consequences of such dsobedience. With every
nook and corner Of the universe Heaven has an
extradltion treaty and will bring you to judg-
meut.
In one OF the Eastern States. some years ago,
there was statute forblddIng the sale OF liquor
except by the gallon. This was expected to
work great temperance reform as no one
could buy whisky by the drink. But by thou
sand different tricks that law was evaded. |
now recall one: On general training day in
certain village one enterprisipg individual
erected tent on the public sqaure. He hung
out the sign. " Striped Pig. Five cents" The
crowd entered the tent at one door and passed
out at another. Near the middle of the tent
was pig covered with painted stripes. To the
right was bar; glass of whisky was placed
on the counter. The customer drank the
whisky. paid his FIVE cents, looked at the pig
and passed out The law was etfectually evad-
ed. The liquor dealer had right to exhibit
that pig and take pay for it; and he had right
TO treat those who came into the tent. But
when Jehovah makes law think not that you
can evade it.
You eat two or three mince pies just before
gong to bed tonight and you will have q birds
eye view of hell before morning You have
violated the laws OF your body apd will suffer
FOR il.
An adequate punishment for the violation
OF moral law is not inflicted in this life. The
punishment that we receive here is about three
fold. First, there is the retributon that fol-
Iows the violation OF natural law. This we suf-
Ter in common with the brutes. There are
physical laws whose violation is followed by
penalty. Proper food must be eaten, pure air
inhaled and plenty of sleep taken. But pun
ishment thus received is inadequate. Natural
law executes its penalty regardless of moral
questions involved Whether you rush into
the burning house for the purpose Of robbng
or rescung a child from death, you may perish
in the attempt. The flames never ask whether
this man is doing right or wrong, but regardless
of such questions perform their work OF DEATH
An adequate punishment must take into con-
sideration the guilt or innocence Of the ind-
vidual. Another kind of punishment that we
receive IN this life is that which society inaicts
The man who does wrong may be punished by
public opinion; but this punishment is unsat-
isfactory .or several reasons. Public opinion
may not be correct. In Paw Paw public opin-
ion would punish a man for stealing, but in
Sparta It would reward him. Then crime may
not be found ont and society never inhict its
punishment. Moreover, the worst criminal.
because OF his wealth or position may be pun
ished the" least. Another kind Of punishment
we receive here is that inflicted by conscience.
But this does its work unsatisfactory for the
reason that il this is all the punishment we are
to receive the worse man becomes the less
he Is punished. You will find in our prisons
many q man who will tell you that his con-
science troubled him more when he was boy
and stole jack-knife from a school.mate than
it did when, later in life he plunged the dagger
into the heart OF fellow-man. We cannot
deny tho proposition that some punishment in
the next life is necessary to mete out justice.
The question that now confronts us is, What
is that Future Punishment
Let us first go to the Old Testament. Here
the word hell is always translation of the
Hebrew, Sheol. This occurs sxty-four times,
aud is rendered "hell" thirty-two times,
grave" tYenty-nine times, and pit" three
times. It's primary meaning is the state of the
dead Job, 14-13: 80 that thou wouldst hide
mo in the grave (sheoD, that thou wouldst
keep me secret, until thy wrath be past" He
did not pray to be hid in the place OF future
punishment but IN the grave. Psalms 1910
" For thou witt not leave my soul in hell (sheoD,
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to zee
corruption" David does not here speak of
his release from future punishment but his
resurrection from the grave. Prof. Stuart, of
Andover, says: "Sheol designated the world
OF ths dead, the region OF mutre or ghosts
IL was considered as vast and wide domain
or region of which the grave was only part,
or kind of entrsnce-way. 1t appears to have
been regarded as extending deep down into the
earth, even to its lowest abysses, In this
boundless region lived and moved, at times
the names, or ghosts, OF departed friends"
49, ,naanino 90 Shaolr ,oaont