The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-02
ETERNIL prNIsHMENT.
A Debtor who Protests-Ie OBJECTS to Tho
Theological Biil of Endless Torments."


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-iSir: Hav-
ing lost all confidence in the prevailing religions
Of the day, l would be pleased to listen to any
arguments your correspondent. s. B. H.. has to
convince mo that an all-wise and powerful God
allows man to continue his sins. and, as pun
shment for such sin. to be thrust into hcll's fire
10 burn etcrnnlly.
Can any sane or thinking mind hnrbor such
n religion momcnt2 Why it puts man below
the lowest creature that crawls the earth.
If man is q necessity on this planet, hold
that the certainty that death was the last OF him
would he infinitely better than the probablit
OF eternal tOrments Tho thought ID enough 10
take tho munhood cut of the strong ~ mind.
Could I entertain such IN idea mCmcnt
would be the most unhappy mortal Imaginable.
Think. u few briciycars existence here. liable to
a scanty living brought hore without our wish.
taken away without our wish, sunerink nom
hereditary ailments, paying tho penalties OF
others .fults. suffering from the hent Of the
sun and the cold of winter, with sometimes
hungry belly. hungry little ones staring us IA
the face, the landlords bil the do,t,rs ,bill,
and the thousand and one bills and Ills which
we are hoir to and then the theologi cal bill OF
eternal torments If you don't believe rs we DO.
man over emerged from hHrbarism with such
monstrous thought before his eyes.
When Will man escape his vanity, and see
himself as lac is--u creature Of nature tho same
as any other Of natures creatures an accident,
ton than any other creatureY
Matter would progress through tho realms OF
space lust as we'll II man was never born. ne
has nothing To- boast o. II l. the mQst pitiul
order Of crcutiQn at war with himself, AZ war
with nature. He is low. decctiul trcnchcrous,
and full Of low vanity. A wise and Just God
could not ask any penalty from such IN ire
sponsihle ooiubination OF cgpiucting clements.
How can an all wise Providen.s ask perfection
from an imperfect structure? When an archi-
toct builds an imperfect structure, is the struc-
ture at fault II II falls?
long 70 have some learned minister answer
and convince me u ! am wong The MOODY
and Sankey people say sucl thoughts as these
are outside tho palo OF discussion, apd ttey
hint that they have no time 10 tar to W bat they
eqll igAlcls They only want re4dy.made
Avo. 80.
Tho communication Of our correspondent
signing himself Human Events having been
submitted to our correspondent, s. b. H." he
returned II with the following reply:
To THE EDrroR OF The SUy-Sr: Your
correspondent writes like n thinking and honest
man. and, 50 far as am able. shall have an an
swcr freely own that he suggests difficulties
that cannot explain. and asks questions can
not answer. nor do think any one else can.
nor do think arguing on the difficult question
would give him light or free his mind from
doub,s.
Why sin was suffered TO get into tho world
cannot tell. But hero il H.. and must be dealt
with-is being dealt with. / doubt not. with the
APPRECIATION VI your correspondent. Human
crime must receive human punishment
But back Of all this. a.. first Of all, Is there q
supreme tirst cause. maker and governor Of
worlds My intuiuons tell Pc 90. have been }
taught SO, believe 30; Delleying 50, uiink
in the body. His mode OF punishment, its ma
turc and duration. only know partially. do
know one way We are puilshed IL we do wrong.
are yenseiul. uWust, pGrildi9us. and cultivate
here. and are by necessity unhappy. Death, /
think. viii have no tendency to quench this
fire on the contrary If we uliil our duties here.
are kind. Just honest. honorable. and love our
souls hore and carry II wherever We 20.
We need nO material IRE & make he'll. ave n
is chiefly state Of heart IN which Happiness
inhcrts. rather than locality. II your corre-
spoudcnt believes that death terminates all.
th,n he need not fear anything beyond the
grave. But lie writes Ike one WHO II tAlIking
what dreams ayc"n.e whenwe hQNc shui. /
oil TINS mortal COL, or else lie would ve All 10
use the bare hldkiu.'
Now. my good brother man. rs 20 whatyou say
about your -ullefihG- from heat. and cold. hun
ger. ana starving lite gne- ig9kin- ,ou ~ the
face, landlords lll =. doctors hiis, ana a thou
sand others and then the thcOlosical bill Of
eclnni torn MT Il you don believe us tuty DO.
Throw these out pi your mind entirely. Do
4 YOU can. ike man II YOU can {, let tn"fn 80.
hcrp W good hrui1 BE Industrious and
hlnctf Il al llt.c4iy, nay STUDY care iUly,
tn lli" md ul.ng- % Jesus CHRIST as report Il
ont pleiuiice-as q 0. IS work YOU had never
soon. 1ou arc cNllnl,g - .rN4N trlrl, and have
ruthrr ulotr than your share Ol trounl bUt
| lu i'a iin-, }nn WIZ come u thiS lAs-agt
lHl.n. aud wi. siyt yJd I.si. >. u. II.
AUu, 70.