The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-17
HELL AND REVELATION.

DIVERS OPINIONS AND ARGUMENTsAwHo
BIBLICAL AND RArIoNALIsTIo vIEws-THE
CONTROVERSY WIDENING.
Communications these great themes continue to
from various quarters. .'rationalist"
writes that wo are required pain OF elimination TO
believe the Christian revelation, and then asks what
is damnation3 He has studied fifty years for the
answer, but can't ind it Tho only answer That no
has been able to obtain s that damnaton is eternal
torment nell nre birthstone at liquid heat. Is
thiE, asks, true probation Of the revelation
or Is it mistranslaton Now, II the Protestant DOC
tors OF every sect who must muster some 800
at least, Will meet and discuss tho question,
What Is the Christian revelation which all
agreed without a dissentent voice and propose
that for my acceptance, can return my answer. /
want something that at least amounts TO prob able
opinion; and what can a poor ayman DO in ques-
ton where all these iunrnod doctors diGsrg have
utterly Jailed to ind any part Of Christian revc-
lation that some learned doctor does dispute. OF
course exclude from revelation all that man has
attained by his reason and conscience. Let Pro,es-
tant doctors, therefore, they tired Of
this question OF hell, give US undispuled revelation,
II they lnd any. Now the old universal Mother
Church confronts mo unequivocay and tells me
roundIy shat the Bible just what 1t says about
hell and damnation aud about the great judgment
Gay, when the good are 10 be gathered the right
and the bad tho Left the good to be rewarded
with eternal lc the bad to be consigned etcsual
torments At least says your learned correspond
ent, Dr. wentnger.
Now II Is undeniabe that If there has been a reyel.
alton The Mother Church has the bost claim 10 be It's
interpreter to suppose od an inter.
prefer. The Church had nrst, and through ira
about its authenticity. The Church, tnen very fairly
puts the matter us thus:lf prove that God has
spoken and given HIS Church revelation you are
bound to believe what Is revealed. no natter how
your Unite reason may Wow IT, Granted And II the
revelation tells that the moon 10 a green cheese
you have nothing to do with any consequence that
may appear result. Granted again. But we have
not yet had tho proof that God has spoken and
therefore, ignore hypotheses Standing IN this posi-.
,ion you como prove that are the creatures
Of an unjust and revsneeiui Cod who will cternaIly
torment for not haNnR tho ability to believe pre-.
tended message from HIM.
Then az TO the nnai judgment, It always psrplcxed
my poysh dsys 10 undorsland the separation OF
tho good IRON the bad, which must be OF all degrees
from the murderer " the saint. Between the worst
man gong TO glory and the best man driven to hell
tho difference must be small that no microscope
could detect IL Now, until have proof that there
is such God would 30 US we arc compelled to
raise the question whether socaisd revelation Is
some crude attempt OF primitive thought 10 make
u God Tor primitive man. Inc reverend doctor asks,
what would men care about sin II they believe that
there Is no such Thing 10 % feared ~ everlasting
punisnmentf Does no mean 70 Imply that
thoso VINO cannot accept revelation have no
motive moral rectitudef does wish us TO In
only the tear vi everlasting punishmont dis
tinguishcd him from the hardened criminal who is
deferred from crime by fear Of our prsonsY Has no
yet 10 learn that there 's noblsr type OF humanity
whose actions uninfue need by other rewards or
punshments, and whose highest enjoyment Ia the APP
proval of consciencef
TO THE Law AND TESTIMONY.
In brief reply 10 Mr. J. Is. Farley Mr.. w. O. II.
Waddel gives all the Instances In the Now Testamont
In which The original words hades an
latod he-occur, as follows Tho MY words In tho
New Testament from which nell IL translated
nades aud gehenna For the definitions sec Web
sters and Worcestcr's unabridged dictionaries,
Matthew, XII, 23-"And thou Capernaurn ia city built