New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-09
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.
LETTER FROM CATHERINE +. BEECHER.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
| SIR: The subject of eternal punishment now
discussed in both secular and religious papers, is all de-
pendent theological theory to what constitutes
| perfect mind and how it originates. There are TWO
parties question which pamed Calyinstic and
antiC whistle Both hold that mind is perfect when
1t kn what is best for all concerned (and so righ
aud also has controlling purpose to act right IN all
cases, and thus falling in Judgment or choce'
The Calvnt holds that God created such minds In the
case OF the holy angels aud Adam. The antlCalvlnst
holds that 1t ia impossible for God to create such mind
inasmuch perfect knowledge and choice cannot be
created finite beings but must come by experience and
training Right choice is choosing what Is best for all
concerned for both time and eternity, and rs none
| but God can know this, choosing to obey Gods
laws and doing right mean the same. Sih
is transgTesson OF law" either natural or re-
veaied, and the infant cannot help from SHINING any
more than the sparks" can help from lying
| upward Aud so all arc born with sinful
nature. but as perfect as God can make 1t.
The Caylnst holds that though God cOnd have created
every infant mind holy he did the holy angels and
Adam, for mysterious reason Adam, by act Of
dsobedicnce, became totally deprayed in nature, ana
transmitted this all infants. And total is this de-
pravity that no child can feel or act right till God par
italy, but not wholly recrcaes the depraved nature
Tie nntCaylnst holds that God creates every infant In
His image 10 constitutional powers, some OF
higher and o. lower grades, and with diverse COM
bnati0us Of mental faculties all good In nature ana
wrong only by excess or misuse. The Calvnlst hOds
an recreatcd by God Will 10 eternal misery
and that there certain method Of gaining this re-
creation as all depends on election aud sovereignty The
antCavmlst holds that n child is saved by education
aud Divine aid given 10 all vino seek IT, that this lie Is
hut the beginning infant school, that God and good
beings continue 1t tn the day OF judgment, when the
righteous aud the wicked will be placed In
! separate worlds and experience only thc natural
| .eultsa oh. md
On this yiow The number saved depends on the labors
and sacrifices Of Chri5ts true followers, who are the ed
! ucators of the race, from Nonh Abraham and the
| Apostles 10 this day The Calyinist holds that death
ends probation, aud then all the unregcncrate 60 to hell
and forever live In literal fire and birthstone or in er"
! tormcns OF mind.
| The following views current in our secular
papers as the Clyini,tic teachings eternal punish
| ment: Augustine who originated the Cavinlstc sys-
tern taught the bodies OF the damned, among whom
uubuptscd Infants, VIII burn In everlasting hre In
Baxt,r's SAINTS Rest" given to me when | was
vaiuy trying love God, IL written thar the tormcnts
Of sinners will he universal. The liquid fire
will prey on every part. the eyes will be
tortured with sights Of horror the with howls and
Of companions in torment, their smell with fumes
OF birthstone, and drop Of water shall cool thtir
! tongue no respite relieve their agonics. President
! Edwards, in a work given me to lead me 10 love Cod
says the saint, glory will the sulerinss OF the
damned no grief. but rather with rejoicing. They
will not bee sorry Tor them. but will be excited 10 j0yu
praise. Dr. Emmuns, whose preaching heard When
generate taught that the happiness Of the elect IN
Heaven Will III part consist IN watching me torments oi
the damned. aud amoug them will he their own children
ana u'I ,r VI" ,tncr's trend d. Carelimcr
| suung of Ncw-YoIk, said that when an angry God
undertakes punish he Will c"nync" the universe that
he docs not grd himself IN vain. II WI be glorious
tr len his blood under their feet into furnace of fire
yh,rc sail be- weeping and waiIng and gra-ning u
Afv ]. ~.
Eoston ,ay : Il be feared tnat thc !oril two children
in h,s sermon SINNERS in The hands OF angry God"
! sas- lyon cannot stand an insant before an
aioG rye. Seinst Won IN al liz wiath" spur
| eron Of England, says lat the dav of judgment
"an'I iGy body suGu,ti With agony" Dr.. 1anagc,
OF Brooklyn PANTS the miscrhs 81 "rl III similar Ian
gacc Tie Methodist Chrs'iH Adrocde represents that
TINS denomination, on yearly average, gives 'hy -
cents Tor each person To save 'OpoOpoJO Diolutts ana
sisters from wadng chm dc'p through we tormeuls :"
eternal death Th- biographcruf President Edwards say
that preaching "a the dangers 81 hell at lines"
weeping and groannE NJ ia'her rejected The htea -
lfr fire and birthstone ornruts bat once heard him
IN CINCINNATI descrte The mi'crc- OF the wicked SMUT up
together with all tncr horfh pl'on, dl should nay
nsr affected a. tue hearers ~ President Edwards,
had not es"hpcdby leaving the chheh' ~ diu my SIS
Iwas educated III the Calyinstic system aud lived
H.: ,rarc i to nc were destined TO such horrible
doom il herein descub'd lna period Of great dis
tr,s> such Tears too. chaIse OF Sonc OF tlo nbes
NINA. ever met, and With them studied aud dlscussed
Stcnnrs Mental Philosophy, by "ncn l harntd To
detect aud apply the prmciPics Ot reason or c"hn"
sense The result was text book III winch maintained
mat by IA process OF reasoning without revelation We
roud iroyc the doctrines here set "rtn ~ antiFalyin
| isuc A. had met such an argument nor cohd
hear Of one plNhey ~u' tN' ; -, H. a"
thculOgians oi III. cI.tI az -, rI " G
The book returned with criticism and counsel Ihe cll
clsn. thus gained we're s"Ir OF tnen very compliment
tary and some lnsuog. all on supposon that
the author gentleman. But IN not single case
| mott Thr same argument was then published III an
other form IL the introduction gave some
! of my Icr-oHa experiences by the advice OF u
| critical and lastidious gentleman who said IT
would do more good than al my aglin,hts'
! Tins wor. was widely reviewed sometimes win cpmpll-
meutary and sometimes with insulting rrinafks But III
single case VA. there an attempt 10 eVOvet the
arguments then published an al pral deicatlng 1t To
tue editors OF the cuAr pres, IN which maintained
thar tnc alyIu.c system IL as contrary L. The Bibc
~ If i. 10 reason aud common THIS also both
cautiously aud severely criticized but no attempt was
made Ia meet the arguments In some cases tie reason
nssiyped a. that they had long been shown to be
nothing or w0rse but was never told "hen or where
But my father my brother Henry conceded that the
arrI,nenta were unansWorab,. Dr. Ia Tor, Professor
| of IAcoio.y III Yale College, wrote me: " have never
supposed that man has Il deprayed nature In any sense,
or corrupt nature he changed but that an nature
Is Ike God" | privately "ppeaod ior hrip 10 Scv-
itng The independent learned that they would not open
their columns Ia ~ psychological ana hrologlca dcus
sion" like this Even the HONORABLE fearless ana pcicN
o,l Horace Greeley wrote his excuse that he had
| promised his orthodox friends that he would
| nnd the greatest OF AL here.lcs Is common SENSE
Leading publishers as well - editors Sl''od .hat tneo
Ogns. IN Whatever else th'S dlHeItu "clt ul'.u III
the determination that TINS discussion soun h"t %"
permitted Aud 80 IN every denomination ever! lHiiu-
used 10 prevent Inc SAFE oI 'hese "ohS a'so
| my succeeding WORK. . , 1890
For many years have been with iainily connections
or intimate friends who counted a. SccpitS ahi
scirni lists, aud have had these questions proposed
| which know not how 10 answer: I0ul own pF"thets
now are connected with Cayinistic churches or hohe
so REGARDED by common people. IHty aiu ltadIh-
hoOOaus read your works, and are aDii 10 cor
reef our definitions on tue iIlacy OF ur fgu-
mcnts II thcy mud any IL manly or honorable u
! take the Ol apparently cOWdidIy OF contempt
mons ,tl,ucrl Your claim rlat II IL your spec'dl
mission 10 illustrate the grand tuth thIt common
sense without unusual a.cnts or learning, uhtd WIN
e ,csirs 80 Learn and obey the truth Ia AL that Is
needed to understand e Bibic correctly So Us 70 gam
eternal bcssducss. Yet yOu stand alone IN tls Wise
aud solemn The CAlNiusilc sl siclh Is more
absurd and cruel than ANY the Pagan or Aohahlnch