The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-24

Tairnnge.
| From the Ne,c York Herald.
Mr.. Tslmage preached yesterday morn
ing, 18th instant, on the subject of He'll.
His text was "Thus saith the Lord" which
he quoted from Exodus, .A:22; Exodus,
9:17; /. Samuel. 2:N: Joshus. 7:13 !:
Joshua; 24:2; Judges, 6:8; /. Chroni.
Giles, 17:7; Jeremiah, 60. .A
Eight texts and all of them the same,
said MIR. Talmage. The strangest .hing
in the history of modern and European
Journalism is that for the past few months
it has been discussing the question of
eternal punishment. It makes but vety
little difference what Dewitt Talmage
thinks about this, for IL is only little
while ago he began to breathe, and in q
little while he will stop breathing. It
makes but little difference what Dean
Stanly or Canon Farrar or Mr.. Frothing-
ham think, for they have never been in
the eternal world and can give no per-
sonal experience. This morning cast
aside all human authority. There is
only one being who can tell me whether
there is he'll, and that being is God.
reject every opinion except that which is
written, 'rhus saith the Lord"
| My friends, start OH the assumption
that the Bible is true. Ascommon eense
men you know that there must be some
common ground where we shall stand
together. 1t would be as silly for me 20
try to prove to you who reject the truth
of the Bible that there is q place Of fii-
ture retribution as it would be for me TO
discuss fraud and crime and penalties
With man who denied Blackstone and
the laws of the State of New York. I
have to ask you who reject the Bible two
questions: lis there g God?" els He
Good ?" You say, eyes" Now, ask,
is it not reasonable that, good God
should give us revelation of some kind
some guide, some directory? You say,
"Of course" Is it Shakespeare, or Con-
fucius, or the writings of Mohammed, or
the Bible7 If you can show me q reve-
lation better than tie Bible / will take it
and preach from it. Ia there q man in
this houso who denies everything7 It is
easy to deny. '.,n 7aI
Eternal spirit of Almighty God faIl
upon us now, while with fingers of dust
we tr.n the sacred leaves and with liz:
of ssies recits the most atupsndous
! truths that ever shook the human soul.
have no sympathy with the .hippant
discussion of this truth, nor with that
manner on the part of the preacher which
seems to say, "You impenitent people
will be lost, and good for you" Think
I am a,5inner, and because of the million
sins of my life and heart I must perish,
unless some one can chow me out of the
way of condemnation.
[ II. Is THERE FIR 2. !,
In the first place, I group together all
those passages which represent the suffer
lings OF the lost as fire. I might explain
them away, but what is the use Of ex-
planning away. the. fire when God says
there is one2 A criminal might as we'll
at empt to explain away Sing Sing Prison.
! If there is mistake about it Christ made
the mistake. The last book of the New
Testament closes with dark scroll in
the sky. What is it? Smoke. Where
there il no fire there is no smoke. Il ia
the smoke of the furnace that ascendefh
forever and ever. It may be fgurati'n,,
but know very we'll that if it is not fire
it is something az severe as fire. knoH
that it is o torment unmitigated. II
there Is mental gstate as sharp and
severe as fire it might es we'll be FIRE. But
take any figure of your own. prefer
Gods,' because Gods comparisons are
4 right and human competitions may be
wrong. Resides that it may be literal
You sag, ~ don't believe IL; won't be.
lieve it.'' Then, be consistent anu throw
your Bible into the East River. Keep.
| ing both your Bible and your unbeliei
| you stultify yourself beyond all possibil,
Iity of other qualification.
! The next thing have to do is TO group
j all those passages which show the indig.
/ nation Of God against sin and simmer, gnd
I hence. the possibility of-such q place az
have spoken of. Out of hundred
nernlons ninety2eight are on the love ant
mercy of God and only two on the indig
nation Ct God. The Bible more fire
quently speaks of the wrath of God than
pfHis love, and yet we go on preaching {
one-sided God with character which ".
I would despise in ourselves, Some seen
to think they can go on denying God anC
Il striking Him in the face and He vii
smile on them through all eternity. Ar,
/ you not persuaded by the passages which
! show the Lords. indignation? If no
then shall have to leave you TO be per
suaded by your own experience irpfC
the torments of the damned, waea thi
truths of God's punishment shall b,
burned upon you. II have nothing to d'
With objections to-day. I simply stat
that God fifty-six tines in the piainess
most unmistakable, stupondous and over
whelming way declares that there Is /
hell. It is burning now, it has beer
burning very long. IL is become ncrCc
by the victims that are being droppe1
into it. There Ia probability that Their
ale some In this house to-day who vii
! spend eternity in that lost world. Moth
II ing but the hand Of an outraged, defied
,:Iinsulted. 4 long suffering, indignant AM
omnipotent God keeps this whole audi
ence this Hloment from sliding like al
, ayaIancheinto 1t. Butt want to tell yot
that there Is nc more need dtbat you SO t
}, that world than thGt4ypn leap into til
geyeers of California. Tell the people
} gentlemen Of the press, that there is a
t | reason that any man should So there
, and If he does ne is the suicide ofihi
!. immortal soal, I turn to tho same oil
+ book and / find that. the Lord hss mad
it possible for us all TO be saved. Henc
: tonly told Us that there was-a he'll, but II
t descended into il, and coming forth erie