The New York herald., 1878-02-10
Will the Punish hment of the WtcAed
BE Eternals

| is Drought WitHiu the Pui'Ac" "a "SS"A"A
| journalism by recent discussions. We do
not refer to the lectures of Mr. Robert
Ingersoll. who has merely availed himself
of the interest in the subject previously ex-
cited to get attention for his blasphemous
scoffing, which, Though it make the un-
skiltul laugh, cannot but make the judi
| cious grieve." Mr.. Ingersolls shocking
ribaldry is a mere excrescence on the dis
| cussion, since he altogether rejects the
Bible and everything which it teaches. The
real question is whether the eternal pun
ishment of the wicked is doctrine OF the
sacred Scriptures--a question of no inter-
est for. those who reject their authority.
Mr.. Ingersoll comes in to cut the
Gordian knot with blunt weapon and
clumsy stroke. IT his purpose were not
merely to gain auditors and notoriety, but
to promote the diffusion of milder views,
he would stand considerably aside and not
obstruct them by his advocacy. The coarse
ridicule of the disciple and eulogist Of
Thomas Paine will only prejudice doubling
Christians against the consoling belief
avowed by Mr.. Beecher and many other di-
vines. Even if the doctrine of an eternal
hell be as false and absurd as Mr.. Ingersoll
deems it it requires very different surgery
from his to dissect it out of the religious
mind. 1t is SO closely connected with other
vital beliefs that only an instrument of the
finest edge welded by the most delicate
hand can separate it without fatal effect
on the spiritual life ofindividual Christians.
When Mr.. 1ngersoll appears with his
coarse scalpel and rude method the patient
shrinks back in revolt Rnd declines to be
touched by such an operator.
Dismissing Mr.. Ingersoll as TN intruder
into a controversy which is of no interest
except as between Christians, we proceed to
remark that it is not at all question as to
the location Of hell or the nature of hell
torments. Intelligent Christians long ago
discarded the idea of a literal lake of fire
and birthstone Cultivated clergymen Of
all Christian denominations unite in believ-
ing that the language of the Scriptures on
this subject is fgurative and metaphori-
cal, intended to convey an idea Of intense
suffering but not to define it's precise ma
ture There is remarkable contrast in this
respect between the reserve Of the Bible and
the mild particularly of the Koran, and an
equal contrast between the Scriptures and
the poets. Picturesque descriptions of the
internal regions have been favorite topic
with the poets Of all ages and nations, and
four of the five greatest poets the world has
ever seen have gwen detailed narratives of
adventures in the under world. These four
are, of course, Homer, who sends Ulysses
on subterranean pilgrimage Virgil,
whose whole sixth book is occupied with
the similar explorations of Eneas, accom-
panied by the Sybil; Dante, whose elm
ferno" is the most wonderfully detailed ac-
count Of the situation, topography and
sufferings OF hell in all literature; and Mil
ton, whose sublime description lacks the
human interest of the inventions of his
great predecessors, as his hell is mere re-
ceptacle of the fallen rebel angels, unten-
anted rs yet by human inhabitants. Ho-
mer, Virgil and Dante-Dante, especially
make their hell highly dramatic by conver-
sations with famous men who had descended
not only the highest strain Of his "mystic.
unfathomable song" but, perhaps, the
greatest achievement Of the poetical intel
lect in any age. BY introducing popes and
sovereigns and other distinguished people
then recently dead, to swell the illustrious
company of tenants from all former ages;
by the Characteristic conversations which
he puts into such a. multitude of
different mouths; by his acute dis
crimination of their individual peculi-
arities; by the exquisite fitness of
appropriate punishments for particular
crimes; by the graphic realism of his de-
scriptions, and, most of all, by the fervor
of his poetic genius and his power of NOV
ing deep horror, Dante made his Inferno
the master poem of the world In perfect
contrast TO this detailed particularly Is the
sober reserve of the sacred writers. There
is nowhere in the Bible any detailed account
Of the state of departed souls. When the
Sadducees came to Christ with the story of
the woman who had had seven husbands
and attempted to elicit from Him an opinion
as to her relation to them in the other
world He rebuked such curiosity as imper-
tinent, and on all occasions He was equally
ret;cent. What was the reason of His refusal
to enlist interest in His religion by dilating
on n topic which has been so attractive to the
poets and the religious enthusiasts of all
ages? Even those who do not see in it q
proof of His divine mission must admit
that it attests an intellectual end moral
elevation never in any Other case witnessed
III the founders Of new religion. whence
had this man this WISDOM, and how did it
happen that simple Jewish peasant was
so superior, not merely in moral rcticence
but in sobriety and solidty of judgment? !?
Why did He alone recognize and act upon
the truth that the structure Of the human