Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-30


the battles of life are over
That there has been "A charge in the man
ner of viewing this subject need not be de-
MED In like manEer there has been
change on many other subjects. Pety, es
sentially, is always the same. Its manifes
tations change with advancing years and
generations 1t is more cheerful and hope.
ful now, not outwardly so forbiddng AS
formerly The Sabbath as Christ taught i,
is as dear TO mankind TO day as ever. The
Jewish idea of it has passed away. II
should never have oeen held, after that walk
through the wheat fields and the explana-
ton that followed. These minor chaa ges
we should expect aid not be disturbed by
them Fifty years ago a new translation OF
the Scriptures was considered dargero3s
and almost impous. 1t led some to claim
almost inspiration for the King James YER
sion The world Is ready now for gooG
new translation, and no one fears that a
single important passage will be lost.
Doubtless some have expressed the views Mr.
Beechpr and Prof. Swing so earnestly de-
nounce but utcomparativelv few Is it necessary
however, to hold any such view to be scri p
,ural? May there not be state Of things
hereafter requiring the punishment of sin, as
here, and as naturally as here? Are there no
ends to Le gained bs holiness, making the
punishment of sin, not forsaken a necessity
anyw here? 1t is SO here, in divine and
human governments alike. May it
not be so hereaf,er? "Why uo' rave against
God for puuishing sin with physical and
moral pains as he does here? Why not
curse society for the branding and ban
isbment it inhicts on the woman, often
needless, who falls from virtue? Society
does il for self-rro'ecIion and knows 1t
must do it, or That 1t has of heaven would
spe edily become HE'LL Sin is against ho'l-
ness and lis ends "WithOut holiness no
man can see the Lord" Vice in society is
against virtues blessings. Punishment in
soci,ty is almost wholly sef-protecive
In Gods government it subserves every
highest interest, the sinners not excepted
1t is bett for he inprnitent that they
rean MS they sow To SIN and not oe pun
ished in any way would he more alarml -
than he deepes, bell. If | could know
had siuned, nad given my bands evil and
my tongue 10 deceit aud III Il know | was
not punished, tplt no pangs Of conscience,
had no fears, nor even thoughts OF hery
| indignation in the future. | should
cry out in an agony of terror; horror o.
orrorsl depth of infamy! | an a brutt
aud no man | can wallow in sin as tue
sow wal!ows IN the mire and not feel IL
Then von d ply if conld @ God, give me
back my manhood and lei the lash be appied
| Better manhopd and the rod, than To sin
and fear no pain. But there is always a
rod for manhood when manhood goes as,ray
ep;rt of icti here n
| course all wrong and uuchristian We dare
not say auy deserves eternal punishment
| 1t is not for US to settle mans destiny. We
are to pray for all men. 1t is right to hope
that all may be saved, .and sing at last unto
Him who loved us and washed us from oul
sins in hi own blood. to HIM be glory
1t is not improbable that some who cried
Away with Him, cruelty Him." on th'
day of Pentecost asked, "What must we dc
to be saved? ?"
The chief of sinners may be forgiven
We do not preach who are saved and who
are not, as to numbers. 1t is sometime!
asked, "what of those who die IN theiI
sns?" Who :of US can tell who die thus
or who do not. Secret things belong tc
| God, revealed 10 us, One of these revealed
things is, revealed in nature and in The
Bitle, Sin is punishable. Here we know
why not hereafter. if not forsaken? Doubt
less the truly penitent, seeking the Lore
4 can be saved st the last moment. But will
men repent? Both maefactors crucified
with Christ, it seems did not. The sin
against the Holy Ghost is not any cne
thing. but the fixed purpose to refuse Christ
no matter that the evidence; the determin
alton never to bow in submission to God
No doubt that is often done long before
death. l believe the teachings of the New
| Testament are in strictest harmony with
reason. | 90 not always see that this is So
because l do not know all. But because
the gospel presents truths which science can
not interpre. with its language, or measure
with its line, it does not follow therefore,
that these tlu hs are not in harmony with
reason. Punishment always implies sin
| Continued punishment, continued rebellion
against God and his righteous government.
| Virtue receives everlasting reward, because
| it is everlasting virtue. The soul that
sinneth dies The righteous live. This is
| the all mporta t point in this controversy
Will the punishment of the finally impeni-
tent be endless in an idle and evasive ques-
ton. Who shall fl limit, and what shall
it be? A million of years is not Eternity.
Is not one year, or one day of the hiding of
Gods face, as it shall be then, enough to
lead everyone to fly for refuge to the hope
Sc, before US?
The terrible fact therefore is, Sin IS, and
is punished. That we know. He'll is on
earth now. Men are here and now tormen-
ted in the flames of drunkenness and lust {.
But this will not be forever it is claimed
Why? Goo is love. One thing at time.
First, show how sin and suffering can be
harmon,zel with Gods love here. Take
the terrible famine in India last year. the
awful bells, the unatterab'e sufferings Of
the war ia Turkey take in Andersonvile,
then 90 down into the hell of slave ship
after she has been out three weeks in bad
weather. Settle the relation of all that, and
more than | can tell you, or you have pa
thence to hear, to the love of God, then pass
to the future. Of course it will be sad,
men are .free agents. If they choose they
can neglect agriculture and suffer. They
can go to war and suffer. They can engage
in the slave trade and make suffering. Ger
tainly men are free agents. 1t is the crown
ing glory If our nature. But where will
L r .