Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-03-28

ton. 1t is certainly very difficult to believe
that any sane man really believes that thcro
is no such thing us matter in the world. If
any ono deliberately makes the declaration
that the walls of his own house arc only
the creatures of his Imagination, We orc
forced to conclude that the man is either
insane or consummate cheat. He falsi(ics
his own convictions. lie says ho docs not
sec what he does see, and knows lie secs;
he says he docs not hear what he does hear,
and knows he hears. In one word, he soys
that his five senses are five notorious liars
The same is true respecting the man who
says there is no he'll. We are unable to
understand how ho can think that such is
the case, aud hence We arc forced to con
clude that he says one thing aud thinks
another.
The doctrine of future reward ond pun
ishmcnt are closely connected It may be
said that they form two perpcndiculars to
the came plane. If the ono is true, so is
the other; if there is no hell there is no
heaven. They are closely connected with
the doctrine of the immortality of the soul
It is readily admitted that for the clear
notions which We have of the Immortality
of tho soul, and the future and endless
blcsscdncss of the righteous, and future and
cndless misery of the wicked, VIC are in.
debtcd>,to the Bible. What of this? We
are indebted TO the Bible for all the know
| ledge which wo have that is really worth
anything, either for time or eternity If
oil the knowledge which men have OBJ
tanned, either directly or Indirectly, was
stricken from their minds, very little would
be left, and that little not worth much.
we arc Informed on trustworthy author
lty, that there has existed, from time mmc.
mortal, among all nations of even the
smallest advancement in civilization, q
| society, one of tho primary articles of which
Is the belief in the Immortality of the soul.
This is made second only to the belief in
the existence of Supreme being whom wo
| call God. Learned men, and men Of uE-
questionable picty, toll US that many OF w.
ancient Egyptians were members of til
society. Its origin dates back, We are tol,
by learned men, to the days of Moses Ell.
denccs of the existence of this society have
been discovered among the North American
Indians; among some Of the African tribes,
and, in every section and quarter of tho ,
globe, wherever there arc men elevated iDA
the scale of civilization above brutcs. TL&
bond ct union among the members of tlN&
society, is the belief in the existence cf t.
God, and in the immortality of tho soulX
This society does not claim to he religious&
society," yet its articles of confederation areA
opposed to the theories of those preachers
who proclaim to their hearers that there is
no hell.
The obvious teachings of the Bible arc
that there is heaven, the Joys of which are
endless, and there is hell whose tormcnts
will never end Those who are disposed to
TALL In with the theory that this is a CON
coctcd theory, hatchcd by thcologians to
incitc some to live lives of faith on the Son
of God and to frightcn others to serve God,
would do well to consult the following pas
sagcs of Scriptures: Matt. xxv:41 "Dc-
part from me, yc cursed, into everlasting
ire: In the same connection they may read
the Goth verso: "Thcsc shall 90 away into
everlasting punishment" Mark ix:43, II;
xiS:2l. Luke iii:l7. John ii:36. 9
Thess. i:7-0. Jude vi:l3 Rev xiv:9-11;
xx:1O. Many other passages of similar I'M.
port might be referred to. These, however,
arc sufficient.
If the doctrine of endless punishment is
not taught in these, it will be hard to say
what they do teach. Whatever men may
say or oven think, tho Bible does, most
plainly and most positively, teach that thcro
Is hell and that the tormcnts Of hell aro
everlasing-fore and ever. Those who
say that tho Bible is net tho word of God,
and yet arc civilized men, should be able to
give some reasons fox their strange conduct.
They tremblo when God shakes his rod
over them; they dread the wrath of God,
and yet say that there is no such thing as
Gods wrath.
Notwithstanding tho fact that some mon
OF giant intellect arc the promulgators Of
the theory that thorc is no hcll-no place of
endless punishmcnt-thc is not much.
danger that this doctrine will be vcry ex-.
tensively embraced. Only certain class of
preachers will attempt to preach this doc
trine, and only few persons will believe It
when preached. 1t Sil never be tho case
that preacher, eminent for picty, will
proclaim to his hearers that there is no hell
The man who becomes setter forth of this
strange doctrine, will drive all the poalv
persons from his congregation. lie mov
gain tor himself notoricty, but the man who
betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ made him.
self notorious. So did Nero. 1t is verv
easy to mako ones self notorious. Those
men who teach that man is but tho dcycl..
opmcnt OF the tad polo, or cultivated mon.
Key, are notorious; but oil sensible neoplo
thlAk they are notorious fools.
Since tho belief in tho doctrines Of tho
i'iblo are cminenty calculated to make mon
better, thoro is no danger in heartily en-.
bracing them. On tho contrary, those men.
n any thoro be,) who believe there is no