The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-10-10
What Follows Death.

A devout Christian gentleman, who
occupied the pulpit for twenty-five
years with distinguished ability and
left it with not a shadow upon his
fanltless fame, says, in letter before
US, Il am classed as a 'Cbristian Spir-
itualist, but l have long since grown
out OF the creeds and dogmas OF the
churches. By Christianity mean sim
ply the teachings of Jesus as recorded
by the Evangelists, without any Pau
line Interpretation of them. l deny
that Jesus ever taught that through
the blood of Jesus Christ, there ia no
other atonement for siD.' It seems to
me if this were the only way for man
kind to be saved, he would have said
something ABOUT il in his sermon on
tho Mount, given in the commence
ment of his ministry; he would have
made some reference to il as a funda-
mental principle Of the religion he
came to establish; but nowhere do you
find the slightest reference TO it. Do
ing then-not believng-is the promi-
nent idea presented; not word about
vicarious atonement or faith in the
whole sermon embracing the entire
fifth, sixth and seventh chapters OF
Matthew. He thought that what we
saw, we seek. All through his minis
try he taught the law OF recompense,
just as Spiritualists believe that ne
that doeth wrong shall receive for the
wrong he hath done
Tin the latter part OF the twenty
fifth chapter of Matthew, he settles
this question beyond controversy,
where be brings the matter Of fixing
the place Of all in the future state 70
depend entirely upon their works,
done even TO the least of mankind.
After bis death, he went and preached
TO Che spirits in prison, whose walls
were outer darknes3,' that they might
do there what they had failed to do in
their h-life-'Work out their own
salvationp
g He never taught that reform
ceases at the grave, nor that sexes
were lost in the angel but on several
OCCASIONS taught that we should know
each other there, az set forth By the
parable OF the rich mAn and Lazarus.
''He taught that the resurrection is
st what is called death. Speaking Of
the Pstriarchs, he says that God is the
God Of the living, not of the dead. At
his transhgurstion when Moses and
Elias appeared 20 the three disciples,
be taught them that was the resurrec-
ton.
''We find nothing from him about
man being conceived In sin and born
in iniquity.' Instead, be emphs; ically
declares that we must become ~ little
children. II we eyer enter tie kingdom
of heavrn. lie neither erdopes the
commonly received Mosaic account Of
the creation nor the introduction Of evil
into the world By the serpent. 10.
deed, we hear nothing Of this dogma
from the third chapter Of Genesis 20
Psuis epistle to the Romans, yet il is
the basis upon which the theology of
the day is taught.
s'He does not teach that honest,
moral men are lost, because they have
nos faith In the atonemeBt;' bat that
all shall be rewarded according 70 the
deeds done 10 the BODY The copclu-
sion 20 which / have arrived, AfseE .
quarter OF century Of honest, patient
investigation Of this subject, is that
Jesus taught the truth in regard 20 she
plan by which man is 20 be made hap
pY IN this life snd the life 70 come.