Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-02-12

lug Vi OtueT peOpies they ouue tho
evil-doer up in prison, or take his
life away. Are they doing the
best possible thing by him? When
will they be doing the best possi-
BILE thing by him? They will be
doing the best possible thing by
him when by punishment they
help him to reform, when they
make q good man of him out of a
bad one. Already rulers are look
ing to this end. Already associa-
tions Of men are working to this
end. This end will be reached by
and by.
And parental punishment will be
perfect when 1t is always in
tended and inflicted, not in anger,
not in vengeance, not IN the sense
of o debt that is to be collected, but
for the child's benefit, for his cure.
The best parent does not say TO
himself, ~ must show my child
that my will is not to be resisted;
that my authority Is not to be de-
fed; that my law is not to be bro
ken; that when it comes to the
contest, he is the weaker, and am
the stronger" No, he has got be-
yond the rough places of the law
Into the fair regions of the gospel.
He says to himself, IL must teach
my child that the right way is the
only good way; is the only way
that is really pleasant and peace
full; is the only happy way. l
must do this even If have to hurt
him, even if l have to punish
| him." And he does not set him.
self over against the child. He
does not separate himself from
him. He does not-allOw me the
homely figure,-he does not stand
off and throw stones at him. He
is on his side all the time.
His arm is around him. He loves
him evermore; and the flame
of his love never for once falters.
1 do not state how many parents
do this. l say that so the best
parent does; that so the ideal par
ent would do. 1 say that so God
would do; that so God does do.
Yes, so God does do. His pun
ishments are allremedial, salutary,
healthful; for our health and we'll
being. He Furnishes us not because
He gives us up, not because He is
against us, but because He is on
our side; not because He has turned
away from US, but because He
wants to help us. He Furnishes us
not because He wants to make us
miserable, but because He wants to
make us happy. He Furnishes US
for our profit,-for our profit, that
,Ue may be partdkers of His holi-
, ness.
Now it quite possible that, even
at this point, some one may so have
understood the drift and force of
this simple argument as to say,
!, "It makes no difference then, does
it, how we live here? 1t will be all
right with as hereafter. Let us go
on SHINING. All the same heaven
will be ours by-and-by." Makes
no difference! 1t is just the differ
ence between light and darkness,
between happiness and misery, be-
, tween heaven and hell. Does it
!, make no difference, then, whether
you are happy or miserable to- day,
, If only you are to be happy to-
morrow. Does it make no differ
, ence whether you suffer or rejoice
/ in this life, if only you are to re-
! joice in another? Is it all the same
! to be in hell few score, or few
, hundred, or few thousand years,
, provided heaven comes after that?
|, If you want to arrive at a certain
, point does it make no difference to
. you whether you go comfortably,
! or endure torture at every step?
! Would you rather reach health
, through constant care to your body,
or through the pain of disease and
the sharp application Of the sur
geon's knife?
And don't think for a moment
that heaven by happiness is coming
at any rate. Do not so interpret
me. Heaven is not ours unless we
deserve and win it; will never be-
come ours until we win it; will be
; ours only so far as we win it.
He'll is not O place. 1t is a condi-
!. ton of the soul. 1t is the suffering
that follows Elm. Every sin has its
own hell, hell that cannot be got
rid Of or bought off. The bitter
, seed must bear its fruit. If not to-
day, then tomorrow. If not to-
, morrow then some day hence.
When the deadened conscience
quiokens, when the sinner comes to
himself, then comes hell to do its
work, its painful but cleansing
work-the work, not of hatred, but
|, of love-the work that makes of
, US, not, as some would have US be-
, lieve, bad men forever, but good
|, men at last. Some men have their
hell in this life, and some in an
other, and some in both. He'll
goes on as long as sin goes on; and
: when sin ceases and the man sets
: his face towards the right, then
, hell ceases and heaven begins.
: do not understand what the body's
. death can have to do with the mat
/, ter. 1t must happen hereafter as
: we'll as here that what we sow that
, shall we reap; that tribulation and
,, anguish shall come into the sim
, ming soul, and life and joy and
: peace into the soul that continues
in well-doing.
He'll is within the realm of God.
1t is an instrument in his hand.
1t is ono work of His love. 1t is
matter of more or less account
to the nature of the offence. He
will have all His children come to
Himself, and if they can come in
no other way it must be through
His bells. He will not lose any
child. He is too good and true; too
just and fair a Father to do that.
By and by, it may be long ages
hence, the law will no more threat
en- with its penalties, for all will
live under the Gospel light. By
and by heaven will be in every
heart, and hell will be no more.
REV. MR.. HICKEY'S REMARKS
Were founded on Genesis III, A.
| IL =, Il Al, Z. nm 4 .,.. IL. =. 49,.