The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-03-29
Enr1on True NonruepSsn

EDITOR True NoRTHERNRR;
Like Bible Student we have no desire Tor
controversy; yet in looking over remarks by
"A Believer in every word OF the Bible In
your issue OF March 10Th, cannot resist desire
to comment. The assertion that those who
disbelieve in Hell, and inspiration OF the Scrip
lures are not sincere, do not honestly believe
what they say is uncharitable to Say the least
and strikes us al being little uncourteous
withal. And the argument that those who
disbelieye are fret to send for man OF God
IN the dying hour, is entirely erroneous. The
writer Of tins IN the course OF an eventtui he,
has often stood by the bedside OF neighbors
and fnends, near and dear when the Grim
Messenger of Death, stalked in to claim his
own; and calmly and fearlessly have we seen
them meet, trusting only on the goodness OF
just God, who cannot do an unjust deed. Pro
fessed believers, only, have we known to send
for the man of God woen the hour of trial
came. We are IN great measure what edu-
cati on and surroundings make us. II a CHILD Is
taught to believe In ghosts and hobgoblins, he
is afraid Of the dark. IL ntelligently taught
and laughs at or pities those who do. We
cannot all see from the same standpoint, be-
! cause we are differently organized and assocl-
ated. Why then be uncharitable; you have
just as good right to your opinion as we have,
and do not forget that we have just as good
right to our opinion as you have: here we
stand on level ground We have been brought
to our present state OF uDbehef by an earnest
and candid perusal OF the Old Testament; we
cannot believe it Gods word. because we be-
lieve God to be good and just and the Bible
teaches us he IS cruel and unjust. Believer
intimates that the true Christian is not troubled
with anxiety concerning those who walk in sins
ways; their own brighter prospects seeming
to cause them to ignore all the love and sympa-
thy inherent IN their natures their home
lies in different direction consequently in
terestceases. why all this fuss about Hell,
when 1t Is 20 easily avoided is asked: and is
1t such an easy matter 10 be christian? We
to lead good, honest, upright life, when one
is born of good parents and brought up amid
pleasant surroundings. But for tie tens Of
thousands. nav. the millions, whose only herit-
age is poverty and shame, whose lives are a
perpetual warfare, a constant struggle for
daily bread, nought to encourage, to cheer or
elevate, Ii 1t an easy thing for them to be
respectable even? To be christian Gas we IN
derstand it) implies an unselfsh love to all
humanity. as to ourselves. To be encaeed in
an armor of charity, which thinketh no evil:
to ignore the world, for we cannot love God
and mammon.'" How is 1t with the Church Of
Christ to day renowned the world, or made It
popular and fashionable? How about charity
and brotherly love; are there no jealousies, no
dissensions among christian people? Methinks
the columns OF the TRUE NoRTHERNER affords
fair illustration Of this feeling wherever more
than one denomination exists-one man OF
Gcd picking to pieces the sermons of another.
These communications may or may not be pro-
ductive OF good, depending upon the spirit III
which they are received. But if in consequence,
anyone takes up the Bible at the beginning.
give 1t a careful, intelligent reading, unbiased
by any previously formed ideas, and use their
own good judgment and common sense a
more liberal sentiment is az sure to follow as
the dawning OF day, is sure to follow the dark
ness OF night. AN OUTSIDER