The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-03-22
ENDLESS MISERY.

an article on "eternal punishment !"
aud as the writer Of said article says
toward the close of it: "There is no
doctrine in the christian system that
fears investigation" and that contro-
versy is what is wanted; | propose,
with your permission, to look into
the arguments of the writer Of said
article, for the benefit of your readers,
and also with the hope of advancing
the cause Of truth.
| do not blame, but, on the con
trary, heartily commend Mr.. Rlch>
ardson. for his earnest efforts to en-
force his views on the subject in
question. If endless punishment
which is, of course, what he means
by "eternal punishment" be true, it
is the most solemnly important truth
ever propounded for the considera>
tion of men or angels; and hence
should receive the candid considera
ton of all men. But if, on the other
hand, it be not true, it is one of the
most pernicious errors that ever
cursed this sin stricken earth. 1t
has blighted more joys, withered more
hopes, and driven more hearts into
the darkness of unmitigated despair
than any other one cause. 1t is the
drop of poison lurking in the bottom
of every cup of joy that is raised to
the lips of the truly pious and benz
evolent of earth, turning all their
Joys into wormwood and gall. |
speak from the records of a bitter
experience, and know whereof | af,
firm.
To commence with Mr.. Richard
sons first proposition agree with
him fully that heaven and hell, in
whatever may consist the joys of the
former, or miseries of the other, "are
not arbitrary things" or conditions
And l am truly rejoiced that we are
fully 10 accord in the declaration.
made by him, "that punishment al
ways follows sin in this world" Yes,
| would emphasize the word GAL
WAYS" Moreover, | will add an>
other proposition,in which suppose
we are in full accord, which is that
misery, (Which word | prefer as be-
ing more appropriate than is the
word punishment, in the popular &C
ceptatiou of that word,) ARRAYS vilI
follow sin, in all worlds of God s
Universal Empire. Sin, if under
stand anything of its nature, is Meth
or more nor less than nonconformity
to Gods law. There is, there can
be, in the very nature of things, no
happiness for any creature of God,
while occupying condition not in
harmony with the laws of its being
Gods revealed law is believe, moth.
ing but a manifestation Of the law,
which, in the creation of His inteIli-
gent creatures, He impressed inerad
icably on their moral constitution. |
feel justified 10 the expression of this
opinion by Paul's declaration, Ro-
mans 2: Ia, Is: "For when the
Gentiles, which have not the law, do
by nature the things contained in
the law, these, having not the law,
are law unto themselves which
shew the work of the law written in
their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and their thoughts
the meanwhile accusing or else ex-
cusing one another"
If, as is doubtless true, Mr.. Rich
ardson and this writer agree in the
proposition that misery always will
follow sin, then the only question d.
vidins us is, whether men will sin
to all eternity, or not. The propo'
sition for Mr.. Richardson to establish
then, in order to satisfy every intel
lectual Universalist ON earth tina
misery will exist to endless duration
is that men will sin endlessly. Thi
writer is prepared to give mos
candid consideration to any argu
ment that be may advance, founded
in philosophy, or on the Bible, tend
ing to establish the proposition thai
man will sin to all eternity. But il
will not do, | think, to undertake t.
found an argument in favor of endless
SHINING and suffering on the aualogies
of this state of existence.
Mr.. Richardson asks: "If God
can prevent sin and punishment in
in the other world, why has he no
prevented it in this ?" | do not wish
to ask questions for the purpose O
perplexing the author of the abov,
question bat would like to cause
him to examine all sides of this sub
ject, if | can. | would not intimate
by this that | believe him to be-
averse to full and free examination
of the question for he writes like q
candid and earnest man, anxious to
get at the "bottom facts. $50 to speak
Suppose we take the position implied
by the word If in the first sentence
of his question, and say that Goo
can not prevent sin and punishment
in the other world :" what follows
Why, it follows Inevitably, does i
not! that those who so live in Thu
world as to attain to q heaven o
happiness there, can have no assur
auce that they may not sin and b.
punished there, since they have onc'
ain nod and haav nun;Shad bara Pr