The New York herald., 1878-03-10

khOh ~, lC6 Ol1N - i
tribute OF His that God revealed TO man was truth.
govern ment in the universe based. Hence Christ
declared the Jews OF lis day that their rejection oi
the truth their greatest condemnation. In this
controversy. OF course, there can be as much sen
sment on one side as ou the other
THE xATERIALIsTs' oDJEcr:oN
The third or material head takes the form OF deny
ing the eternity of punishment because matter Is
perishabe and not eternal But II matter 10 inde-
structibe. scientists assure US, then, though we
have been burning up this earth for 900 years. In
weight and bulk there just much matter here to-
day as there has ever BEEN And leaving out ot
question materaIist idea OF the eternity Of mat
some assert II arc TO beiieve IN the trans
formation OF our material bodies BY The resurrecon
and there few VINO deny this-can not logically
believe that other iorms OF matter may DO changed
divine love? There greater miracle involved IN
adapting material bodies To material punishment, and
vice versa, than IN adapting similar bodies TO con-
dtou Of ineiabie glory aud eternal day SO that tho
only question rcmunng to us IN the case Is Wil such
cnango Or transformation take piacey lnasmuch as
tho mortal will put on Immortality Tor the skies, why
should It not do the same Tor tnc pit But without
uch change OF physical organisms the ndestructi-
biIty of matter VIII give US OASIS enough Ior endless
nres.
Now tho idea OF punishment by fire Is not new
inssrso So .riumpnanry asserted here SHORT time
ago. From the very infancy Of the race 10 tho
present time tire mas symbolized the Divine anger.
When God drove Adam and Eve out Of Eden He
placed flaming sword 10 keep the way OF the tree OF
life. that they should not return and eH thereof
flaming presence, as supposed. that Cain and Abel
worsnipped and offered their sacrifices, and from this
presence OF the Lora the first murderer went forth
to dwell the land OF Nod and build city ana live
lilo without God in It. During tho wanderings Of tho
Israetes IN the wilderness God appeared " them in
nro oi anger, notably The rebelion OF Korab. Da
than and AbiTam and In tho tabernacie ana temple
offended aud angry Goo. Hs rained hre and brim-
stone upon Socom ana Gomorrah and overthrow those
Sa n' ass s runs
Ezekiel, Daniel and other prophets SO that long be-
fore The Israetes came 70 the valley OF tho son Of
Hinnom, on the south side Of Jerusalem, and
long before they had built nre there 10
consume olral OF the temple or of the city,
they were familiar with idea OF fiery punishment
IL was not unnatural Tor them, therefore, when they
lighted their fires and kept them burning continually,
10 associate the name o that valley. gehenna ana ts
with endless hery punishment And this they
did. Hence appeal 10 Websters Dictionary,
one class oil controversiaists on this question
seem to think, does not settle u at OIL IL Is not
what the word Of itself MEANS but what idea did
the Isrseltes design 10 express by 1t that touches
the real marrow OF the subject 1t ~ ABSURD too.
TO suppose that when Jesus speaks OF "the worm
that dieth not" He has references 10 tho worms in
this valley Of the son OF Hnnom. How could worms
exist IN perpetual material fire there? But II they
could, what's hinder tho bodies OF the wlckod from
existing IN perpetual material hres! worm" was an
eptuet OF humility and reproach that the anclonts
often applied To themselves DAVID Gays OF himself,
II am worm and no man." And In JOBS days
similar language was IN vogue, and Il was In this
that Christ also used the expression. II, then,
the Israees OF old held not only the IDEA OF punish
ment by nre but OF the eternity oil that punishment
Also these aud others tho ideas they wished
to convey TO the Greeks and all otnera And these
IDEAS alone are what the New Testament writers re-
ceived and designed 10 transmit to all coming gener-
atoms
ASNiHlLArIoS AND RESTORATION THEORIES.
Tho anniulati0nists ana Tesiorationists Uting up
the Oi the grand army OF 0Decors 10 the dogma
oil endless material, fiery punishment OF ths wicked.
The former put their case substantially III ths WISE:
The State nicts capital punishment tho murderer
by hanging. This bots HIM out Of earthly existence
dear to him. To a hgure OF speech, this punish
mont continues until the State eau place the MUIR
derer back again where IL iound him. But the State
cannot do tnis; hence the punishment Is eternal
or, to change the figure ana place God IN tho posi-
ton OF the state tho incorrigoe sinner Is 5loticd
OF existence at death by the hat OF the Almighty
aud until God restores him tv Dclng his punishment
Continues II bo be never restored then punish
ment eternal lhls appears 10 DO very subtle
theory but II Is very sy feeling Is an attribute
of living matter and not OF dead And matter Is Of
those two kinds only. Now, II man Is taken from
tho dead matter heap II does not follow
that all the attributes OF the former are thrown
mepL when there feeling, and 1t has yet 10 be
proved that dead matter feel wnen that Is dono
then the annihiluton theory will have some ground |
OF hope anu belief But as many persons who oehevc
this LII, ory TO be true do also believe In general
judgment OF good and pad tney stretch their creed so
10 embrace that dogma also. And they do 1t by |
calling the annhated miions into being again |
merely TO be made gazing stock TO the universe and
then 70 be sent back 10 eternal nohngness which Is
absurd theory generation ought 10 attempt
TO promuIgale But another part Of ths class deny
the eternity OF punish men because eterny, whether
OF lilo death, attribute Of the Deity, IL
given OF lie to bccvers through faith IN The Lord
Jesus Christ 1t cannot 10 assumed that Christ |
would make distinction between the righteous and
the wicked, Uut would give eternal existence 10 both
alike, which He must do TO insure eternal punishment
as well everlasting bliss. But Whatever phase OF
the theory be presented the materially of the entire
man, soul as weli as body, Is always predcaled. SO
That every soul that dies without latin ~ Christ Is
initiated
The restoratonists may be called also eternal pro-
IL is with them merely question OF time,
but long they caunot even intimate, when not |
only all the wicked dead of our race but devils and
ialien angels also shall be restored to Divine iavor
aud occupy once more the proud positions which GEN.
turies tnousaGas OF centuries ago they forfeited
THIS theory Is very largely neld by Evaugeicals as
we'll MS by Universalista II IL very pleasant and |
pretty think about but IL Is baseless
Even If probation Is continued indefinitely IN the iu-
ture thcre 10 no evidence stronger Influences will
he brought bear upon any soul hereafter than here
Aud not then the man who rcsists the DIVINE inlu-
here not likely 10 yield 70 them there. But II
could be assured mat other and more powerful in-
ucnces would be oxsrted on him alter ns lie pos
oi resistance would still remain with The udded
cnanc.s oi hxeuncss vi character against the proba
bliiy that he would yield there. II Is, to say The
least, unwise 10 leave the case III such an uncertain
Is told in TINS connection vi tho lutc Dr. |
Elipbaet Mott, President Of Union College. |
teacher Of rcstorationst doctrine arrived |
IN Schenectady ana Announced his Intention lec-
ture his SPECIAL theme challenging III his adver-
tscm any one who could to fe,uts ms arguments
OF the students. wishing little inuOcent enter
nment, asked Dr. Mott u attend tho ure
cealing from him at the same uuie the ofor vi The
he consented and was present Tho lec-
ture concluded, the request was made u reply. |
There was no escape. Dr. Nott arose and sad 81
believe IN the Lord Jesus Cnrist, and IN iu salvation
through HIS blood. When die expect 70 10 direct
TO be with Christ You VINO think as do may follow
lhUsc VINO prefer to 10 to heaven Oy the way vi
hell III ~ follow tnat gentleman, VINO seems to have
the route" There Is nothing 10 add
tor the debate ended.
ssHE DESCENDED INTO HELL?"
NEW York. March g. 1873.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD