The New York herald., 1878-02-24
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.
The Question Of He'll Discussed bv
Doctors and Divines.
THEY DISAGREE SHALL DEClDEY
Views Of Evangelical, Heterodox and
Free Thinking Clergymen.
ACTUAL AND SENTIMENTAL HELLS.
Catholic, Protestant and Inde-
pendent interpretations.
Or. PORTER'S OPENING PAPER.
Opinions of Drs. Preston, Frothing-
ham. Bellows and Others.
Views Of Evangelical, Heterodox and
Free Thinking Clergymen.
ACTUAL AND SENTIMENTAL HELLS.
Catholic, Protestant and Inde-
pendent interpretations.
Or. PoRTERS OPENING PAPER.
Opinions of Drs. Preston, Frothing-
ham, Bellows and Others.


Among all the articles that have beea written on tho
subject Of eternal punishment during the past three
months nothing has appeared SO peculiar and at the
same phosophically, ethcaiiy, exegeticslly and
tneoog cally clear and exhaustive that which APP
pears in the current number (March-ApriD OF the
North Amertcan Reuiesc. President Noah Porter, of
Yale was asked in the nrst place TO give his views
ON the subject, which he did briefly and clearly.
These were shown TO Mr. rockingham, who COM
mented on them and gave his own Interpretation
Of the doctrine. They were handed also to Vicar Gen
eral Thomas s. Preston, who gave the view OF the
Catholic Church. and to Dr. Bellows, who gave his own
rather than denominat aspect OF the doctrine,
and TO DR.. w. X. Williams, Baptist, ana DR.. Thomas
j. Sawyer, Unlversast, each OF whom presented not
only his own views, out those OF his denomination
aso The opinions thus gathered from six able schol-
lrsrepresenting different shades OF beiie wore shown
again TO Or. Porter. and in this kind OF mort court
be sums up tho evidence Tor and against himself,
points where his clerical brethren agree and differ
with him. and iorhes his positions by citations
from such scholars and authors as John Henry New
man In .'Drcam oil Gcrontius,' jeremy Taylor and
Jonathan Edwards, W. X. Gregg author OF "Enigmas
Of Life" and others. Tho novelty OF such collection
will striKe the first, and then the nnmos OF the
suthors who give their several opinions will add 10 the
Interest In the subject
DIR. PoRTER's oPikISG.
In opening the discussion IN the friendly manner
indicated above for II was agreed and understood be-
forchand that the Doctors views would be reviewed
by the other ministers named he says there are two
aspects IN which this doctrine must be viewed by
every thoughtful person, each OF which occasions
difficulties which cannoV easily be set aside. These
arc It's ethical and excgetical aspects or It's import
and its truth The ethical side has do with its
of mn nd nd.
minstration oil God; the exegetical with satisiac
tory Interpretation OF teachings OF the Scriptures
Neither OF these aspects be considered apart from
The other AS between the two the ethical should first
be discussed Professor Porter next lays down lew
general propositions, which he thinks should be dis
tincty recognized and carefully considered before
tho doctrine in question Is examined His propo-
yitions are these:-That man is moral
being, aud such possesses oil the endow.
mentA which requisite Tor responsible
activity He personal and Free He assents to the
excellence Of duty and he imposes duty upon himself
Is the supreme law OF his and outward activity.
The activities, whether they called Choices
voh,ions. affections purposes, are the springs
OF conduct They more less perma-
nsnt and controlling. and hence character, as
the source OF conduct, Is itself morally good
or evil and is that alone which makes actions to
be good bad. II man Is responsible for what he
does he prc-emnently responsible Tor what he In
tends e., for what he is The saying OF the Great
Teacher at once true and fundamental-"A good
man out OF the good treasure OF the heart bringeh
lorth good tnings;" and similarly, "Evcry tree is
known by Its iruit"
DR.. Porter assumes also that God is person In n
moro eminent sense than man possibly can be. II
tho anu glory OF the Unite and dependent uni
verse man. with his Tree personality, then surely
hol,I
ments the fnite. is Himself person who Is intel
lgent and free. He has intellect TO DEVISE heart
love and will to choose, and these several activi-
ties co.ordinated into that harmony OF perfect
moral goodness which Is called inderentiy unspoted
holiness aud perfect love. As a being who IS per-
fectiy good He imposes on Himself the law OF moral
perfection, and completely complies with this SELL
Imposed law AS personal He must use Hts personal
influence with HIS creatures, who are like Him IN
turs and capable OF Interpreting HIS thoughts and
emulating HIS character. AS q beng who is loving
and good He cannot but His personal force for
the moral perfection OF Others. This influence, when
employed makes God moral ruler; when asserted 1t
becomes Gods moral law.
GOVERNMENT
Dr. Porter having laid down these propositions
relating to God and to passes next to consider
the question of law and government In their relation
both the creature and the Creator He says in this
connection that no law, even from Coo, can nave
any moral force unless u requires such poriection
As exacis from himself We're We 70 suppose
that God should command anything oil man
winch either IN KIND or degree man does not impose
upon himself, his command would have bInuing
iorce, ior the moral law Of mans nature would at
once conflict with It, But II such counict exists or
can supposed then the doctor thinks The law gains
double eniorcement-morai ana peIsonai-which
comnends IL tho obedience oil men. Tho
law Is obcycd because II Is night and
because the giver Of II is the personihcation Of
Will by the grandeur and oveness OF HIS uncreated
majesty Man, the and child OF God, Is there
tore morally bound 10 accept God ss his personal King
and TO own his government He hnds IN himself the
impulse Loyalty and worship as truly as The law Of
ronscence nay, IT l. the law OF conscience Itself
which enforces the impulses OF personal allegiance TO
tne living God.
The principles prepare US to understand the nature
ana place Of reward and punishment IN the personal
government oil God. This is the more necessary Tor
The that many object to the use OF reward and
punish ment atoge as merccnary aud demoraliz-
Ing Tney explain the presence OF these terms and
conceptions tho scriptures as necessary hgures oil
speech adapted TO the crude and undeveopea notions
OF ruder times, proper TO a lower stage oil moral
culture. Even those VINO would accept the active
personal nh hlence of the supreme in HIS moral rule
are offended at tho thought oil being moved 10
holiness by the hope of reward or the fear Of pun
ishment Ii by reward or punishment Is intended
ohiy good or evil winch God may effect ior onr
sentient selfish sonsibiIty the motive is unworthy
and tue influence Immoral, Or at least " ias To ue
moral But II the force oi either lies ~ VIVA, this
good or evil expresses OF the personal feeling OF God
then IL takes rank with the influence OF conscience
itseli, moving IN the same plane, only employing
an additional Ioroe for good anu against evil.
REWARD PUNISHMENT
Tho moral Effectiveness Of reward or punishment,
the Doctor says, Is not in the medium which OK
presses the feelings OF Goo, whether u be pave
mont OF goldp or Of "burnIng mar" but wnoLy IN
what these symbols effectively express-vz, the
favor the diseasure OF the Being whose smile ana
irown The reflex OF own Tor ourselves foras'
much man IL made In GOd's image
IL follows mat u Is most reasonable 70 oeHeVe
that reward and punishment in this high
moral import, are used IN tue personal government
oi personal God. Every analogy iorces US
TO inier tnat He, IN act, employs them Every right
hearted man will rejoice In their use and Will accept
them himself To assert OF nier that the only re-
ward or punishment which II worthy OF God Is the
good evil which rs the natural consequences oi sin
aud holiness in the soul OF man 70 the exclusion OF
any feelings Of God which these may express Is, the
Doctor thinks, TO overlook tho most pocut Of all in-
nuences OF which rnn " susceptible from his fellow
and from iim who though tue highest OF
beings IS yet the nearest 10 man. The
position DR.. Porter declares 70 be aIhoisIic