The New York herald., 1878-02-25
THE WICKED SHALL SUFFER- HEREAFTER-
REV. JAMES KENNEDY.


REV. JAMES KENNEDY.
The Rev. James Kcnncdy preached In the Fourth
Reformed Presbyterian Church last evening ''The
Future State OF tho Wicked" In q vigorous discus
sion OF this momentous question he dealt some hard
blows at those whom he styled "blatant, bustering
indels" who pender TO the worst passions OF fallen
humanity, we'll "those sentimental preachers
who seem to argue this question, not IRON what God
had actually said, but from what they supposed He
should have sald" Tho preacher said that hts aim
was deal In sentiment but to construct logical
argument tho subject; nrst for those who do not
accept tue authority the Bible, and secondly lor
those who do In relation TO tho former he ad-
duced three cons de ratIons which, he ed furnished
presumptive proof sulcicnt TO convince any
able mind that state of iuture punishment must be
o reality. First, that the principle Of eternal punish
Is acted by munities and by society every
day with the APPRECIATION OF all good men, In tho
death penalty, Imprisonment tor lie and IN ban sh
ing forever from society tnose guilty OF some forms
oil there is actually eternal punishment und over
lasting wrath and oernal refusal to be reconcied
ful iorebodings oil the guilty conscience, or, what
Paul calls "fearu looking for OF Judgment
snow that the idea OF future punishment has
been, In all ages and among all nations univcr-
sal instructive belief Even the creeds oil hcathcn-
Ism show an instructive behoi IN future punishment
which must have, ike our other Instincts a CORE.
sponding reality. The absurdity OF late Qnousve
inidcl statement that tho Now Testament has made
hell was mere exposed aud rebuked. 1t was thirdly
SHOWN that the very IacL that the iuturo punish
ment doctrine brings comfort ana encouragement TO
wicked meu ana evil dosrs proves that ~ cannot be
divine truth. This was illustrated by proposal to
abolish ali terror OF law in The city OF New York. re.
moving cur courts OF justice, demoishiug all our
prisons and discharging our whole police force. IL
would be amazingly popular, not with good men, but
with drunkards, tneves and murderers, and on the
Same principle II highly satisfactory the wickod
10 have II proved that there IL no punishment TO be
dreaded hereafter: but "tne wish Is iatncr TO tho
thought"
The second part OF the argument was for such
profess accept the Scriptures authoritative. And
mcnt on tho subject; AMI yct that EXPRESSIONS
as nonstrous, inconsistent with tho love and good
ness OF God. horrible 10 think OF Gods burning and
torturing etcbcs" and such ike, usually
up the total Of the arguments IN wnicn the op.
poncnts oil futurc punishment deal IL was also
shown that the question cannot bo settled by minute
verbal criticsn Here Canon Farrar ana men OF his
class were referred to, who by torurng language and
others altogether, make show OF rcc0nCiiing Their
theory with Bible phraseology. IL Is always suspi-
cious, however, when mon have 10 resort 10 such q
course. Tho Bible Is q divine revelation It's
ing lies its surface, aud the honest mind
" tho spirit of child TO learn Gods mind, to
get support for its o." preconclvcd OPINIONS.
Five positive arguments we're then adducod from
Scripture. FIRST, the terms Used concerning tnoso
close his sou,O them that are lost ssin
them tnat perlsn," "wherc their worm dieih not
and their lro not queh ched," 'sthey shall never
life ~ &c III secondly shown tho day OF grace
ana salvation is limited to this lie, ana that IL Is
utterly impossible to prove that any OF grace
will be enjoyed beyond tho present The wicked are
therefore ''without nope In thoir DEATH" "wthou Ut
God and without bope.n II Was thirdly shown that
the day OF judgment will be ina a. the destnes OF
man aud yet leave some under punish hment Fourthly,
the nature and perfection oil the DviDc govern
mcnt requires power 10 infict such punishment and
hnhlys Ihat SIN may come TO such stage on moral