, 1880-06-27

the fullest extent TINT it, with the Old Tcsta-
ment, IS the Word of God; and, upon the pnins-
CarlStendom has 1nsrepreSented the character
OF God and soiled the white purity of it, and
that the Christian Church suffers in conse-
qucnce, as 1srneI Of old suffered, when idol
atrous, when it made its children to pass
through tho fire. +.
In a Thoughtful, keen-eyed age its influence
abates, and it's energies parnlyze; its members
drift away from it into tho prevailing forms Of
unbclief and atheism. If 1t proclams the love
formula; if it speaks OF salvation there is nea-
gre response, and salvation is not understood to
be q radical and permanent renovation Of char
flames. And so it has come to be present and
mctnentous fact in the history of the Church. rs
God by an Apostle has said; THE letter land
e5Eeclnlly the ntstranslntcd letter. killeth."
Ny friends, there are said to be snAres OF the
Devil. Now snare Is made to look rs much as
possible like harmless. or even desirable OBJ
1ect. and thus the unwary are entrnppcd. But
there is one thing which no Christian, or any
person who desires to be right ought to do He
to permit hmsef sci to dshonor G9d s. ettribs
ing to Him character which is evil, and which
conscience, II freely listened to- teaches is evil
slanderer Of God, has somehow got into the minds
Of men to crook and twist their thoughts, and to
make one Of their cardinal doctrines virtually
teach that God Is cruel, vindictivc. and that He
will pleAse Himself NIL eternity long with the
groans Of the suffering, who, for II brief moment
here on earth.-many Of them not knowing their
displeasure.- It is the merciless dogma Of men
who believed in fire, and burned their enemies,
It lnny, and think eventually will. be seen to
he Il doctrine Of devils. From it the Church will
one day arise rs from horror Of great dark
| ness. and learn not to blasphene aud be pre-
pared to bless mankind with pure Gospel,
But it is objected to these views that God IL
Just. and has Divine Justice to maintain in His
universe: to maintain ut whatever cost, and we
are bidden not to forget that. Well, that
Is the very thing l am cndcayurfnE tI
bring to remembrance, Justice! o, what
burdens OF horrors errors that word has be-, been
we do not think of maintaining Justice by
torture. And we exccrate the memory OF those
ment Of torture. We do not torture, because We
know it is cruel to torture judictally. And get
we dnre to declare that God will never cease
torturing in order that He may maintain justice
Bu1 whnt sort Of Justice is it? Where did we
pick up the idea Of it? Is it Just to do aIl nfl-
Just thing? Is 1t just to torture people foreveri
on their knees supplicating God upon the throne
with flowing tears and anguish to cease to be
just, If that were Justice. But it is not. To
think that God could annihiate the suffering
millions-ro say nothing Of His power to- rescue
and heal theul-and would not, would spoil
Heavcn for any one but savage.
But by all these suppo5tions ne assatl the
character of God. We do most deeply dsshono1
Him, VIC reduce His law to no effect, we make
His GGspel f1fe and thonghtf men dt
ing beyond, but not fearing anything except the
pains of death. Leslie Stephens, an English
writer, voices the current opinion of the think
ing minds Of his country who arc outside Of the
Church and out Of sympathy with II: - II this be
the logical result of accepting theories. better
believe in no God ut all. "
Clearly, then, If the Church has disdRured the
love and the Justice of God, II it has enthroned
in His place Being who is capnble OF torturtng
forever the children Of men, or portion OF
them, that sufficiently explains why God cannot
come to His temple, whici. is the Church. be
cause 1t is occupied By another Being: What
agreement hath the temple Of God with Idols?
asks the Apostle Paul significantly; and It Is q
question we do we'll to ask also. ..-.
Canon FarrAr, a distinguished Clergyman o1
the Church Of England, uses somewhat strong
language on this subject, with which close:
Here declare, and call God to witness, that
if the popular doctrine of Hell were true:
should be ready to resign all hope, not only of 9
shortened, but Of any Immortality, Ii thereby
could save not millions but one single soul from
what fear, and superstition, and ignorance: and
inveterate hate, and slaytsh letter worship have
dreamed and taught of Hell. Unless my
whole nature were utterly changed can i'm
ngine no Immortality which would not be alb
hOrrcnt to me, il 1t were accompanied with the
knowledge that millions, and millions, and mill
ions Of poor suffering wretches, some OF whom
on earth had known and loyed, were wrtthtng
in an agony without end or hope.