, 1880-10-13
THE REV, DR., THpMAH' POSITION,

1NHllll6 HtSk oHIlAAtt I'LL NtIEH AC E&CitAa$
nnd boldly stated Ills position with reference
Ia three Ut tho mnst important doctrines III
theology. Is OF moro thnn ordinary interest,
not only to tho Methodist Church, in which
lie Inns been SO lna,y ycars one Of its ablest
and most eloquent teachers, hut also to tho
religious world. since lie puts himself for
ward rs I'LL advocate ut liberal aud progress
!yc viuwa, but not In advance of those held
by hundreds Of clcrgymcn who have mt yet
uvowcsl tllcm from fcallligs OF tiinLtllty or
motives Ut pulley.
II WIS sermon which gave voice to tic
rnuttorel beliefs Of thousands, nlId will
arouse widespread discussion. It was 4 sor-
mon whoso Influence will not end with tho
preaching, wl,ateyer may be tho future work
ut Or. Ii.0tHns. Tho clergy of the Church
nay allow Him to retnain or Il may cluse its
tloors against him. but the seed suWn III TINT
sermon are bound 10 terminate and bear
fruit
1'eioro making any comment upon tho scr
mon It will be well to state briefly tho diver
gencics In belief between Or. Thomas and
those ,,cmbcrs Of the Conference, tle clergy,
a,'tl tho luiy w1lo take Issue with Hin, md
l,aye 30 long been coycrtly installing lin rs n
sort OF lieretic md tnsonnd in the faith. These
Emergencies appertaln to tho three pivotal
points OF theology In every Church: tho
ntoucmens, hclt.lre Of future punishment,
and thu Inspiration Ut tho Scriptures.
Dr. Thomas believes In tho ductrine of the
atone1ue ent, but he does not believe III wllnt
lsc calls tho "butcher theory" Of tho atone
lent-nan,ely: that Christ was sinner and
was punished for Sli,, nor that tho penalty Of
the law could bc visited upon onu who Ind
never violated ii. lie believes that tho ntone-
mcnt was tho operation Of the great law
of 1.-THE righteousness Of loyo coming
forth md seeking to saye."--a yolun-
tary sacrifice born Of love for the
world n1ld> d>sympntl,y for suffering humanity,
nii not sacrifice rendered NECESSARY by tho
assumption Of sin or tho violation OF the lAw.
III discussing tho question Of future
punishment DR.. Thotnns utterly repu-
tfiatcs tho theory of literal l,etl-fire MID
Of endless tormen.s rs Il rctrlbution for
unbeiief or failing to perform righteous
deeds; md upon this point he expresses him
self with eloquent Indignation: "1t he
tievetl IL [cternal punishment could Wish
tho human race might perish from the face
Ut tho earth. II believed It could wish
that star after star might pale Its light till
ING heavens weFo sca!ca IN atteF darkness.
III De'lefea IL coals WISH lint Gd1 illinsell
were anlfhiIatetl." Ills real bctef is stated
SO tllut 1lny ono cal understand 1t:
Now, us to tho eternity Of punishment. OK
pressed ut Conference Ii doubt On thIt subject.
believe. ~ / have said. in tho etprnity--tho
Literal that ,n ny which sn nriaSs
viii ai%.tys 10 nctIve. Aid baIiyve, as s,.ssi,
I so'!ls Htar ot ,ho side of s!f ,hsy m.'st stay 81
"a OH % q, Ills with frec. md e,n,,ut t ntllrm a
TINT my soul will forsvcr stay on the aldo of
mrrntns tSt @ vii Tro v m an . ~ ;rovrr ~, @ thnrc
nny nlwnys ho persolls tpuGhing tho dirk sIdv
a Ill.,; nos t 3 ..9 ,, am 1noso @ y s nexer no
Of those who aro pisaing through sone puriod 0t
t'n dr,is Or ea,GtIon: @ i ,my Ml @ ho hi. ca,I,2t %
Indv]Wl sunt viii forever rcntutu III Sin, Ind
forever ro'nn!'l. consequently, in suffering.
Dr. Ihohias att''s 10 ING strength OF HIS
oellel a''a Jug e1hpnas!s oi LIS ahnol''ce-
lie1't ny SHOWING tisat !ie Is HOE s!neu'ar Ill
1hA ieenta' o"l ulat hc 'as npon his sluo u
'ast "a}o'ts' hot on'S o1 .'o o'fihes anu
"F1let5' buI u tho 'alty OF Tue |htlstsah
wofht' ma tl1at thc1a If hoth'he III he
Articles OF RAIN or III tlo Apostles' cfeea'
wh'cf' was a partol tho Liturgy lt1slef wll'cl'
thi's one ss1l"n!e anout 'a's aoc'rine OF emu
less punishment IN lleli Ihc point OF daf-
ierchce oetweeh i'''sel' anu tho conference
on the tli'rt. uoctr'ilo ~, t'at se docs fot pe-
'!esc That nll parts OF Tue Scriptures arc ea'aIly
INSPIRED: tlie ae belle'es that t'oy contain
al TINT 's necessary for salsat'an' that they
declare revelation o' Ills VIII anu clear
u"eHai'ocal INV or human ttuty ~ ~e'l aa
tie splrls OF Iils teachltgs, no uoes NOT bc-
iaeye tliat tae oia Testament throughout Is
critically M'd literally lntnl'loie. II every
o''e who st'ares t''s ''o'''beIef were to boldly
utter 1t Ito Conferences would u1iqaestlona'
NY bo astoni'Gcu at tle fnst Hn]0slty WHO
woYId prove to ba IN sS'npatl'y With Dr.
Thomas upon this subject ,-alal, 1t might be
a'!'et, upon those u tho atollclcht ntld
futuro punishment also' ...........
II Is b'le OF the lnost Striking fentl1rcs OF
Dr. Tls'1nns' sermon tlmt 1t gives voice to
tho real beliefs Ut thousands who have not
yet found eo''rngo to express thenh 1t seems
10 bo Impossible for HeoloHians who arc