The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-01
DIR. yvitherspoon's Paper.


Dr. witherspOon's Paper.
A DocrIugAL DISCOURSE BEFORE THE PAN
PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL UPON FUTURE RE-.
TRlBUTJoN.
IPhiladelphia Press.l
In approaching the subject OF future re-
trbution we find ourselves confronted with
certain facts which seem worthy OF pre-
liminary consideration. In favor OF what Is
commonly known as the orthodox doc
triDe, which postuaies the absolute endless
ness Of the state OF the lost, stands the aI-
most unbroken testimony OF the Church OF
God for eighteen centuries-a testimony
borne with singular unanmity by this wit
Messing Church, which is the "pilar and
ground OF the truth" through all its sue
cessive stages-ApO.tOllc, Primitive, Catho-
lie, and Reformed; a testimony expressed
through official symbols, through versions OF
the Sacred Scriptures, both ancient and
modern, through commentaries, homiies,
and didactic treatises-in word, through
the whole current Of literature, eXegetical,
dogmatic, homiletic, and deyotional-a tes.
timony at once so voluminous and so explicit
that, IL 1t were now proposed to abandon
the orthodox view and give unambiguous
expression to any other that has been sug-
gested, every creed OF Christendom would
need TO be altered, every version OF the
Scriptures amended, every commentary and
treatise in theology in part rewritten, every
lexicon which treats OF the original words
under which the doctrine Of future punish
ment is inculcated would require to be re.
vised, and the great mass OF Christian poe
try, oratory, history, and philosophy expur-
gated While such has been the attitude
OF Christ witnessing Church in the past to-
ward this doctrine, ii is evident that at pres
ent strong popular current i setting
against II. The orthodox doctrine is carica-
tured in prose and travestied in verse. It's
advocates are stigmatized as "pharsees,"
dogmatists," "friends OF everlasting pun
shment," etc. And yet the very violence
of defamation to which the opponents OF
orthodox doctrines resort, their substitu-
tion in such large measure OF mere inyective
for argument, and OF passionate appeals to
human sympathy for critical and patient ln-
quiry, leave IL at least questionable II their
opposition be not OF the offspring OF pas
sion rather than OF reason, the outgrowth
OF q sentiment rather than OF a conviction
based on exhaustive and impartial research.
The moral weight OF the opposition Is
greatly lcssened by certain facts which can
not be designated-n namely, that the few al.
thorities in the early Church TO which it APP
peas, including Origen and some OF his dis
ciples, were not only unsound upon many
points OF Christian dogma. but were coa-
iessedly Neo-P Platonists, seduced into re-
nuncation OF the Christian doctrine OF hnal
retrIbution by the charms Of the Pagan doc
trine OF metempsychosis; that the present
leaders OF the opposition are almost
trine, lax in their views OF inspiration.
and rationalstic in their theories OF In
terDretation, ard that the influence OF the
writings has been due, in great measure,
TO their appeal to the maudlln sentimental
ism OF the day, which revolts at the thought
Of capital punishment, and, in great mea-
sure, at penal suffering OF every kind;
which looks upon sin rather as misfor-
tune TO be pited, or, at most, a disease to
be healed, than as a crime to be visited with
such cOndign punishment as shall be at once
an expression OF the Divine Holiness and a
safeguard for righteousness throughout the
universe OF God.
The speaker then proceeded TO show the
proper meaning OF the Greek word trans
lated eternity, and how it Is often given.
Concluding, he said To shrink from an eX-
plicit testimony TO the endlessneSs OF future
punishment Is to imperl the souls OF our
ieIlow-meu. II men csn be be persuaded
nav, IL they are ever encouraged 10 faint
hope that the period OF probation does not
end with death-that further offers OF saliva
ton will be made to them in that after
world, they will adventure all upon that
hope. and postpone to future life the in-
terests aud claims OF religion. Beyond lie
the ages and ages and celestial glory, and
sure or Heaven at last, men will indulge In
sin to their hearts content. solemn
responsibility, therefore, rests upon the
Church OF God. She must bear testimony
to this doctrine. Unpopular 1t may be, pain
full it must be; but she must, through her
creeds and symbols, through her pulpits
and ministry, bear her testimony to the
truth Of this doctrine. She cannot allow
liberty upon this point. She may be ac-
eused of bigotry, Of dogmatlsm, but there
is no other course for her 10 pursue. The
principles involved are too great. For my
self, fathers and brethren. impressed by the
momeutousness OF this issue, | could ask
no higher favor than these feeble words OF
mine, falling like faint keynote upon the
ears OF this great c0nvocatlon, should cause
| il to arise like giant in his might, and send
| forth from out this hammered hall our bugle-
blast that, echoing from shore to shore,
shall tell TO all the world that one great di-
vision at least OF the army OF Christ holds,
and, by Gods help, means to hold, the same
redoubts OF truth that have been pressed
by the feet OF Gods veterans in all history
OF the Church.