Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-03-23
Tho Rev. Vim. Lloyd on "Hell.'


IN IL NOT ENOUGH THAT 4 MAN SHOULD
he ''F0REyIR ASHAMED or HIMSELF Y
'Is there a hclli II so, what Is 1T
was the subject announced by the
Rev, William Lloyd, Of tho Madison
Avenue Presbyterian Church, one
Sunday evening, The little church
was packed lall with people who
desired to hear that question answer
Cd. Mr. Lloyd said his only motive
in choosing such subject was a sense
of duty that he owed to himself and
to his Church He knew it was
dangerous Tor n minister to preach on
such subject, and it was dangerous
for some people to hear him. But he
had no fear for himself, and the large
number of persons present showed
tbathis congregation was not afraid.
lie took for his text the words: "Be
70 not deceived. God is not Knocked.
Whatsoever q man soweth that shall
no also reap" The question Of future
punishment, no said, had become one
of The popular discussions, aud he felt
that the circumstances demande d from
him as the pastor Of this Church an
exposition Of his views OF the matter.
lie had no doubt that there were hun
dreds of ministers both in tho old
country and in America, who, when
thcy consult their innermost souls
regarding TINS doctrine OF hell as a
place for the eternal physical punish
ment OF the wicked, recoiled with
horror and loathing at the idea. No
such place was spoken OF in the Bible
or the new Testament either, and
every student of the Scripture knew
it. The hell which has been preach.
ed to the world for so many genera
tons was the result Of the mere
imaginings OF men who had striven to
depict the most frightful scenes that
could be conjured up. People might
say that the talk about hell-fre and
birthstone was over, but it was not so.
He quoted from numerous recent SER
mons to show that the same pictures
of tormented souls were still being
painted for the people-by Spurgeon
among the rest. He quoted also from
one of Jonathan Edwards's sermon
at which everybody laughed. In that
sermon President Edwards said that
the damned would roast alive for
thousands OF ages, and then
would come the resurrection,
after which they would suffer twice as
great pain, since the soul and body
would be roasting at the same time.
Mr.. Lloyd denounced such talk in
the pulpit as blas9hemy, and entirely
inconsistent with the nature of God
as revealed in his word. He believed
that sinners suffered for their sins on
earth and in the next world as well.
When person sined he violated a
universal law that was just as sure to
bring on punishment as the violation
of any physical law is certain to have
its effects. If any one could point out
to him where God had declared that
sinners should suffer this everlasting
physical torment he would bow to the
awful mystery and await the explain
alton. But until then he should
denouuce the idea as an insult to the
majesty and the wisdom and the
mercy of God. 1t would also be
great mistake to suppose that people
suffered on earth in proportion to
their sins, for it is a rule that those
who sin the most often suffer least,
since they have become so hardened
that they do not feel the pangs OF
remorse. The punishment for sins
done in this life would be just what
the text said. Men would reap just
what they had sown, and for every
sin committed would have to suffer
the consequent mental anguish. If
he was asked "what then is hell" be
would answer by asking if it was not
hell for any human mort al to be for
ever ashamed of himself.
For whom was Eve made-For