The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-02-12
A Defence OF He'll,


The Rev. DR.. shedd, the distinguished
CaIvanist theologian, contributes to the
last number of the North 1imerican Re.
view logical and closely reasoned
argument TO prove "the certainty of
endless punishment"
Formerly such paper from such
source would have been by no means
remarkable, and would not have attracted
attention outside of the circle of theolog-
ians TO which DR.. Shedd belongs It
would have appeared in some dull and
heavy Presbyterian or Congregational
periodical, and not in magazine which,
like the North American, aims to treat
subjects of general interest only. But
now an argument in favor of the doctrine
Of hell and Of eternal torment for the
damned is SO great n novelty that q
magazine editor who desires to pique
curiosity is glad to obtain It for publica.
ton.
DR.. Shedd contends that future punish.
ment is retributive, and not merely
exemplary and corrective; that Il must
be endless, because the reason for it
continues. Suffering that Is education
al and corrective, he says, may come to
an end, because moral infrmity, and not
guilt, is the reason for lis iuHic,ion; and
moral infirmity. may cease to exist. But
suffering that is penal can never come to
an end, because guilt is the reason for i,s
infliclion, and guilt, once incurred, never
ceases To be. The reason for relribu,ion
is a reason forever"
In human tribunals criminals are
punished M, merely retributely, but
with reference to the good of the often
ders, aud still mrrc to the protection of
society aud the punishment is varied
for the same offence. But DR.. Shedd
sees Judgment Day when stern and
unbending justice will be thus aIcinis.
tered to tho o nb ing impeniten::
"The Divine Tribunal, in the last great
day, is invariably and exactly Just,
because 1t is neither reformatory nor
corrective. 1t is righteous retri6ution,
pure aud simple, unmodiied by consider.
atoms either Of utility 10 che criminal or
safety to the universe Christ, in the
day Of final account, will not punish
wicked men and devils, either for the
sake of reforming them, or of protecting
the righteous from the wicked. His
punishment at that time will be nothing
but retribution. The Redeemer of Men
is also the eternal Judge; the Lamb of
God is also the Lion of the tribe of
Judah and His righteous word to wick.
ed and hardened Satan, to wicked and
hardened Judas, will be: Vengeance is
mine; will repay. Depart from me,
ye cursed, that work iniquityr;s The
wicked will reap according as they have
sown. The suffering will be unerringly
adjusted to the instrinsic guilt; no great.
or and no less than the sin deserves."
DT. Shsdd then goes on TO argne that
the doctrine Of hell is supported by the
human conscience, which ipstinctively
breads eternal punishment. "Notwith.
standing all the attack made upon the
sehet in every generation, by q fraction
Of every generation" he saya with truth,
''men do not get rid Of their fear OF
future punishment" There may be no
hell, they say, but it ia better to keep on
the safe side, for who knows?
Besides. contends this theologian, there
is prefer general conviction of the
necessity for hell. There are men 30
wicked that by common consent they do
not and cannot get sufficiently punished
In this life, and If there is not retribution
for them hereafter the sense of justice Ia
outraged. As DR.. Shedd puts it, "the
non.inf1iction retribution upon hardened
yillainy and successful cruelty causes
anguish in the moral senas." The
thought that hell fire awaited their enc
mics and tormentors has given vast
comfort to thousands of human beings
and It will be long before men give UP
the con vic.ion that what is amiss in this
life is to be made right by the compensa
tions Of q future existence, and those
compensations imply mol only reward
but punishment also.
tsWe take unusual interest In this paper
because it is the frat square defence ol
the doctrine of eternal dampation from
an orthodox Protestant theologian which
| We remember TO have seen for severa
years past. Even il the tenet is no
directly attacked, il Is usually Ignored b,
Protestant ministers as too disagreeable
subject for contemporary Christians
IsDr. Shedd deserves credit for the courage
land consistency he shows In stsndisg B,
! d doctrine which lies at the foundation o
the orthodox system of theology Ne,
Kork Sun.