The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-18
THE FAITH OF THE FATHERS-IV.
BY REV. HOLMES SLADR.
whitewater Wis.,

AFTER This manner: "Of what use can
all our knowledge and experience be if
it is all to be made up to US, and vastly
more, by some quick process of sudden
illumination, as we change the form of
our existence and go out of the ma
terial into the spiritual sphere?' But
does not this question ignore the fact
that this world is largely on purpose
that we may gain knowledge and ex-
perience Of evil and profit by it? Is
not Gods method, to start the race at
low stage Of its being, and carry it
progressively on to perfection, evolving
the great course of his purposes step by
step? And then it might appear that
what can no longer subserve the ends
of use, is, from time to time, left be-
hind. Suffering in this world is Gods
trial test, and we can understand how
here everything goes by contrast; light
and darkness, bitter and sweet, happi-
ness and misery. We know that we
learn %uoout everything we ever know
by experience, and we know, too, that
we enjoy by contrast, as we scarcely en-
| joy in any other way. 1t is the need
full law of our humanity that we must
be perfected by suffering, and enter the
kingdom of God through much tribu-
lation.''
OF course there Is sense in which
we suffer loss from having done wrong.
Were not this the case it were no
wrong. We certainly experience a
lesser good for seasonable period.
But how know we that in the long run
it is not more than made up to us? And
then, too, has not the consideration of
this matter to be viewed, somewhat at
least, in the way we view the loss of a
meal at Widespread board? If you
had eaten your dinner yesterday, you
would have had it as a certain enjoy
ment. But you did not avail yourself
of it, and therefore lost forever that
particular enjoyment that it would
have afforded you for the time being.
But is there not this thought farther,
that the fasting for meal, in larger
view of 1t, may have been good thing
instead of an evil? And just so, may
there not be consequences that are
benefcent, infinitely good results from
what is sin in us, so that, as an apostle
says, "where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound?"
1t was told the Sadducees that they
did "err, not knowing the Scriptures,
nor the power of God" which was to
tell them that there were no such anal
ogies as they were contending for. We
do not know the omnipotence of truth.
Ideas are electric. And there will be
such an unfolding in the light of divine
truth in eternity, that souls will yield
by the all-potent force of conviction,
when by the power Of direct perception
and spiritualized and exalted vision,
the arcana of greatest wisdom is laid
open to thS'Sational mind. Men may
indulge their speculations and think to
part company with this view so precious
to the fathers; but there is nothing in
reason or revelation to show they were
not right in this, or that their opponents
had either fact or philosophy to sustain
them. These opponents were evidently
wise above what was written, and it
was against such an inconsequent rea-
soning as theirs that the apostle warned
his brethren to beware, lest they
should be spoiled through philosophy
and vain deceit after the traditions of
men, and after the rudiments of the
world, and not after Christ" And he
tells them that he "fears, lest by any
means, as the serpent beguiled Eve by
his subtlety, so their minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that was
in Christ" 1t is false reasoning,
which is no reasoning at all, that the
apostle here condemns.
A further objection has been raised,
that this view takes away all mans
freedom of choice. But it is much
nearer the truth to say that it takes
away all mans love of sin. Sin, as we
have defined it, is the love of that which
the soul calls evil. 1t changes that love
of evil, and converts it to the love of
the truth and the love of God, bringing
it into the choice Of good, and it does it
in no mechanical or arbitrary way, diff
ferent from what men are dealt with in
all other common matters, but in per-
feet accordance with the laws of the
mind, by ushering the soul into the full
glory of the ravishing scenes of eternity.
None of the fathers ever taught that
we are to be miraculously made over
into saints, or that, by the sovereign ex-
ertion of the divine power, a change
would be wrought in our natures, that
our characters were not to be in our
own hands, for us to mould and fashion
under such influences as shall wrap US
about as a means to the necessary prep
aration in our becoming the true sons
of God. Father Ballou very beautifully
sets forth his Universalism in the fol-
lowing lines:
I'm Gods eternity,
There shall day arise,