New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-17
WHAT PEOPLE THINK AND SAY.
THE MErHopIsTs AND THE HEATHER.

To me Editor or Ths tribune.
SIR: The NJ ticle in the last WEEKLY TRIBUNE
entitled Missions to the He athen states that all
the churches, Protestant and Catholic assume that
all mankind either for the sin OF Adam or for Their
own sins are Justly condemned everlasting punish
ment which there is salvation-sxcept for IN
tants-without believing in Christ and that the case
of those who never heard Of Christ in their LIFETIME
and therefore had opportunity OF believing in Him.
is as truly hopeless n II they had heard OF Him ana
refused to believe in Him" II the statement be true
then the Methodist Church. in all her branches Is
neither Protestant Catholic for she believes no
such Ged-dishonoring theory. The Methodist- be-
lieve that not ore Of the human will be damned
because Adam sinned bG only tor rejecting the means
OF salvation within his reach and that no heather
viii perish for not believing in Saviour OF whom ne
has heard. but only tor OF mprovlng the sn'
and privileges with which he Is surrounded
Mr.. Wesley IL good authority tor Meihodism' anu
be The Judge OF all the earth VIII 90 rlsne.
IL will judge the world in rghteo isness, anG every
according to the stIictest justice tie VIII pun
ish no Tor Iciag anything which he codiu nv'
pos- biz avoid neither tor emitting anything winch
he could not possibly do Every punishment sup
poses the offender might have avoided the offence Tor
which pun shed. other wise to punish him wouli
Toe papIhie injustice and inconsistent with me enaI
act-r of God our governor" tWesey's Voiksl
Mr. Watson in his Theological Institutes. says +:
| The cispensat.on OF religion under which all those
nations are to whom the Gospel mas never heen sen.
confines be the pat archal disp-nsation. lhat
men were SAVED under that ia lcrmer times We
know" he iurther says: " II all knowledge OF right
and wrong a1d all gracious nincnc 20 OF the Holy
rit and ala objects OF faith have passed away from
the heather through the fault their ancestors not
liking t. retain God IN their knowledge and without
the preseni having been parties 10 TINS wllu'
abandonment truth. then they wOGld appear 10 oe
no longer accountable creatures-Deinr no longer
under law nor under gracr; but - we find 1t doc
trne OF Scripture that AL men are accountable 70 Co..
and that the whole world viii he judged at the last
dav We are bound to admit the accountability OF all
anu with that the remains Of law and he existence OF
a inercu government toward the heather on the par,
of cod" With rhi- he says. the doctrine Of 81 fal
acr0rd. He airms that though they had received no
! r.-ealed law vet they had law written Oh tneu
hearts That they capable through grace OF
doing the things contained IN he law. lie aHrh,
/ TOO that all such 6cutiles were thus one ll
! ent should be justified IN tn, day Snen Goa
snail Judge the secrets OF by Je. us Christ ac
cording TO Ills Gospel. The possible obedience ana
the possible justification OF heIthcns who nave 10
| written revelation points, therefore, distinctly
affirmed by the Apostle IN the second chapter OF MS
| Epistle to the Romans
The Methodists believe that God is loving TO every
man. and His tender mercy il over all his works :
anc that in every nation he that @areh iod and dc-
corinc 10 Ii zht be hath wOrketh rigbtror '"sS IL
accepted OF III H. for his work but thro, ~ the
merit OF Christ applied to him
| G.pRGr Kitchens.