The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14

only the expression of Gods indigna-
ton at sin, but also the Fathers bless
ed discipline by which the prodigal is
brought back to penitence, as the
furthest wandering comet comes back
at last out of the distant darkness into
the light and warmth of the central
orb
What then should be the feeling of
true saints toward souls in hell,
whether it be hell in this life or here
after? Surely, it can be no other than
Christ-like feeling of pity and long
ing to redeem these miserable beings.
and can there be any perfect bliss in
heaven, while one soul remains unre-
deemedp Will not the Great Shepherd
follow every wandering soul into the
wilderness, seeking for it everywhere,
until he find it,? duke XIV. A. Thank
God for the blessed promise of these
brief words Of the Masters parable.
Christian faith is often perplexed by
certain passages of the New Tesla
ment, which seem to teach the ever
lasting separation of saints from sin
ners and the endless agonies of the
lost. But we must always read Script
ure in the light of the great revelation
which Jesus gave of Gods Fatherhood,
and interpret it by Jesus own spirit
of infinite tenderness and pity. Any
thing else were heathenish. And, if
the first impression of any passage is
different from the essential truth of
Christian faith, we must patiently
study the passage until its real mean
ing is found.
Luke xvi, for instance, must be in
terpreted in the light of chapter XIV.
There was, indeed, "a great gulf fixed"
between the rich man in torment and
Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. But is
there not always great gulf, hard to
pass, even in this world, between the
SOOO nhu euC Udu9 hlO GuCIO uOt
prison doors which keep souls in bond
age and seem to shut out all hopep
But no CULTS or doors can restrain the
grace of God, though for while they
may part man from man. And, when
the suffering soul is moved to PEN
itence, all CULTS are filled and all doors
are opened, and sanity spirits can
come with angelic ministrations.
Matthew XIV. pictures Christ as the
avenging judge. But must not judy
ment always come before mercy? 1t
is weak and foolish mercy that is
not preceded by strict judgment-the
mercy that would send the blood stain
ed murderer, after long life of crime,
directly to the company of saints in
heaven, because at the last moment he
repents and believes. Such mercy is
not Gods law, either here or hereafter.
But strict judgment, sure and ample
penalty, deep degradation, long and
bitter suffering, these all must follow
transgression, and no repentance can
avert them. This is what is meant by
the picture of Christ as judge,-that
the fatherly love Of God and the grace
Of Christ are pledged to punish sin,
and that this is the truest mercy, for
only thus can the sinner be made deep
ly to feel his guilt. And forgiveness,
then, is not sudden escape from all
the penalties of sin, (which would be
as immoral as unwise), but the restora-
ton of harmony with God, the return
of the prodigal to his Fathers house,
which makes it now easier to bear the
inevitable penalties of sin, such as the
prodigal had to bear when he lost his
money, his health, his wasted years
and his good name.
And therefore, when Jesus speaks
of eternal punishment ('everlast-
ing'' in Matt XIV. 46, should be
eternal''), his meaning is similar to
that of John xvii. 3, in the words, "This
is life eternal" that is, the spiritual
life which does not depend upon the
conditions of this world, upon flesh and
blood, upon bread and wine, upon
wealth and power, but is ''peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit" Because it is
divine, however, it is sure to be ever
lasting, as well as eternal" Good
alone is rooted in the everything God
and is sure to outlast everything else.
But eternal" punishment, or the pen
atty that attaches to the soul rather
than to the body and therefore follows
the soul into the unseen world (which
is the real meaning of "eternal'), can
not be everlasting, just because it is
not good thing in itself, as holiness
is, but is only temporary means to a
real and everlasting good beyond,
namely, the discipline and education
of souls.-Reu Chos. Il. Allen.
THE ETERNAL GOD