The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15

nueHce' " uAt Is the meaning OF Inc
voice from Andover. and the mutter-
ings of discomfort with the creeds?
Who has courage to preach the old
doctrines IN their native deformiiy9
Try the experiment, brethren preach
as did Jonathan Edwards, that God is
angry with the wicked and lie holding
them by spiders thread over the in.
fernal pit, and how long will your
people listen. Preach your doctrines
at funerals, tell the friends OF non pro
feasors that their loved ones are lost
beyond all hope. and you will pot wait !
long to hear the voice of Indignant
protest. If you have not courage to |
preach hopeless ruin at funerals. why
not? What comfort can your doctrines
furpish,? And If you off-r any cam.
fort that Is not borrowed from Univer-
salism, and that, too, without giving
any credit, where do yeu get 1t?
1t is true that Universalism has no
missionaries In pagan countries. There
are yet many heathens In America
that are sorely In need of conversion
and regeneration.
Universaiists believe Christ's state
ment concerning the new birth, and
revereutly trust that they are citizens
of His kingdom. Does not the disin-
clinatiOu Of orthodox ministers to have
religious associations with US indicate
that they have not yet been born again?
The reporter did not fully state my
position concerning respecting honest
convictions. Honesty Is surely to be
respected, but not all honest convic
tions in the sense of endorsing them
rke honest convictions of John Calvin
when burning Michael Servetus at the
stake for heresy, of the puritaus when
burning witches and hanging QIakers;
of citizens of Boston when throwing
stones at John Murray, the father of
tho American Universalist Church,
and all others of similar character, an
cient or modern, are not worthy of
much honor.
But they say thai Universaiism Is
dangerous, and that my influence Is
one of the worst hindrances to the
Gospel of Christ In this community
This will be a great surprise to the
! thousands whose hearts have been
comforted, burdens lightened, and
lives bettered by the Gospel that
I have preached Where did they
! learn this, and how do they know it
! One has never heard me, and each of
, the others only one time. Dangerous.
/ Po what? To your distinguishing
doctrine? Yes. 10 humanity aud
: true Christianity7 No. Does 1t make
4 men less honest, manly and worthy
IA Does 1t damage their character. OF
4 distress OF injure In body or soul But
, you say 1t endangers their eternal sal
: vation. How do you know this? Il
g does not limit the love of an Almighty
!. aud Interchangeable God to this life. bu
ii teaches that the door of opportunity
&, will never be closed that whenever
1t sinner repents he can enter the king
r dom that the just punishment for sil
IT is infaIlibly certain, and will contiDu
e till the sinner does repent, 1t give
K no license to sin. and offers no eas,
k way Of escape. Whose theology offer
ID an endless heaven for moments con
q fesslon? g. 1t is now 20 minutes pas
,e o'clock. Come just "a you are il
re your sins. accept Of Christ, and II yo
should die at midnight you will hsv
- three hours and forty minutes of Chris
tian life, and go straight t. heaven.
-. So said minister in ibis county fe,
- years ago. Whose theology is this, thl
that sends converted criminals fror
the gallows to the kingdom of g I'd
~ Whose theology stimulated leadip
a. Chicago paper to head q description {
= the execution Of q murderer, who ws
said by his minister to be saveC
"Jerked to Jesas"? Said a forme
Ravenua clergyman, "Mr. Wilson
-, a good mau, and yet do not see ho'
;a he can be, for he goes all over th
30 country preaching funeral sermon
.. and never sends anybody to hell
,d Brethren, are you seriously frightened
~ | won't hurt either you or whateys
: Christianity you possess. will sin
- ply do what can to assist you to g
, . rid of the rubbish that interferss wit
al your largest growth. When rid {
90 that you will feel better and mol
a. brothsrly.
sn 1 can sincerely say, "God bless you,
= not to much of your theology, but
!, your churches With mauy of th
members 1 am well acquainted, an
estesm them for their real worth. r,
IN ligioa is frequently better than theo
~ ogy, humanity stronger than opinion
o' Their hearts are warm and beat fl
beyond the cold and dying creeds.
80 spite of errors Of opinion, all chureh'
IL are doing good. and helping to brin
es that blessed time when all error, sii
re bigotry, and intolerance will die, an
y Christ be crowned Lerd Of ALI.
ii Very Truly Yours,
us ANDREW WILSON.