The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-04-18

who, by His cruel death On the cross,
rendered that sentence null and void by
purchasing a resurrection, thereby secur-
ing new trial; if everlasting life in
flames of fire had been the penalty for sin.
then the present system of redemption is a
failure, and the human race has not yet
been redeemed. The farce that was en-
acted on Calvery some 1850 years ago, or
so, was no redemption at all as the ran
som price paid on that awful occasion,
severe as it was, was nothing more than
simply death, and was. according to the
the price demanded and so could not pos
sib1y have become substitute for eternal
torment. just here great absurdity
arises, ii torture, either in lake or pit, has
been the penalty, how long. must the Re-
deemer have remained under torture be-
fore Divine Justice would have cried out,
it is enough, am satisfied? 1t this had
been Gods plan of atonement for sin there
would have been no shedding of blood,
&c. Again, II we are to be burnt forever,
it cannot be denied but it must be that inn
material part that was breathed into our
surely have to suffer, which is distinct
part of the great source of life. Some
good people have supposed to me, that the
author of Millennial Dawn might have
written his own opinion; but nowhere has
God allowed margin however narrow for
mans interference in His all-wise plans
that is preregOtive He reserves to Him.
SELF The author has confined himself to
to brushing away the cobwebs of tradition
which have from time to time been woven
round the word of inspiration at the die
lotion Of the father of lies and the author
of sin. AS before stated the author teaches
nothing, he has nothing to teach, his
to be understood; HIS book aoas badly
ac0nted, it has brought to light the hidden
treasures of the Bible and unfolded those
mysteries which our God intended that we
should understand; it clearly shows as
before stated the aaeful doom Of the sncor.-
that sinneth it shall die, Notwithstanding
mans new tangled theory of everlasting
life. Millennial Dawn has carefully
spread a wet blanket over the mouth Of
this ''bottomless pit" 1t may smoke and
shoulder for awhile; but owing to the ex;
soon extinguish itself. This same pit
is located in the kingdom of italy, first
dirt broken and digging commenced in the
second century of the Christian era.
Would it not be committing a heinous sin
and casting foul libel on a merciful God
of a place such as its admirers have from
time immemorial attempted to de-
scribe, but have failed to show the rational
purpose its reputed author had in view!
1t would not be amiss for US to ascertain
the facts, who is, or who is not the real au-
thor. of the demoniacal place, and for fear
ofmaking another false accusation, we
would do we'll to search the records; the
plea of ignorance would hold out but a
lame excuse in future. Henderson num-
bers among some of its best citizens gen.
tlemen who are descendants of faithful
| the Hebrew language, they will tell us
| that there is not single word to be found
| in that language that will convey the re-
hottest idea of eternal torment, then why
should the noble English--as we'll as other
modern languages he made to give pub
licity to the satanic importation; it would
| be loss of time to scout the idea
Why make use of the inoffensive word
''hell'' to convey the dreadful idea of
eternal torment? Which is modern word
| first found in the Saxon language, its lit
eral meaning is secret hiding place.
| Surely more appropriate word could be
| found. ii not, then coin one.
Our preachers, whom we all love, are
responsible to annual conclaves for the
doctrine they preach, those authorities are
| invariably composed of the oldest mem
bers either lay OF clerical of their respect
| i've denominations and who have been
trained up in traditional orthodoxy, they
would be very exact to enforce the whole
some discipline" on any of the ministers
who should Infringe on law OF doctrine by
preaching up these new tangled ideas that
are springing up nowadays. Our
| preachers are entitled to our heartfelt
sympathy and love.
Having introduced Millennial Dawn, /
will say this much in its behalf, that 1t
challenges all the learning. of all the
learned of all the colleges, be they cleri-
cal, philosophical. or scientific throughout
the world, to refute its contents from the
Bible. have written this letter not to
defend the book, but to speak good word
for myself, as self-praise is better than
none at all. Any one who looks on me as
an anti -Scriptural prosceptical man, is
'tsorter" looking in the wrong direction,
! that is, if they have not lost their way, or
their sight become DIM
Fearing sir that have sadly traspassed
on your valuable space, | am your much
obliged servant,
RICHARD MARsTON
Henderson, n. e.. April 9Th. 1889.