Nevada County picayune., 1890-05-07

| St. Paul, the author of these pas sages of scripture, was learned man, as well as profound logician. All of his epistles are characterized by great breadth Of thought. but the epistle to the Romans, from which these words are selected, is proba- ply the most profound and meta physical of all his writings. In 1t he pierces into the deep mysteries of the atonement, and discloses the true nature of man and his relations to this great atonement. His sur vey of man as affected by the fall, conttasted with the benefits and pro- visions of the Gospel, includes Jew and Gentle, or those who had been favored with Gospel light and those who had never heard the Gospel. In other words, the whole heather world were embraced in the ample sweep of his inspired declarations, as we'll as the people of Israel who had heard and received the Gospel.
 The epithet Gentle is q general designation of all outside the pale of the Jewish church. and, therefore, embodies an authoritative declaration of the status of the heathen world. The question is often asked, what IS to become of the heather? or what is to become of those vast multitudes of the human family that have never heard the name of Christ? Are they all to be consigned to everlasting de- struction without any fault of their own: or has a just and merciful God provided some way by which they may be saved? Far be it from us to limit the mercy and goodness of God. In the expressive language of the patriarchial Abraham, shall not the Judge of the whole world do right? The apostle Paul, whose mis- sion was specially to. the Gentiles, and who was specially qualified and set for the defense of the Gospel, answers these questions in the verses at the head of this article. To use his language, they have the law written in their hearts, and hence, they are law unto themselves, their conscience also bearing witness as to what is true and right.
 From these inspired statements we deduce the general inference that all virtuous heathen will he saved | Wherever obedience is rendered to this law written in the heart, God accepts the service thus rendered and bestows the gift of eternal life. Or, as the apostle Peter said in his memorable interview with Cornelius, the Roman centurion, in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. But some may ask, why send mis- sionaries to the heather, if they can be saved without hearing the Cos pei? To this we answer, that if a man can find his way through tan gled wilderness by moonlight, where the necessity for the more brilliant light of the sun? The light which the heather world enjoys may very fitly be compared to moonlight or twilight, while the superior light and privileges enjoyed by Christian lands may very appropriately be repre- sented by the glorious light of the sun. But the question may be asked why has not the whole world been furnished with the Gospel, as we have it in the Christian lands; We answer, because the church has not done it's duty.
 Our Savior commanded his disci- ples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, but the disciples, or the church, in- stead of performing this duty faith fully to lost and perishing world, as they ought to have done, have wasted their strength in foolish divisions and ,trifes, and in many other ways neg lected this great duty. It is un- reasonable to suppose that the heath en will be lost on account of the fail ure of the church to send the Gospel, Every man standeth or falleth to his own master. No one will be con demned for the sins of another, but each person must answer for himself to God, and be punished or rewarded according to the deeds done in his own hody. God is no respector of persons, and 1t Is said that his mcr- cics are over all his works, He will hold the scales of justice in even