The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-01-18
BOROUGH ITEMS /
GLEANINGS BY THE LOCAL
CORPS OF REPORTERS.
WHAT THE SCRIBES SEE AND HEAR
Rev. Powick Preached a Revival
Sermon in the Methodist Epis-
copal Church Sunday Eve
ming Lake of Fire"

The sermon in the Methodist Episcopal
fashioned subject of everlasting fee. Rev.
20-15: "And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life WAS cast into the
lake of fire." Holy Writ speaks concern
ing our future with considerable reserve.
Its salient features are exhibited with clear
ness but there is much scope left for human
Imagination and speculation. The facts OF
a judgment to come and everlasting bliss
for the good and everlasting punishment
for the bad are plainly revealed. The book
OF Revelation is an attempt by st. John to
describe what he saw through the open door
of heaven. REV. a ~ Among the many
things he saw which have exercised the
minds of men aud furnished material for
not little idle speculation was great
white throne Of judgment before which the
dead both small and great stood to be
judged according to their works. The
closing scenes of the judgment witnessed
the casting into the lake of fire of all
whose names were not found written in the
Book of Life, The question has been raised,
SIS this fire literal or fgurativeT The
Bible does not explain, consequently he
could not answer the question without re-
fecting upon the questioner. 1t ought to be
understood that fool can ask a thousand
questions that all the philosophers in the
world cannot answer. If fgurative, the
reality must exceed the figure by which il
is set forth. We shall know more about
this hereafter. Another question is "cAn
you reconcile it with Gods goodness p
We are under no obligations to do so Its
truth does not depend upon our ability to
do 60. We are not called to defend OF
apologize for the truth but to preach it in
all its native ruggedness But where dc
you get your notions of Gods goodness I
/ Not from nature. The heavens declare
the glory of God and the armament
showeth his hsndiwork'' but not his char
acter. [ can see the skill of the artist in
the freseoes around US, and of the architect
in the proportions Of the building, but ]
must get knowledge of their character
elsewhere. So the universe reveals Gods
skill but not his character. Law, mex.
orable law, reigns in nature and nothing in
it speaks to US of goodness. Only the book
of God reveals Gods character And the
sort of goodness it attributes to God is such
as is consistent with the everlasting punish.
ment of the wicked, If human reason il
to sit in judgment upon revelation and &C
cept what pleases it and reject what dis
pleases it, it may turn out, if part is true
and part false, that what we accept is false
and what we ref ct is true. Heaven and
hell rest upon the same authority and il
faith is undermined in hell faith in heaven
goes along with it. Another question men
ask is, SIS there any way out of it2' We
know of none. Some men think there
ought to be and the wish that there may be
becom - father to the thought THAI there
will be. Bat the word of God affords no
hope, Nobody pretends that post mortem
probation" has any other foundation than
human reason. But suppose there should
prove to be way out why should anybody
prefer such a round about underground
route to heaven when direct one is avail
able to all. Finally it is significant that
the reason men are consigned to the lake of
fire is not because of what they do Bat he
cause of what they neglect to do, "Inas-
much as ye did it isot'-so the Word runs
depart ye cursed" How shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation" "Nho-
soever was not found written in the Book of
Life was cast into the lake of fire."