The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-01-24

plicity we will call "Infidels," take excep-
ton to this statement, and accuse God of
cruelty for creating creation susceptible
of 80 many pains and penalties. l ask
ID. III. q. why is it that we impose pains
and penalties upon our children whom
We love? Is it not to make them true
and good and noble? For the same rea-
son our environments and conditions are
such as to be productive Of building char
sctsr. Was there ever hero who never
fought battle? Which 10 the grandest,
virtue las overcoming vice., or innocence
without vice7 The infidel says Adam in
his state Of innocence or Joseph in his
triumph over vice; and have observed
by the way that this q stock argument
with that class Of thinkers. "Your God
10 cruel God who would do 90 and So"
Thou that sayest man should not steal,
dost thou steal? Thou d. II. G. that
ssyest God 10 cruel in creating creatures
to suffer all the pains and penalties that
flesh is heir to, why doest thou the
same thing? Why do we go on propa-
eating the species, and bringing into the
world creatures whom we know are liable
to all the agonies incident to this change
full and chequered life? d. II. G. will
answer, "the qualification Of our animal
passions" true perhaps to some extent,
but | think he will scarcely admit that we
are % diabolically cruel as for the sake of
the qualification Of momentary passion
to perpetuate this horrid legacy Of entail
II that 10 all of 1t. No, my friend, it 10
because We know that there are grand
possibilities connected with this state of
existence. And 1t is because of these
possibilities that life lie made worth living.
ID. H. g. rehearses q number of pass
ages from the old testment which depict
the God OF the bible as q cruel tyrant.
Had ] time and space at my disposal
might explain these quotations as / IN
derstsnd them, but will refer only to
| one, the last and shortest, viz: 81 also
will laugh at your calamity" Not their
calanity.) Now, think II any thought
full person will read carefully the first
chapter of Proverbs from which this
quotation is taken, they must see that it
10 picture OF wisdom laughing at folly,
that it does not refer to God, and like
most of the Proverbs is without spiritual
significance. But with reference to all
these quotations given by d. II. e., 1
will simply ask him one question: Did
he ever hear Of God furnishing man for
goodness7 And If God only Furnishes
disobedience and sin, do we not the same
every day with our children?
Now, Mr.. Editor, it 10 utterly ridiculous
to attempt to ventilate in letter such as
one may write to the press, subject
upon which volumes have been written
and spoken. But with your permission
will epitomize the points which have
endeavored to bring out, as they stand
presented to my mind. l Mans crea-
ton; not for mans glory, but for Gods
glory. 2. The Inconsistency of charging
God with cruelty for furnishing disobed-
fence and sin in his children, whilst we
practice the same towards our children.
8. The inconsistency of charging God
With cruelty and folly in creating Great
urss subject TO all the miseries OF this
present life, while we go on reproducing
the species and perpetuating the folly--in
other words condemning system which
We are constantly endorsing by repro
| ducing and perpetuating it. 4. Possibili-
ties, grandeur of character, and grandeur
OF the life to follow Though faith in
| CHRISTI 5. The methods by which He
works. No character without trial, no
victory without conflict. no sturdy oak
without the wind and the storm, no vir-
tue without conquering vice, no crown
without the cross, no life except through
death. d. H. s. winds up his letter by
taking fling at religion. He says, Gas
/, understand it, ii is not to be under
stood, but believed" He is not far from
the truth here, and IL have wronged him
in supposing this was sneer, instead of
sincere statement, ask his pardon.
But / would ask my unknown friend il
the religion which he processes, or any
other system Except the revealed word Of
Cod will take me across the narrow line
which separates. between the world of
the living and the world of the dead, and
give any sure and certain knowledge Of
the hereafter? If not, is it reasonable to
ask me to give up my hope and receive
nothing in return? If he will offer me
anything better Twill gladly accept it;
but in the meantime decline to throw
away the fruit and subsist on the leaves.
In conclusion l would simply say that
the christian has at least this much adj
vantage over the infdel, viz, that il he is
wrong he 10 still on an even footing with
the infidel.
The world is full of men who see wrong
in everything, but who never have a
remedy. One word more. | cannot see
that D. H. G.'s reference to Judas cuts
any figure. 1t was expedient for Christ
to die. He came for that purpose. In
carrying out that plan a betrsyer was
necessary. Judas was the man for the
work. "a thief, ga son of perdition,"
"a DEVIL" for "behold have chosen
twelve and one OF them is a DEVIL"
Christ knew his man. A bad man for a
bad work. He made no mistake when
he chose Judas. Now, Mr.. Editor,
L. 4. Il.