The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-09-26
Why Arc We Punished2

that God Furnishes men? The word
punishment" is in some respects the
most conspicuous in the theology of
the past, and it occupies a very
serious prominence in the theology
of the present.
When reading the sermons preached
in olden days punishment is SO much
more frequently met with than love
that we have inherited certain ideas
of God which make it rather difficult
to speak of Him as our Father. The
terrors of the Lord, as interpreted
by the spiritual teachers of mankind,
have introduced an element of tear
into religion which has almost be-
come controlling motive, and yet
every one OF us knows that what we
do through love is exceedingly better
than what we do through fear. 1t is
even safe to say that a religion of
fear is very low sort of religion,
from which Christ brought into the
world are entirely absent.
five understand the Master, He
wished US to love God in much the
way in which a child loves it's moth
er, and to have the same confidence
in Him that the child has in the pro-
tecting presence OF it's father. That
is to say, the relation between us
and Him is always paternal on His
side and can never be otherwise, and
should be fiiial on our side. No
matter whaty UT spiritual condition
may be, whether you are given to
works of charity or deeds of dark
ness, He is forever the same, for in the
one case He rejoices with you in your
goodness and in the other He pities
you in your badness. If, like the
prodigal, living on husks which the
swine do eat, you thoughtfully come
mistake, and conclude to face the
stars and walk that way, you can be
absolutely sure that God has been
sorry for you during every hour of
dissipation, and will take you into
the warm embrace of His sympathy
and love when you feel the need OF
holier living. Men may turn from
you, but God never.
And yet punishment is a frightful
fact in every mans life. The world
is almost sinking under its weight.
Not soul lives that does not bear
some burden OF that kind. There is
more wailing than laughter on the
planet, and regrets sharp as the
sting of a hornet abundantly prove
that our way is not Gods way, and
that Gods sovereignty is asserting
itself. There is no happiness except
in obedience. not even a scintlla,
and just so long as we are wiiful and
selfish so long we must take the con-
sequences.
But what purpose does this punish
ment subserve? Take a familiar
illustration and perhaps we shall
find eplightment. You are parent,
but your child has gone wrong
That child is bone of your bone,
made in your image. Yourocked its
cradle and held it to your bosom.
But the little one has developed evil
tendencies. You cannot approve of
them; on the other hand, you frown
upon them. Your attitude toward
the child and your attitude toward
what he does are two very different
things. You may punish, but not
with wrath, for your eyes are filled
| with tears. What is your object in
the punishment? Do you hate the
child and would you crush it because
it has fallen into bad ways? Is it
any pleasure to you to administer
the physical rebuke? No, your
heart is peculiarly tender toward
that boy, and yet for his own sake
you must teach him that certain
things mnst not be done. You are
severe, you are elentless; but tn IRE is
no other way to save him. He may
think You "a tyrant, and his eyes may
flash with anger because you oppose
his selt-will, but has Your love
de parted? Would you not make
great sacrifices for him? Does not
your mother heart yearn for the love
which he refuses to give? Yes, you
love while you punish, and though
yC dare not remit any measure OF
tie punishment, the love seems to
grow more intense. Love and grief
are intermingled In word, you
Iunish in order to reform, and the
punishment is solely for the child's
sake.
Is not this also true with regard to
our eaNe1ly Father? You do Him
the most grievous wrongi if you think
of Him as a being who can under any
circumstances hate you. If you are
the worst sinner in the world; if your
old friends all curse you; if your
children turn their backs on you and
shudder at the recollection of your
Infamous deeds; if there is no spot
on the broad earth where you can
find resting place-still, as truly as
the stars shine above you at night
and the sun by day, and neither the
one nor the other is paled by your
guilt, so truly does God Almighty
pity you with pity that is fathom
less and bound1ess, and so truly do
the angels band together to draw
you back into the paths of perst nal
purity and rectitude.
Doubt everything else, but never
doubt.t that you are being / finished as
you known you deserve to be, and
you must reap the consequences of
your misdeeds, as you know you
ought to; but if you see that you
have Numbered, and if your punish
ment leads to such. serious thinking
that you would make your future
different from your past, you will
find the everlasting arm OF God
underneath you and you will hear
the voices OF angels singing IL wei
come back to your better self Poor
fellowl You have been in he'll, and
every body in heaven has been sorry
for you. God has never for a
moment hated You, and yonr own
hands made the hell in which you
lived. Your undoing was your own
doing, not His. Your soul has been
dark. but your own hands drew
down the window curtains and shut