The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-25
HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE2


past to arouse the fears of men in re-
gard to eternal misery. The manner
in which it has been used is well
known, and needs no application.
"How shall we escape" the alleged
warning runs, if we neglect the prof
fers of grace in the Gospel? "How
shall we escape" endless torments if
the alleged conditions of salvation
are not complied naturalization
here signifying exemption from the
everlasting doom..of the wicked in hell.
The reference of these word to the
doom of future world is one of the
gross assumptions of orthodox teach
ing of which there is such large
variety. But an examination of the
passage clearly shows that the apos-
tie had in view, not the doom of the
sinner in a future world, but the i'm
pending judgments and desolations
that were to come upon the Jewish
nation at the final overthrow of their
civil and ecclesiastical state. The Son
of Man had foretold this overthrow
and predicted the great tribulation
that was soon to come upon devoted
people in consequence of their sinful
course. In the same manner the
prophets had predicted the severe
calamities that were about to come
upon the sinful nation.
1t was to- this dreadful catastrophe
to which the apostle directed the
minds and attention of his Jewish
brethren when he asks, having pointed
out the way of deliverance,- How
can we escape, if we neglect SO great
salvation?-a catastrophe which then
hung darkly over the Inflated land of
Judea, and was soon to be poured
out upon it's devoted inhabitants. 1t
was a catastrophe involving solely
temporal evils; but tribulation such
as then, "was not from the beginning
of the world to this time, no, nor
ever shall be-" And of course it
follows from this that there cannot be
misery inflicted in future world in
infitely greater than the calamities of
that eventful period.
1t may be said, however, that
destruction so RADICAL destruction
root and branch of an obstinate and
unhappy people,-implies and indi-
Gates future ruin that shall never
end. But this is mere assumption
that has no authority from the word
of divine truth. 1t is not said or in.
timated in these words or context,
that those, who, by rejecting the
Gospel, could not escape the impend-
ing destruction, shall be wholly I'M
able to escape from the miseries of
future world that never cease. 1t is
not even intimated that any such
miseries will ever be inflicted in a
future world. How shall We escape
if we neglect SO great salvation? Els
cape from what? No intimation is
given that it is to be an escape from
endless misery. But the whole con-
text indicates that the apostle had in
view the very evils already referred
to. From these there could be no es-
cape,-and from just punishment
of sin there could be no deliverance.
But after having felt the calamities
and suffered the punishment, there
certainly may be an opportunity left
for deliverance.
Every impenitent sinner who after
ward repents and avoids the fearful
consequence of obstinate persistence
in iniquity, is living evidence that
those who cannot escape deserved
punishment and also the fatal conse.
quences of sin, may yet be delivered
both from sin and the dangers and
evils of sinful course. Blindness
in part hath happened unto Israel I'M
til the fullness of the Gentiles become
in; and so all Israel shall be saved"
But the principle inculcated in the
words at the head of this article need
not be confined entirely within these
narrow limits. The words Of the
sacred testimony are plain and posi-
tive that the wicked shall not go I'M
punished, but every man shall be re-
warded according to his works. If
then any man should neglect to do
the works of righteousness and in
volve himself in sin, how could he ex-
pect to escape the just reward of his
wicked course? The words spoken
by angels were steadfast in days that
are gone; and in like manner it must
be admitted that the word of Jehovah
in every age is immutable; and, there
fore, that every transgression shall in
every age receive just recompense of
reward. And of all people, then, who
persist in disobedience, it may be
asked. GLOW shall thew escaDe if thew