The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-29
FURTHER EXPLANATION OF NOTED
TEXTS.

One of our subscribers writes: II
have read the brief editorial article
recently printed with the title How
Shall we Escape?' based on the text
in Hebrews ii. 3, and reading in full,
'How shall we escape if we neglect SO
great salvation which at the first
began to be spoken by the Lord and
was confirmed unto us by those who
heard him?' | need additional light
on this passage, as | have always con-
sidered it as one of the most import
ant texts. What is the salvation
spoken of in this passage? You, of
course, as Universalist, deny that it
is salvation from hell; but wherein
can any other meaning be rightfully
attached to it? 1t seems to me to
have the same meaning as the pas
sage in the Epistle of Peter: If the
righteous scarcely be saved where
shall the ungodly and the sinner ap-
pearl From what will men escape?
ask your attention in a helpful
mood to your end'srequest."
Our correspondent is correct in re-
garding the passage in Peter as hav-
ing the same general meaning as the
one in Hebrews quoted above. 1t
may be accepted as an exposition of
the former passage, as further en-
forcement of the same general idea.
But there is no necessity for attribut-
ing either of the passages to the
events of future world. The re-
ference in both cases is to the same
event on earth, the coming doom of
the Jewish nation and the overthrow
of the temporal economy of the
Jews.
The event fully verified the words
of the sacred writer in both refer
ences. where shall the ungodly
and sinner appear?" queries the pas
sage in Peter. They would, of
course, as explained by Clarke and
other commentators, appear in the
midst of the dreadful elements of
discord and desolation that were to
be thrown into overwhelming conflict
at the close of the Jewish state. 1t
was this coming calamity which over
Swallowed the writers of the New
Testament when they asked: "How
shall we escape 80 great salvation?"
and "where shall the ungodly and
sinner appears" and gave rise to the
consideration thus thrown into inter-
rogative form. 1t is an historical
fact that when the Jewish economy
was abrogated and their city and
temple overthrown, those followers OF
Christ who had given heed to his
doctrine by an embrace of the Cos
pei secured special salvation-did
indeed escape from the overwhelm-
ing calamities that troubled the land
in those perilous times.
Those who had watched "the signs
of the times" according to our Sa-
viour's direction, were permitted by
flight to avoid the impending ruin;
while, on the other hand, the obstinate
unbelievers and the faithless disci
Piles who had cast off the Gospel and
neglected the great salvation, were
involved in tremendous consequences
from which they could not escape.
When the great city of Jerusalem
with its countless population was fin
ally captured by relentless enemy
many thousand were slain after hav-
ing endured every species of misery
that could be imagined; and others,
after the endurance of equal miseries,
were led away into long and weary
captivity more painful than death
itself 1t is the testimony of Joseph
us, the Jewish historian, that the be-
lieving Christians were not involved
in this national ruin and misery, but
escaped from the city and by an
early fight beyond the Jordan found
safety in retired place, whose name,
"Pella," has come down to us in the
narrative of Josephus. They were
scarcely saved" but saved neverthe-
less.