The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-25

uluco OHo Sudpo vi lue uIdlu, DuI uO
man can know this. We must take
man as we find him. We find as a
matter of fact and observation, that
without exception the shape and con-
dition of the brain is joined with
character apparently in the relation
of cause and effect, and that is as far
as we can see. Therefore we are au-
thorized by the principles of induc-
tive philosophy, to infer that they
have this relation to each other, as
much as we are to infer the law of
gravitation from the facts of nature.
Now I affirm that the true inference
from this relation is, that when it is
dissolved at death, sin will cease. It
must. But this is only half of saliva
ton. 1t is the negative part, but
there is positive side-righteous-
ness-right acting, right thinking,
right feeling. That is not conferred
by death. But if Paul knew what he
was talking about, when he was de-
scribing the spiritual body that God,
through Christ, will give us at the
resurrection, it will be inevitable
when the soul comes to act through
that glorious spiritual organization,
with its healthy, normal BRAIN" 1t
looks to me reasonable that the
future organization and character
shall stand to each other in the rela
ton of cause and effect, as much as
the present. Why nots What did
Paul mean us to infer from his de-
scription of the glorious spiritual
body7 AS compared with the natural
body, it was Christ compared to
Adam; the living wheat plant to the
dead kernel; man to the beast;
celestial bodies to terrestrial ones;
the sun to the moon; the brightest
star to the dullest; heaven to earth;
interruption to corruption, and as
immortality compared to mortality.
What did he mean? He declared
that all should be so changed.
Would he have us infer that sin
should mar and defile these glorious
spiritual bodies, as it does the earthly
ones? He certainly did not say so,
or intimate it. What would be their
use, if it did? He intimated- almost
afirmed-the direct contrary. The
great victory was over both sin and
death; and death was the last enemy
to be destroyed. No sin beyond. In
the glorious resurrection body, all
shall be righteous. As Christ himself
declared, "be as the angels of God in
heaven-the children of God, or like
God" So there is no danger of any
mans losing his propensity to tell
the truth" See9
OF course it is impossible for phi
losophy to assure us of anything be-
yond death. That is the gift of
Christianity, of the gospel of Christ,
in which Paul so gloried. l believe
that all will be holy and happy in
the next life, not because l can dem
onstrate it, but because it is revealed.
1t is matter of faith. l can see that
sin must cease with the present con-
nection OF soul and body. That is
clear. But that we shall be righteous
and happy in the new body, is en-
tirely an inference from-or shall l
say faith in?-what Christ and Paul
and the rest have told us. Without
this l might be as likely to believe
that we shall lose our good 'propen-
sites" as our evil ones. In a word, l
object to the common inference
drawn solely from metaphysical spec
ulation, that because we are sinners
here, we shall be hereafter; and in
sist that the directly opposite infer
ence is the true one, for the reasons
above given.
AS to Mr.. Marlin's metaphysical
definition of sin, that it is failure" |
have not much to say. Failure to
perform known duty is sin, because
it is transgression, as much as a pos
tive act of disobedience. But the
idea of failing, that is SHINING, be-
cause we are finite" and that God
alone can be sinless, is too abstract
to be of any practical use, and 1 have
no taste for splitting hairs. 1t is GER
tain that we never shall be infinite,
and if our future righteousness, or
holiness, depends upon that-if we
must of necessity be sinners as long
as we are finite-then, as the apostle
said to those in his day who had hope
il Christ only in this life, our preach
ing is vain and our faith is also vain.
The creed, which affirms holiness and
happiness of all men, or of any man,
is not true. But the most idle of all
employments, is to spend our time
disputing about the meaning of the