The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-26

Inc influence Vi oOu oFel lOflnS
and sanctifying breath always blow
ing but not filling our spiritual lungs
until we expand them voluntarily to
receive it," With such a definition
we are prepared to say that the view
changes somewhat. The denial of
the Trinity carries with it the denial
of the whole program. If the Holy
Ghost is what we have defined it,
then he is the spirit of creation and
of revelation which is the manifesto
ton of God to the world. Hence if
we assume with other religious de-
nominations the sin against God to
be susceptible of pardon, then sin
against the Holy Ghost, sin against
the manifesting power of God, must
be a sin against God and hence
venial and pardonable. We no longer
believe that to sin against the. Holy
Ghost is to tear down the ladder by
which we are to reach the door of
heaven. We do not longer believe
that the Holy Ghost, which is the
agent of peace and tranquility, should
be partner to a scheme the dread and
fear of the consequences of which
have filed SO many cells of our insane
asylums.
Popular Interpretation Not in Harmony
With the Gospel
We do not believe that true and
rational Interpretation of the Holy
Scripture will dethrone reason. 1t
has been my observation, as it
has been yours, that probably the
most potent cause of insanity is
dread that one may fall under the
wrath of God and commit sin from
which there is no escape, for which
there is no forgiveness. Should
we go to our asylums l think we
would find very large per cent who
are suffering from the same religious
melancholy fear that they
have done some deed which has
placed them beyond the pale of re-
demption, or that friend is on the
path to the pit, the victim to this sin
Friends, can such thing be consc-
nant with the spirit of good news and
glad tidings7 Can an agency which
works such havoc with the reason of
man, which drives men into tortuous
despair; which forces them into the
night and into the companionship of
all the spectral forms which saunter
forth and which prey upon their
dread? Can we for a moment say
that such is compatible with the love
of God who has revealed himself in
the Christ who, when born in the
lowly manager, was heralded by a re-
joicing heavenly throng? Can such
be in unison with the words of our
Saviour-our Exemplar when he say,
but the comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you
all things and bring all things to your
remembrance whatsoever | have said
unto you. Peace l leave with you,
my peace l give unto you; not as the
world giveth give | unto you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid" Can it be that the
Holy Spirit which Christ says will
inspire us with what to say and do,
and which he speaks of as the COM
forter, be the power which has made
vacant the look, and which has caused
darkness and mystery to characterize
the actions; which has robbed men
of their reason and brought untold
anguish and concern upon their
friends2 Is such the proper function
of a comforter? Is such the province
of one who is to introduce the reign
of peace and tranquility
The Text Analysed,
But let us examine the passage
and see what can be made of it. Let
us put as much into every phrase as
our friends have put in one or two
phrases. Sand whatsoever speaketh
a word against the Son of Man, it
shall be forgiven him; but whose
ever speaketh against the Holy Ghost
it shall not be forgiven him, neither
in this world neither in the world to
come" If I'VE take the language here
according to the letter, if we hold
that it means exactly what the words
herein express, then we are compelled
to hold that all other sinners of every
disposition, nature, or kind will he
saved, for the expression "shall be
forgiven" is equally as strong, as
binding as shall not be forgiven"
Christ, then, declares for the saliva.
ton of all others with the same force
with which he pronounces doom upon
those disappearing against the Holy
Ghost. "Verily say unto you all sin
shall be forgiven unto the sons of