The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-15


words found in l John ia, And these
things write we unto you that your
joy may be full" During his discourse
Rev. Mr.. Whppen spoke as follows:
UniVersalism is more than a philosophy
of religion. 1t is an instrument for maxi
ing religion real and strong in souls. 1T
does not concern itself altogether with
giving men ideas about God and man and
destiny; it concerns itself also with the
making of true ideas effective in the daily
life This later is it's chief concern. 1t
stands before the world with a message.
In connection with all that is serious and
sacred in human life it has its word. 1t
tries to voice the Gospel. 1t tries to car
ry on the work of Jesus Christ.
Universalism has been misunderstood
and is misunderstood today. Men have
thought it simply denial of faiths,
kind of incarnation of the 81 don't be-
lieves." At best, they have thought it
bound up wholly in the realm of mind.
Universalsts have been looked upon as
intellectual jugglers
In the face of this misunderstanding
the Universalist church must do it's work.
II has little time for self-defence; it knows
that the best defence is an efficient ser
vice for the Master.
And so it speaks to you and me. Its first
word takes us to the realm of right and
wrong. Universalism says TO you, as a
vital part of it's message, forsake evil and
cleave to the good. If there is wrong in
your life, if any bad habits have sway
over you. then Christianity makes it of
prime Importance that you stitle that
wrong and conquer that habit.
THIS IS NOT ALL.
Do not think that the doing of this is
all that Christianity asks of you. Above
all things do not think that the gaining of
such moral freedom is the whole OF
Christ's religion. There is much besides
keeping from evil for you to do, and reli-
gon cannot be wholly told in such wards
as integrity, purity and charity. Never
settle back with the idea which some one,
perchance, has put into your head, that
Giving a good life is all there is of it"
There is deception in those words, and
they have led many soul to religious
poverty.
on the other hand do not think for
moment that religion has nothing to do
with integrity purity and charity. Christ
said as plainly as he said anything, FOR
sake the evil and cling to the good" Con-
| tinually he Is urging, in substance, sin
no more, do good deeds" Though NOR
ality Is not religion. the two are so re-
| lated that one cannot rise without the
| other. Especially is religion dependent on
| good living. With carelessness about the
| daily life religion is mockery. The
| church can never leave out of sight Gods
prime decree that men shall do His will.
| Universalism has always felt this, and
| it stands today urging men to obey. 1t
does not feel that the call to righteous
ness can be made too loud or too clear 1t
says to men-and says it with a con-
| scousness of heavenly warrent-"do
right" do right, though the heavens
| fall"
| We may tell why 1t says this. 1t says
| II in the first place because right is right.
| because it values the right for its sake.
| Rewards, especially in the world to come,
| are not much thought of. Righteousness
| is its own reward. There is nothing any
better than being good and being noble
| hearted.
IT IS HIS PLAN.
And then it says it because right living
is that-for which we were made There
is nothing arbitrary about the Command
ments. The life God wants us to live is
the life which He has designed for us. 1t
is as much in accord with His plan that
we live pure and sincere and worthy lives
as it is that 7-ne rose-bush bring forth
| flowers. Righteousness is the Towering
| of the soul.
| And it says, edo right" because such is
the only doing of any value. The wrong
may dazzle and please for while, but ii
| is always vanity. Unrighteousness, for
| the time DelnS, amounts 10 utdlH AS
we'll not be as be in sin. Those who find
life not worth the living are the dis
obedient To repeat, then, the Univer-
saist church says "do right because
right is right, because righteousness is a
part of mans destiny, and because UNI
righteousness is vanity. Christ says this
1t is the law of God.
Laws have penalties. This great law
that men shall do right is no exception
Christianity embraces that fact. Often
not only in the New Testament, but in the
Old, is put the warning, ''do right, OF
you must suffer"
And while Universalism, as we have
seen, In harmony with the motives OF
God, urges obedience primarily on other
grounds, It does not forget this warning
"Do right or you will suffer- is a part OF
its message to men. Sin brings punish
ment. There is absolutely no exception
| Men may deceive themselves and laugh
at warning and scorn the counSels of Goo
and good men, but the day of woe lies or
before them. In the world to come, II
not in this, a full reckoning must be made
for every wicked deed and every omitted
duty Universalism Is sometimes charged
with making it easy for siners; as if il
said to them, live as you please, sin as
you want to, it will be all the same il
a hundred years" 1t is not so, and Uni
versalism does not say that.
SINS BRINGS PUNISHMENT.
1t does say as sure as there is a God SC
sure your sins will bring you punishment
If you do wrong, partly in this world ant
partly, it may be, in the world to come
you will suffer for 1t. God loves you ant
He always will love you, but do not for
moment let that fact blind you to this tina
the consequences of your sins run on intC
the future and that Gods hand viii al
ways be heavy upon you until your hear
is clean Fear is not the highest of mo
tives, but it has its place, and the churct
speaks wholesome words when it say!
to souls persistently SHINING and con
stantly unmindful of the calls to obedi
ence, How can you dare to do such things
Even if God is only a possibility to you
how can you dare to live a life which
before a righteous God, must excite sucf
| Indignation and bring to you such bite
experiences? Be warned by the "wrati
to come" if you will not be Influenced ii
other ways, and forsake your sins anC
| try to live to God.
Universalism does not say, if you per
sist in your sins you will be punished
forever and ever. Such a recompens,
would not be punishment at the hand
of an intelligent and loving God it woulC
be the outcome of impotency and mad
ness. 1t is a threat so wild as to be ludi
crous rather than persuasive. But Uni
versalsm does say that If you persist II
your sins the consequences for you viii
be awful. 1t does say, though it speak
with pity, woe to you If you set your fac
against the good.
on the other hand If there are penaltic
for disobedience, there are also reward
for faithfulness. You are not asked I,
be faithful for the sake of the rewards
Rewards are not to be considered, even a
much as penalties. But you need no
overlook rewards. You win always lin
that obedience pays. Often immedatel,
| and alWays in His own good time God vii