The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-16
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.


He'll, under whatever aspect we view
it, whether as a certain or uncertain
condition OF future existence, whether
] as temporary or everlasting in dura-
| ton, whether accompanied or not
with positive torments, is no subject
| for demon or seilseiess levity The
very mystery that wells the dread ex-
panse into which the soul must plunge
bereaved and palpitating, after a
violent and agonized throe. ought to
! inspire Us with a feeling of suppliant
| horror.
The brazen front that dares con-
template this impending woe with
jocose indiffereRce is the forehead of
fool. The bloodless heart that shud-
ders not at the o'ershadowing of its
bare possibility is the heart of an in
fdel
We approach the subject with dread,
and only because fiippant impiety de-
mands this of use The doctrine of
eternal punishment for the reprobate
is conservative of every human inter
est, and of every human hope for here
familiarity that saVors of contempt
though unworthy of sense or humanity,
is subtle and successful method of
insinuating this dangerous innovation
into modern thought.
The gates of hell-that is the positive
aggression of hell's power-are not so
fatal to the redeemed soul, as the re-
oil fv~nv, ..SsA
solemn dread of futurfty. Where those
gates may not prevail, the artifice may
easily prevail that masks them from
our view, or shrouds them in uncer-
tainty, or covers them with flowers
stolen from the Eden of Gods mercy.
Herein the Prince of Darkness is cast
out in Beelzebub, but this casting of
him out from human apprehension is
for him only a triumph and a gain.
The outburst of rabid denunciation
of Gods justice that characterizes
Protestant preaching on this subject is
the final goal that their goddess sys-
tenn can reach. Perierunt cum Sonitu
Cthey have persisted with clamor),
will be the epitaph the future shall
describe over the tomb where their
last vital spark of Christian belief
lies quenched forever. Rebelling in the
beginning from all authoritative inter-
probation of the divine mind, this fac
ton has found itself constantly face to
face with difficulties both of reason
and revelation that it could neither
surmount nor avoid. The Sacred Scrip
lures it boosted as its charter of re-
construction, became for it a stumbling
block and a snare.
Reason, which it pointed to as the
foundation stone of its shapeless edifice
upheaved against it and brought the
fabric block by block about its ears.
Some form remained to the scattered
fragments to show where they once
fitted and how they were, for a time
sustained but the wear and tear of
elements, social and mental, Invested |
these of all modelling, and now the !
ruin lies a mass of in !
rubbish
There is no longer among the sects
even "a pretense of knowing. or trying |
to know, what God has taught
Modern Protestant congregations (and |
they are law both to themselves and
to their preacher) will not hear what
reason teaches. A morbid tenderness.
bred of nerve and ganglion, not of
brave humanity or Christian compass
sion; mawkish sentimentalism,
growing out of concupiscence; these
form their rule of ethical maxim and
religious creed.
To accept the doctrine of hell, man
needs a nobler and vasrer physical en-
ergy than is consistent with such spir-
tual enervation.
To accept the doctrine of everlasting
oss and everlasting pain, man must
That is. he must find his JOY in the
Creator and not in the creature. be de-
ached from sense and the things Of
sense. But to recoil from the idea of
ust retribution, to wave aside Gods
ust but terrible vengeance is more
pleasant than this dull process of self
lenial.
We are quite aware that this is
more fitting subject for the pulpit or
he spiritual conference than for a
article but when such a
ubject is banded from sheet to sheet
f the secular press with every nom
a Catholic paper has the right
t least, if not the duty, to treat it with
,ecoming seriousness. And have we not
leard the insidious echo of this bane-
vi conspiracy against truth in the half
Uttered sentiment from Catholic lips
hat this new doctrine was pleasant to
he view. and good to the taste like the
vii fruit that brought ruin on the
World? Ii is not quite so innocent a
hing as one might imagine, to say: Il
wish l could believe there was no hell
he wish involves a desire of the tri-
mph of falsehood over truth and of
in over Gods justice. and it more
han indicates a latent talent for burst
ne the bonds OF law and conscience
nd suhjecting the spiritual to the ami
lal nature There are motives suffic-
mt to oblige us To yieM this subject
Nth Christian awe. and Catholic sub
Mission % truth.
The doctrine of.i1ell for the true Cath :
lie is the sanction of his faith. and
he redress of his and the Churchs
offerings and patient submission. If
here be no eternal punishment, there
an be no eternal justice; il there be :
0 eternal justice, there is no God
Observation-Disclosures are three neces-
arily dependent ideas. Given any two
them, the third is peremptory. If
neie be God and hell, there must be
IN; if there be sin and he'll, there must