The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-17
A Reply to MI. Alfred j. Donley.

n
Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. Mr.. Donley accuses me OF inconsistency
in preaching the doctrine Of literal hell. IL
seems very strange that there are 80 many III
consistent people in the world and that it was
left for Mr. Donlcy to discover that fact. The
Methodist church has over forty thousand clergy
mon and nearly seven millions OF membersi the
BAPTIST church nearly the same; the Presbyterian
church coming next with various other denoh'
nations like minded Strange that all these
people would be led into such terrible deluSioh
and kept in it so long. >,
Mr. DculcyS position reminds me OF an olu
lady mentioned 10y DR.. Banks who said wltl
amusing pcrplcxity to sCme friends: Il don
know how il is, can't understand it, but some
how or other | always seem to be right' Let
us see if his position according to scripture Is
rirht lie SAYS: "lhc tendency OF tins doc
trnc OF a literal hell, everlasting hell prcached
to the people is not good one If 1t Is not
want to know why it is so often mentioned III
the Bible You can take all the terms employed
in Scripture in reference to future punishment
and nothing short OF a proper eternity can be
found The Greek word "AionioS, means cter-
nal, ever existent. and all through the New lcS'
lament applies to the duration of future woe
as well as future hlcsscdncss. Thus we have ever
lasting punishment Matt. NV, -i6), everlasting
fire (Matt, xviii 5; XIV, Az, eternal damnation
IL, y,
life Matt xviv, 29 John iii, l0), eternal life
Luke X, 25; John iii, -, everlasting hahlta-
tionS Uukc xvi, % and numerous other instances
which il would take too long to quote. Is 1t ia'r
To ntcrprct this word "AionoS'' only as eternity
of heaven when It means eternity OF he'll as
well? In Matt XIV 4d, there is an antithcHis be-
tween life and punishment. In both ot these
the same Greek word is uscd everlasting, This
one passage with some people Woulu I've
sufficient to decide the point.
But We will not lest here. Take the Greek
expression, "cis toh aiona," ''torcver.' Here
we have practically the same as above, the mist
of darkness forever OI Peter H. ~, "the black
ness of darkness forever" dude l@, Christ
ahideth forever" John xii Sd; "God blessed
forever" (Rom. tx, .. In all these We have
the same thought, Everlasting" "ctcmal," "for'
ever and ever" and how a man can get any
other meaning I tail to sec
The whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation
| points to two placCs-heavcn and hell 1t Is
| made very plain that the righteous shall inherit
| heaven while the wicked will he turned into hell
! II we accept the Bible we must accept this doc
| trinc for it is there and no amount OF platl-
! tudcs can explain it away but OF cours', II
| We reject the Bible as the word of God, then
| the whole argument falls to the ground.
| The doctrine OF final restoration cannot he
| found in Scripture and the whole tenor Of such
doctrine is inconsistent with the descriptions
Of future punishment. What is the meaning
Of those words that fell from the lips OF Christ
where lie speaks about "a burning "a loss OF
| the soul" "a death" etc. Was His mission
on earth to tcrrorizc the people, to scare them
| into believing something impossible? No, no, lie
declares Himself that lie came to seek and save
from that hell He so frequently described. Who
| is willing to stand up AMI accuse Christ, the
| Son Of God, of a mere play of words! This lie
did or those terrible descriptions have mean
ing beyond the grave.
It is impossible to reconcile these representa-
tong with a final restoration 20 heaven, Dc'
cause hell is not heaven; pcrdition IS not sal
walton; the loss Of soul is not its recovery
and death is not everlasting life. What is there
about hell that will lead any one to suspicion
that there will be a restoration; the associations
| are evil, the progression is continually down
| ward the sinful soul gravitatCs away from God,
Just as the holy soul gravitateS towards God
a fact as capable Of demonstration as Newton
| law?
Let me close this argument by a few simple
| questions How can punishment make man love
God How can thousand years in hell re-
store a mar 70 blcsscdI css when the sacrifice OF
the Son OF God failed to do it on earth? II
the punishment Of hell is a purifying factor foE
reform it entirely superscdes Christ as The
Saviour Of lost men and that part Of the BlblC
which speaks about sacrhCial plan must DC
/ cut out lnCl we Itdu III Dslll'Lhlt NAS'o ~
lll2D: "1hs was the stone which was set Al
naughU Of your builders, which Is become the
head Of the corner Neither is there salvation
in any other; for there is none other name undcl
heaven given among men, whereby we must h'
saved" According to Mr. Donlcy's doctrine
there is arother way by which We may b'
saved. After suffering punishment for our sins il
he'll we can be restored TO hCdTcn and saved
How can such people sing il they get to heaven,
"Cnto Him that loved us and washed US from
our sins in His own blood, And hath made u
kings and priests unto God and His Father, I,
Him. (mind you, the Rcycator says, 10 Him
be glory and dominion forever and even. Amen.
(Rcv. /, SO. win these restored people hav
the blood Of Christ to thank for their salvation
Not according to their belief They will have t,
sing, unto the "ilamcs and tormcuts' Of per
dition be honor and glory for it was through
these that we are purified and brought to heaven
Would it not he the logical outcome? Such
thing is revolving and presumptuous in the ey
tremc. The question is there in the Bible t
be met and we had better meet it here rathe
than run the risk over there.
-JGmes BennngeL
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