The Hartford republican., 1913-05-02

Il0AST(1P QIJSSFIDl The Pastor de-
clared that his
text. like many other Bible statements.
Is SO grievously misunderstood as to
prevent Christian progress. Many no
BILE hearts. he claimed. are famishing
for lack OF refreshment of Gods Truth.
The channels of thought are blocked
by fossilized errors of the Dark Ages.
The ports Of our hearts should be deep
ened and widened by the blowing up
Of the false and devilish hell doctrines.
which hinder us from receiving spirit
ual pourishment. There exists "a fam
inc for hearing the Word Of God"
II this text were the only one mis-.
translated and misunderstood. he said.
the ordinary reader would doubtless
pass It by as a figure of speech. But
1t Is merely one of a combination of
misstranslations, all Of which are con.
6ected with an eternal torment sys-
TEN of doctrines invented during the
Dark Ages. This power Of error is
turning intelligent minds away from
the Bible. Hence 1t II our duty to
break down these false doctrines. and
to clear away whatever binders the
Cow Of Truth to Gods people.
The Psaimist is merely telling Of bis
severe illness. from which by the grace
Of God be recovered. he would have
It understood that 1t was not merely
slight ailment. Hence he described II
as the sorrows Of death"-that is. the
sadness associated with the thought
that be was about to die. about to
leave his friends. In poetic Hebrew.
be repeats the thought In the next
statement-"the pains Of hell gat hold
upon me-" They were the pains Of ap-
preaching dissolution. There Is not
the slightest reference to the future.
Why Not the Whole Truth.
In their revised translation Of the
Bible. our Baptist friends use the ex-
preston. ''the underworld" instead of
hell. Yet even here is danger that the
average reader may not catch the true
thought. Far simpler and wiser 1t
would be had the translator said. the
pains Of the tomb"
Every learned minister knows that
the Hebrew word Sheol really means
the grave. the pit. the state Of death.
Why do they hesitate to tell the people?
Why do they translate It sometimes
TIE grace. and other times the under
porld3 Why do they use the transla-
ton. tho grave. in one place. tho pit In
another. and then refuse to translate 1t
in u third place. giving instead the
original word Sheol? Was 1t their in
tention to confuse the people? What
is the motive? We wish that some Of
these great men would explain.
Tho Reason Fer All This.
We would like to have our minis
terial brethren state their reasons Tor
hiding the truth on the subject Of hell
Only because they decline to do so. do
we feel mt liberty to make suggestions.
These ministers seem to be Of two
classes. with slightly different reasons
for silence on this subject. They seem
to agree that 1t Ia dangerous to tell the
people that God IN really God OF love.
and that the doctrine of eternal tor
ment IL unscriptural. promulgated dur
ing the Dark Ages by men who burn
ed one another ut the stake.
The Pastor declared that one class
of ministers seem to fear that II peo'
ple saw the errors of the creeds. they
would discredit the ministers who had
| taught these doctrines. But why fear
| 10 tell the truth? Perhaps they feaI
that people will lose confidence In theii
teachings. and that the party walls OF
| Christendom which have so long di
vided Gods people. will fall. Since they
will not tell us. we can only surmise.
Other ministers. he said. have become
higher critics. and do not believe th'
Bible. They prefer to pose as believ
vrs. and hone for the time when all the
wealthy and intelligent will have be
come believers also. Then they will say
1--WE have been unbelievers for many
years. but have kept II secret. fearing
to be misunderstood as opponents o.
the best interests Of society"
The latter class constitutes the great
est menace to law and order. and arr
satan's best agents In destroying faitl
in Gods Word lngersolrs methods o
antagonizing the Bible were far les
successful than are those OF moder'
higher critics and evoutionists.
Would II not he wise to inquire Z
what extent false doctrines are re
sponsible for the Increase Of wicked
ness? WIN monstrous. unthinkable de
lusions produce better results thai
will the simple Message OF Gods Love