Year: 1870

What are the theories which pre-
vail to-day: There is first the
Sadduccean, that there is no resTr-
r.ction; next. there are those that
get over the unqucstionahlc Scrip
ture truth of a future punishment OF
the wicked, by denying the inspira-
ton of the Bible and the authority
of its teachings Among these are
what are called the most liberal in
tcrprotcrs of the Scriptures, who ad
! nit that Il belief in what was taught
i'll the Scriptures must result in a
belief in 4 future punishment. The
odorc Parker said that the first three
gospels taught that there was q flu
ture punishment, but then Christ
was but a taliblc man, and SO he
got rid of it by denying the inspira-
ton of the Bible. a third class
have taken the ground of what |
may call old Cniversalism, by which
] understand they taught that men
suffer in this life for their sins and
are rewarded for their virtues. Then
! there is another class who think that
all who believe in Jesus Christ will
be saved. but that all others will be
annihilatel. that annihiation viii
simply be the portion of the wicked;
and there are others who teach that
there are series of spheres or
planes, and that men 90 first to that
particular sphere or plane to which
their temperament fits them, and
that all in time will reach pertec-
ton. This may be called y cross
between Swcdcnhorgianlsm and
modern spirltualiSm. Then there
are a few who have fallen into this
same doctrine ot'sphercS and planes,
bat they have sought to escape thro'
the doctrine of previous experience.
Thus men are living Il second time;
that they have already lived and
fallen, and that God has given them
one more chance The time is com
ing when men will demand the right
to think and to open again these
questions of destiny. do not say
that they are rig ght or wrong; but
there is no point where we should
be more tolerant or charitable to-
ward those who hold opinions con
trarv to our own than on this sub
iect. But contrast all these dogmas
with the simplicity Of Christ teach
INC. and YOU will understand the
difference between an inspired and
a philosophical teacher. If We had
only the old testament, we could not
tell if there was any future punish
ment: it is only in the new tcstamen.
that it is taught, and the foundation
and main ground OF confidence is
that cur master. the gentle, loving
Savior, who so loved men that he
came to die for them-tanght us
that there WAS a future state Of pun
ishment. There was no attempt
at philosophical demonstration; nc
taught that men rs SINNERS were III
profound danger, and he Went about
saving, "Rcrent, repent. The UNI
ycrSal siniuineSS of man never had
so much sympathy, nor SO much IL
deity as in the teachings Of Christ.
lie taught that the danger was not
in this life; he did not say hat there
was literally fire in hell, nor that
men were tormented rs in monarch
ial dungeons; but he taught men
that their sins would bring upon
them the penalty, both here and
hereafter; and that the danger was
serious, it was real. have had my
doubts rs much as any man: have
suffered and should have given up
but for the simple teaching OF Jesus
Christ. That is enough for me.
There are things which l do not um-
derstand; il child can ask me ques-
tions which cannot answer. but |
do believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
and | do not believe that he would
deceive me or deceive you. lteach
the love of Christ, and know that
| am right; and, while We must treat
with all tolerance all differences OF
opinion, we must not admit any the
ory which takes away the burden Of
fear which Christ taught; and while
modification of views hitherto held
is permissible, they must not lessen
the responsibility we owe to Christ,
and the substance of his teaching
was. it is damnable to sin.-SerD,on
at Puuouth LHurch.