I think it is along this line, however, but deeper,
that the chief cause may be found. The church has, indeed, "adhered to
outworn creeds" in her confessions. The dogma of reprobation, and a
limited atonement, and everlasting fire, are retained. But are they
preached? Are they believed?
Not long ago, in a large evangelical congregation, the preacher asked
for a show of hands on the part of any who had heard a sermon on hell
for the last ten years. Two hands were held up. Was that doctrine
proclaimed last Sunday in any evangelical church? Was it proclaimed for
a year past, or ten years past? I doubt it. But if it is believed, would
it not be preached--yes, preached morning, noon, and night, with the
earnestness of frenzy?
Some preachers delicately approach the idea with hints and innuendos and
mild threatenings, which are really worse than utter silence. I heard a
preacher speaking lately of men as "utter failures, going out into the
darkness." Now, what did he mean, or did he mean anything? Again:
preachers speak of "eternal death," which might mean eternal extinction,
or eternal fire. And yet that vague phrase is actually proposed as one
of the bases of union of the churches.
Now, how can we expect such jugglery of sacred things to commend itself
to honest, hard-headed men? For such is really the character of many of
the working men.
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