XII.
A FEEBLE NOTE OF WARNING.
The Creed of Eternal Torment--Do Ministers Really Believe It--If They
Do, Why Not Say So?--No Decisive Note of Warning--Definite Missionary
Incentive Is Wanting--The Phrase "Eternal Death" often Used--Does It
Mean Eternal Annihilation, or Eternal Torment, or What?--Vague
Reference as to Punishment Fosters Unbelief--An Age of Compromise
--Professor Faulkner's Testimony--The Idea of Restoration Would Wholly
Meet the Difficulty--Honesty and Candor--Carlyle's Scathing Warning
--Ultimate Fulfillment of Prophecy--Eternal Songs.
If the doctrine of everlasting punishment is true, there has been of
late years a singular reserve on the part of preachers in proclaiming
it. Why? Surely "all doctrine is profitable." This doctrine would seem
to me to be specially so, if it is true. It is contained in the creed of
both the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. But do the ministers
believe it? If they do, would they not preach it; yes, preach it
morning, noon, and night? But as a matter of fact they do not preach it.
I never heard a sermon on it, or any attempt to prove it, since I was a
child. A short time ago in a large congregation the minister asked for
a show of hands on the part of any who had heard a sermon on hell during
the last ten years.
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