Thinking she might
not be ready for a thorough discussion of the subject, I tried to
dismiss it by some casual remark. But it would not do; again and again
she returned to the point. At length I stated plainly that I did not
believe in endless torment, or eternal separation. At once, and with
evident relief, she responded that such was her own view.
Now I think that case is typical of thousands and thousands more. They
have been brought up in the orthodox idea of eternal torment; it is
enshrined in their thought by the sacredness of childish association;
they have the conception that it is an evidence of soundness in the
faith. But by and by, when they begin to think, their heart rebels; the
idea hitherto accounted true seems opposed to every humane instinct, and
much more opposed to that mercy that is from everlasting to everlasting.
There is thus a sea of conflicting ideas, and they know not which way to
turn. My hope is, that when they read these pages they will see that a
large pan of the church has been for a long time under a dark cloud of
error, and that their humane instinct is but a dim reflection of
Eternal Love.
The lady referred to told me that her husband's view and hers do not
agree. It is his idea, she said, that the point of view of the saved
will gradually be uplifted until it coincides with God's, and that then
they will be able to contemplate the tortures of the damned with perfect
satisfaction! And this is orthodoxy! O, for the day when this dark pall
will be lifted from the heart of the world!
* * * * *
Thus men have distorted the finest feelings of their nature that they
might view with complacency the eternal torments of the damned.
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