They
really believed, or tried to believe, that such was God's feeling and
attitude; and to that divine ideal they felt that they must aspire. It
was surely hard work, and would naturally issue in a degree of
sanctimoniousness and unreality. Yet it was necessary, if the doctrine
of eternal torment were true. But the moment that doctrine is seen to be
untrue, what a change of ideal! Then it is discerned that all this
hardening process is opposed to the best that is in human nature, and
utterly contrary to the character of God. We can never estimate the
spiritual loss that it has been to mankind to have had such ideas of the
Infinitely Merciful One.
* * * * *
When it is once discerned that there is no endless torment, but that
suffering in the next life is a divinely appointed means of reformation,
how the mind is enlarged in the contemplation of the wisdom, power, and
love of God! Yea, and what an uplift, and what a new direction, is given
to our ideas of human perfection and blessedness! If there were nothing
else, we have surely here a strong argument for final Restoration.
Eternal blessedness is consonant with our nature; and though details of
it are not revealed, it is reasonable to believe that it will ultimately
be attained. But eternal suffering is abnormal and repugnant.
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