But if you tell him he is to suffer until he is reclaimed, he can
believe that; it comes easily within the scope of his imagination--yes,
and of his reason too. Hence it will have more effect on a man's
conviction, and will produce a greater influence on his life, to be told
that if he dies impenitent he will suffer until he repents, and
is reformed.
Now when we consider the natural affinity which the mind has for truth,
and when we recognize the impossibility of believing in endless torment,
we have a strong presumption that the theory is not true. At all events,
in the present unsettled state of the question would it not be a
wholesome thing to take the more limited view of suffering, and have men
believe it in their inmost souls, rather than the view of eternal
torment, with a hesitating, half hearted presentation of it, and
consequently without producing genuine conviction? This is a serious
question; let all serious minds ponder it.
The want of candor in expressing definite conviction on this subject
seems to me to be a formidable barrier to church union. The following
article of mine on this point lately appeared in _The Homiletic Review_:
The contemplated organic union of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and
Congregational Churches in Canada has not yet been consummated.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317