"
It may be objected that no details are revealed of such a preparatory
state; and some may be so foolish as to think that this is an argument
against its existence. I have surely only to remind you that neither
have we details of the blessedness of heaven. In fact we could not have
such details. That would probably involve a great deal of the history
and condition of other worlds, which would be utterly confusing to us at
present, and would serve no good end. We have enough to stimulate hope,
but not enough to pander to curiosity.
That the advocates of eternal torment have no really deep conviction of
its truth, let me also give a quotation that I have just met with:
"That its advocates themselves have little or no faith in it is very
manifest from the fact that it has no power over their course of action.
While all the denominations of Christendom profess to believe the
doctrine that eternal torment and endless, hopeless despair will
constitute the punishment of the wicked, they are all quite at ease in
allowing the wicked to take their own course, while they themselves
pursue the even tenor of their way.
"Chiming bells and pealing organs, artistic choirs, and costly edifices,
and upholstered pews, and polished oratory which more and more avoids
any reference to this alarming theme, afford rest and entertainment to
the fashionable congregations that gather on the Lord's day, and are
known to the world as the churches of Christ and the representatives of
his doctrines.
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