Besides, we know not what punishment, either in duration or intensity
may await sinful men in the next life. We do not claim that suffering is
abolished. Very far from that. We only claim that it is not of endless
duration, and that it is of a reformatory character. If a man is
thoroughly imbued with such ideas, he will be very far from being a
sceptic. He will realize that the truth is a sanctifying power.
On this basis you give him something that he can really believe. You can
tell him that he must suffer until he surrenders. He can believe that
thoroughly. It appeals to his reason. But if you tell him that whether
he surrenders or not, he must suffer forever and ever and ever, without
any hope of release through all eternity, he does not really believe
that; it is entirely beyond him; and it makes but a slight impression.
The truth is the main thing; and the truth is divine; yes, divine; both
in its nature and effects.
We have to remember, too, that there is such a thing as turning the
grace of God into lasciviousness. The German proverb that the best
things may become the worst, is along the same line; but it is
commonplace compared with the trenchant words of Jude. According to him,
even "grace" may become "lasciviousness." We have there a solemn
warning. It does seem to me that really worthy thoughts of God are not
compatible with the idea of endless torment.
Pages:
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328