"
Yet, if it is not profitable, it is not "doctrine," but error. And if it
be error, it is the most dark and dismal error that ever found its way
into this sinning and suffering world.
And if this doctrine is not preached in this Christian land, is it
preached in heathen lands? I do not positively know; but I have a strong
conviction that it is not. I would challenge any missionary to say that
it is. Then why not, if it is "doctrine" and therefore "profitable?"
I can well believe that hosts of so-called converts might be frightened
into an avowal of Christianity by such preaching. If a simple heathen
could really believe it, would he not at once adopt Christianity as a
means of escape from everlasting fire? But what would such a so-called
conversion be worth?
I have more faith in missionaries than to believe that they would be so
insane. They would realize that such a doctrine would either repel the
heathen, or win them to an unreal acceptance of Christianity. In either
case, what would be accomplished? So the missionary would naturally
postpone this "profitable" doctrine until some more convenient season,
and probably that more convenient season would never come.
I have heard many missionaries speaking of their work among the heathen;
but not once did I ever hear of the "doctrine" of everlasting fire being
used as a converting power.
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