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it not that endless suffering formed no part of his religious belief?—
So we conceive; and here we discover a triumphant argument in
support of the more pleasing, more enlightened, more benevolent
hypothesis of ultimate universal purity and peace. He was comforted,
seeing his son was dead. And why so?—Because by the eye of
prophecy he could look forward into the glorious future, and see that
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son far removed from all temptations, released from the bondage and
purified from the corruptions of sin, and after being made sufficiently
holy and enlightened, admitted to the assembly of ascended and
rejoicing spirits. His only comfort was, that in being removed from
the present state of sin and suffering, his beloved son had gone where
the loftiest breathings of the Holy Spirit would be shed upon his
darkened soul; where his mind would be unfolded to the wisdom of
Heaven and the sweet raptures of immortal love, and thus prepared
with a sanctified nature to enjoy the rest and society of the heavenly
inheritance.
“In these thoughts we would be understood to believe that the
salvation of Heaven depends upon nothing which we can do in this
life; neither upon a present change of heart, nor upon present belief,
or a present profession of religion.”
Thus does the professed minister of Christ reiterate the falsehood
uttered by the serpent in Eden,—“Ye shall not surely die.” “In the
day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be
as gods.” The vilest of si
adulterer,—will after death be prepared to enter into immortal bliss.
And from what does this perverter of the Scriptures draw his
conclusions?—From a single sentence expressing David’s submis-
sion to the dispensation of Providence. His soul “longed to go forth
unto Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he
was dead.” The poignancy of his grief having been softened by time,
his thoughts turned from the dead to the living son, self-banished
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through fear of the just punishment of his crime. And this is the
evidence that the incestuous, drunken Amnon was at death imme-
First Great Deception
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diately transported to the abodes of bliss, there to be purified and
prepared for the companionship of sinless angels! A pleasing fable
indeed, well suited to gratify the carnal heart! This is Satan’s own
doctrine, and it does his work effectually. Should we be surprised
that, with such instruction, wickedness abounds? Is there not need
of contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints?
The course pursued by this one false teacher illustrates that of
many others. A few words of Scripture are separated from the
context, which would in many cases show its meaning to be ex-
actly opposite to the interpretation put upon it; and such disjointed
passages are perverted and used in proof of doctrines that have no
foundation in the word of God. The testimony cited as evidence
that the drunken Amnon is in Heaven, is a mere inference, directly
contradicted by the plain and positive statement of the Scriptures,
that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God. It is thus that
doubters, unbelievers, and skeptics turn the truth into a lie. And
multitudes have been deceived by their sophistry, and rocked to sleep
in the cradle of carnal security.
If the souls of all men pass directly to Heaven at the hour of
dissolution, then we may well covet death rather than life. Many
have been led by this belief to put an end to their existence. When
overwhelmed with trouble, perplexity, and disappointment, it seems
an easy thing to break the brittle thread of life, and soar away into
the bliss of the eternal world.
God has given in his word abundant evidence that he will punish
the transgressors of his law. Witness the visitation of his judgments
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upon the angels who kept not their first estate, on the inhabitants
of the antediluvian world, on the people of Sodom, on unbelieving
Israel. Their history is placed on record for our admonition.
Let us consider what the Bible teaches further concerning the
ungodly and unrepentant, whom the Universalist places in Heaven
as holy, happy angels.
“I am Alpha and Omega, the begi
unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”
This promise is only to those that thirst. None but those who feel
their need of the water of life, and seek it at the loss of all things
else, will be supplied. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” [Revelation 21:6, 7.]
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Here, also, conditions are specified. To inherit all things, we must
resist and overcome sin.
“No fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is
an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
[Ephesians 5:5, Rev. Ver.] “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” [Hebrews 12:14.]
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the
city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
[Revelation 22:14, 15.]
God has given to men a declaration of his character: “The Lord
God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in good-
ness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
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transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.”
[Exodus 34:6, 7.] The power and authority of the divine government will be employed to put down rebellion; yet all the manifestations
of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character
of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.
God does not force the will or judgment of any. He takes no
pleasure in a slavish obedience. He desires that the creatures of
his hands shall love him because he is worthy of love. He would
have them obey him because they have an intelligent appreciation
of his wisdom, justice, and benevolence. And all who have a just
conception of these qualities will love him because they are drawn
toward him in admiration of his attributes.
The principles of kindness, mercy, and love taught and exem-
plified by our Saviour, are a copy of the will and character of God.
Christ declared that he taught nothing except that which he had re-
ceived from his Father. The principles of the divine government are
in perfect harmony with the Saviour’s precept, “Love your enemies.”
God executes justice upon the wicked, for the good of the universe,