By Rev. FREDERIC GODET, D.D., Professor in the Theological Faculty, Neuchatel, Switzerland.
The Fact of Future Punishment being Universally Agreed upon, Questions Arise as to
the Object and End of it, if there be an End.-I. The Universalist Solution: That
Punishment will Is sue, sooner or later, in Conversion and Salvation of all the Con-
demned.-II. The Conditionalist Solution, which Denies that the Soul is Essentially
Immortal and Holds that the Obstinately Wicked Perish out of Existence, while
Believers Receive Eternal Life as the Gift of God.-III. The Eternalist Solution,
which Maintains an Immortality of Conscious Suffering. Without Pronouncing
Peremptorily on so Difficult a Question, it Appears that the Impression made by
the Scriptures, in their Simple and Natural Sense, is in Favor of the Last Solution.
-May not a Fourth Solution be Sought, in the Continued Impersonal Existence of
the Soul, after its Personality has been Destroyed?
By Rev. EDWARD E. HALE, D.D., Minister of the South Congregational Church, Unitarian, Boston, Mass.
Error of the Augustinian Theory that this Earth is for Man a Scene of Prescribed
Moral Trial. The Assumed Judicial Process of his Examination after Death, a
Degrading Injury to the Morals of Mankind.-The Analogies of a Home, rather than
of a Court-Room, are alone Legitimate to Man's Existence on Earth and its Relation
to the Hereafter.-In this Home, God is Father, and We are Children.-As a Man
necessarily Reaps according as he Sows, it is thus that Retribution Follows the Use
of his Powers Scantily, Selfishly, or Meanly.-Similar Results Attend him, but in
Keener Perception and Wider Range, when he Passes to the Spiritual World.—
Punishment of Each Act, or its Reward, Begins when the Act Begins.—Preposter-
ousness of the Idea that a God of Wisdom and Love has Chosen to Divide Human
Beings, by any Arbitrary Line, into Two Classes only, one to be Called the "Good,”
and one to be Called the "Bad," or that the Universe is Mapped off so that one
place is "Heaven" and another place is "Hell."
Promise of a Better Future, or the Complete Triumph of God's Kingdom, set forth in
the Scriptures.-Punishment not a Means of Reformation, but God's Vindication.—
The Loss of Existence to the Incorrigibly Wicked is not Extinction, but Loss of that
Spiritual Life for which Man was Constituted.-No one will be Doomed to Eternal
Punishment who, under Clearer Knowledge and Stronger Motive, would become a
Child of God.-Erroneous Theory that "wherever there is Light there is Christ.”—
All such Revelations as are in Nature, Conscience, Judaism, are Inferior to that of
Christianity, as the Essential Gospel of Salvation.-If the Revelation of God in
Christ is not given availably to Men in this Earthly Life, it may be Presented to
them after Death, before their Judgment is Fixed.—The Physical Death is nowhere
Affirmed in Scripture to be the End of Gracious Opportunity.-Destiny "according
to the Deeds done in the Body" is Predicated of those who have had the Gospel.—
To this Class is also applicable the Warning that "Now is the Accepted Time,” etc.
-Christ's Preaching to the Spirits in Prison, and the Preaching of the Gospel to the
Dead, indicate Grace beyond the Grave to the Unenlightened and Unevangelized in
this Life. 427
By Rev. E. R. HENDRIX, D.D., Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Present and Former Character of Preaching Contrasted, with Reference to this Dis-
cussion.-Cause of the later Comparative Silence on the Subject.-The Convicting
and Converting Power of Fidelity to the True Bible Doctrine.-Any Rejection of
Eternal Punishment that is Logical must also lead to the Abandonment of the whole
Redemptive Scheme.-The False Substitute of a " 'Second Probation."-Hell an
Awful and Present Reality.-Salvation Obtained only by Repentance and Faith in
Christ, the Necessity of this being Urged by Christ and his Apostles.-Their De-
scriptive Terms as Applied to Retribution neither Altogether Literal nor Wholly
Figurative. The Words of Christ more Terrible than all others in this Connection.
-The Old Testament equally Emphatic with the New, that "the Wicked shall be
Turned into Hell."-God's Laws are Supremely Good, and cannot therefore be
Broken without Commensurate Guilt.—For such Transgression, Man, being a Free
Agent and Voluntary Actor, is Responsible.-There could be no Penalty if Man
Sinned from the Necessity of his Constitution instead of his own Option.-His
Deeds to be passed upon, when he "shall give an Account of himself to God." 443
By the Very Rev. AUGUSTINE F. HEWIT. D.D., Roman Catholic. Superior of the Paulist Institute,
New York, Author of Problems of the Age, etc.
The Latin "Infernus," with its Hebrew and Greek Equivalents, Denotes the Eternal
Abode of Angels and Men Excluded from Heaven.-Sin the Cause of this Depriva-
tion. The Penalty is Never-Ending, because the Subjects of it are Immortal.-All
Penalties Proportioned to Demerit.—Angels Constituted in a State of Probation to
Win or Lose the Higher Beatitude.-The Human Race Similarly Constituted.-The
Kingdom of Heaven Forfeited by Original Sin.-Christ Reopens the Door of the
Kingdom, with Probation for Each and All.-Such Probation Ends with this Earthly
Life in the Body.-Original Sin, in the Case of Infants, the Cause of Exclusion from
Heaven.-Rigid View of Original Sin.-Milder and More Common View.-Punish-
ment of Actual Sin.-The Rigid View.-Milder Views of some Theologians.—Miti-
gation or Partial Condonation Advocated by some Theologians. -Views of the
Greeks.-Theory of St. Gregory of Nyssa.-St. Augustine on the Good which Re-
mains in the Reprobate. 459
Variety of Opinions, in the Primitive Church as well as Now.-Bishop Pearson's Opin-
ion given in full from his Standard Treatise on the Creed. This the Common
Opinion in the Church.-Agrees with Prayer Book and Catechism.-Milder Opinion
of Origen, St. Gregory of Nazianzum, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Hilary of Poictiers,
St. Firmilian, Didymus of Alexandria, and many Others.-No Condemnation of
their Teaching.-Various Texts of Holy Scripture appealed to by them.-Use of the
Hebrew word olam and the Greek word aion.-Canon Farrar quoted in full in Favor
of the Milder View.-The Words "Damn" and "Damnation."-The word "Hell."-
Sheol, Gehenna, Hades, Tartarus.-Dr. Pusey and Canon Farrar.-Phrases in the
Prayer Book consistent with the Milder View.-The Church Universal has never
dogmatically Answered the Question.-Therefore there is Liberty of Opinion. 477
By Rev. J. W. Horr, D.D., of the United Brethren in Christ, and Editor of The Religious Telescope,
Dayton, Ohio.
All Souls have an Eternal Conscious Existence, after the Death of the Body.—The
Present Life is a Probationary State, and the Awards of Good or Ill Conduct will
be Pronounced at the Future General Judgment.-The Soul's Existence is not De-
pendent on that of the Body, nor does it Share the Body's Nature.-Its Being is
still Continued when Unclothed by Mortality, and the Exercise of its Powers is
Undiminished.-Earthly Character Crosses the Threshold of Eternity, and forever
Determines its Condition there.—God's Dealing with Sin is According to its Abso-
lute, Inherent Quality, while Man's is one of Limitations, Expediency, and Re-
straint. The Moral Ultimatum, in each Individual Case, and which Decides Future
Destiny, is Reached this Side of the Grave.-For those who have Served Christ
there is in store the Never-Ending Blessedness of Heaven, but to those who have
Rejected Him the Door is forever Shut. 495
By Rev. F. D. HUNTINGTON, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Central New York.
Unity and Mutual Relations to Each Other of the Different Doctrines of the Christian
Faith.-No Change Wrought by Death in the Principles that Govern Man's Sub-
stance, Action, and Welfare.-Life and Death are the Accidents, Not the Essence,
of Being.—The Mystery of the Plan and Process of Salvation, and its Slow Re-
sults, No Bar to Patient Faith and Work.-Deference Due to the Undoubted Wis-
dom of the Almighty's Chosen Methods.-Finality of Probation in the Present Life
Distinctly Set Forth in the Scriptures.-Faith's Unforbidden Hope is that Many
Who Lived and Died before Christ, or Who Never Heard the "Good News," will
Stand Accepted in the Judgment.-Not so with Unrepenting Sinners in Christen-
dom.-God's Fatherhood No Pledge of his Endless Toleration of Disloyalty and
Wrong-Doing.-The Period of Trial So Extended as to Preclude any Charge of
Rigor. The Wicked "Go to their Own Place."-Extra-Scriptural and Blasphemous
Imagery of Hell Indulged in by Some.-" The Wages of Sin is Death." . . 509
By Rev. ABRAM S. ISAACS, D.D., Editor of the Jewish Messenger, New York.
Judaism a Religion of God's Laws and Statutes, rather than of Theology and Dogmas.
-Righteous Thoughts and Deeds, not Creeds and Philosophy.-Approbation in
this Life More Important than Probation in the Other.-The Doctrine of Everlast-
ing Torment No Part of Judaism; Counter-Argument too Strong, viz., that "God
does Not Retain His Wrath Forever."-God is a Deity, and a Father, Not a Demon,
nor an Executioner.-All Nations will be Partakers in Future Bliss.-Diverse but
No Authoritative Views held by Hebrew Sages and Writers in Different Eras.-
Gehenna, or Hell, as a Place of Torment for Souls, Unknown to Hebrews.-Sheol
Simply a Grave, or Hollow Pit.-Both with the Righteous and the Wicked, the Moral
Consequences of Life Immediately Follow Disembodiment.-Resurrection Takes
Place at a Period Remote and Unknown.
By Rev. HENRY E. JACOBS, D.D., Norton Professor of Systematic Theology, Evangelical Lutheran
Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.
Man's Spiritual Life was Lost with the Fall of Adam.—Absolute Necessity of Regen-
eration for Admission into God's Kingdom.—Eternal Death the Inevitable Devel-
opment of Spiritual Death at Birth.-The New-Born Child a Fountain of Corrup-
tion and of Criminal Germs.-All, by Nature, are the Children of Wrath.-Grace
Closes with the Close of this Life.-"Now is the Accepted Time" implies a Time
that is Not Accepted.-No Ground for Believing in Another Trial after Death or
any Termination of Future Penalty.-No Universalism, No Restorationism, No
Annihilationism, No Conditional Immortality, to be Found in the Bible.-State of
Remorse and Woe for Unbelievers at once after Death; a Fuller Retribution at
the Resurrection and Final Judgment.-Degrees of Misery, as also of Glory, in the
Future Life.-According to Luther, the Wicked are not Finally Consigned to Hell
until the Last Day, but their Destiny is Determined at Death. 545
By A. H. LEWIS, D.D., Seventh-Day Baptist, Editor of the Outlook and Sabbath Quarterly,
Plainfield, N. J.
Future Punishment Based on Man's Inherent Immortality.-His Destiny Determined
by his own Choices, and for which he alone is Responsible.-As Man's Entity is
Indestructible, so also are the Results and Consequences of his Actions, and there
can be no Annihilation of Either.-All Punishment is Resultant, the Fruitage of
Man's Independent Volition, and is not of Divine Retaliation.-The Gross Concep-
tions of a Physical Hell are due to Paganism and the Ignorance of the Middle Ages.
-Evil Actions and their Tendencies become Repetitious, Educative, Imperious,
Crystallized, and the Logical Outcome is therefore Inevitable.-The Struggle to
Escape from Old Choices and to Form Right Ones is Met by Divine Help and For-
giveness of the Past.-This Change is to be Made in the Present Life, Character
being, so far as we know, Irreversible at Death.-The Messages of Christ are Inva-
riably Addressed to Man in this Life, and Never Beyond, Acceptance and Salvation
being Here and Now.-Forgiveness is always Conditioned upon Repentance and
Obedience, as Required by Justice. . 587
By Rev. DANIEL ALBRIGHT LONG, A.M., D.D., LL.D., President of Antioch College," Christian,"
Yellow Springs, Ohio.
No Pardon for the Impenitent Hereafter ever Taught by Christ.-Man Determines in
this World what is to be his Condition in the Next.-The Property of Persistent
Sin is to Intrench and Perpetuate Itself.-Men who are without the Gospel are yet
Amenable to God's Law Implanted in the Heart.-Fear of Judgment is Inherent
in Man's Moral Nature.-Eternal Justice, and her Indeflectible Necessity.-God's
Truth and Supreme Wisdom the only Oracle of Instruction on this Subject.-The
Impenitent Man would be more Miserable in Heaven than in Hell.-The Most Un-
welcome of all the Tenets of Religion is, therefore, that of Future Punishment.—
It was Held by the Early Church to be Endless.-Not Remedial, nor Educative,
nor Vindictive, but Vindicatory.-Disobedience to God's Written Law Worse than
that against the Light of Nature.-The Doctrine of Eternal Retribution not to be
Overthrown by False Philosophies and Theologies, for it is Inwrought by God with
the Human Reason.
By Professor CHRISTOPHER E. LA THARDT, D.D., Ph.D., University of Leipzig, Germany.
The Language of Jesus Christ, in Matthew 25, Involves many Propositions, among
them these -1. There is a Final Judgment, distinguished from the Judgments of
History, which passes upon All Men, and Knows but one Alternative, Salvation or
Condemnation.-2. The Consequences of this Doom are Eternal.-Attempts to
Evade this Awful Fact:-(a) Restorationism; (b) Conditional Immortality.-3. The
Awards of it are according to Conduct in the Bodily Life.-4. The Final Judgment
will be held by Jesus Christ as Mediator between God and Man.-Which Implies,
5, that Men will be Judged by their Conduct toward Christ.-But this Involves the
Difficult Question, 6, Concerning those who have never heard of Christ in the Bod-
ily Life. On this, the Scriptures leave us much in the Dark.-Untenable Answers:
(a) That the Gospel has actually been Preached in all the World; (b) The General
Witness of God to the Heathen; (c) the Preaching in Hades.-But on this Matter
we must speak with Caution and Diffidence.
Ty Rev. R. S. MACARTHUR, D.D., Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, New York, N. Y.
Universal Belief of Mankind that, in the Future Life, Evil shall be Punished.-All
Nations and Religions Partake of this Belief.-Character Constitutes the Man and
Shapes and Decides his Final Destiny.-It is a Law of Moral Gravitation, and not
an Arbitrary Enactment, that Punishment Follows Wrong-Doing.―The Heathen,
not knowing the Law or the Gospel, are Judged by Another Standard.—God's Rev-
elation the All-Sufficient Authority for Believing that the Doom of those who Reject
Christ is one of Unutterable Wretchedness and Remorse.-The Figures of Speech
employed by Christ in Describing this were neither Ill-Considered nor Deceptive.—
Cessation of Existence not Predicted as the Sinner's End, for Man's Soul Partakes of
God's Immortality, and therefore cannot be Annihilated.—The Day of Probation
may be over even before the Close of this Present Life, whilst a Future Probation
might only Enhance the Degree of Guilt Incurred and its Consequences.—God
alone Knows the Infinite Odiousness and Disastrous Results of Sin in his Moral
Universe, and its Penal Deserts will be Determined by Him in Perfect Wisdom and
Love. . 641
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