_Question_. If he could have saved his life and did not, was he not guilty of suicide?
_Answer_. No one can understand these questions who has not read the prophecies of Daniel, and has not a clear conception of what is meant by "the full- "ness of time."
_Question_. What became of all the Canaanites, the Egyptians, the Hindus, the Greeks and Romans and Chinese? What became of the billions who died before the promise was made to Abraham; of the
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billions and billions who never heard of the Bible, who never heard the name, even, of Jesus Christ-- never knew of "the scheme of salvation"? What became of the millions and billions who lived in this hemisphere, and of whose existence Jehovah himself seemed perfectly ignorant?
_Answer_. They were undoubtedly lost. G.o.d having made them, had a right to do with them as he pleased. They are probably all in h.e.l.l to-day, and the fact that they are d.a.m.ned, only adds to the joy of the redeemed. It is by contrast that we are able to perceive the infinite kindness with which G.o.d has treated us.
_Question_. Is it not possible that something can be done for a human soul in another world as well as in this?
_Answer_. No; this is the only world in which G.o.d even attempts to reform anybody. In the other world, nothing is done for the purpose of making anybody better. Here in this world, where man lives but a few days, is the only opportunity for moral improvement. A minister can do a thou- sand times more for a soul than its creator; and this country is much better adapted to moral growth than heaven itself. A person who lived on this earth a
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few years, and died without having been converted, has no hope in another world. The moment he arrives at the judgment seat, nothing remains but to d.a.m.n him. Neither G.o.d, nor the Holy Ghost, nor Jesus Christ, can have the least possible influence with him there.
_Question_. When G.o.d created each human being, did he know exactly what would be his eternal fate?
_Answer_. Most a.s.suredly he did.
_Question_. Did he know that hundreds and millions and billions would suffer eternal pain?
_Answer_. Certainly. But he gave them freedom of choice between good and evil.
_Question_. Did he know exactly how they would use that freedom?
_Answer_. Yes.
_Question_. Did he know that billions would use it wrong?
_Answer_. Yes.
_Question_. Was it optional with him whether he should make such people or not?
_Answer_. Certainly.
_Question_. Had these people any option as to whether they would be made or not?
_Answer_, No.
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_Question_. Would it not have been far better to leave them unconscious dust?
_Answer_. These questions show how foolish it is to judge G.o.d according to a human standard. What to us seems just and merciful, G.o.d may regard in an exactly opposite light; and we may hereafter be developed to such a degree that we will regard the agonies of the d.a.m.ned as the highest possible evi- dence of the goodness and mercy of G.o.d.
_Question_. How do you account for the fact that G.o.d did not make himself known except to Abra- ham and his descendants? Why did he fail to reveal himself to the other nations--nations that, compared with the Jews, were learned, cultivated and powerful? Would you regard a revelation now made to the Esquimaux as intended for us; and would it be a revelation of which we would be obliged to take notice?
_Answer_. Of course, G.o.d could have revealed him- self, not only to all the great nations, but to each individual. He could have had the Ten Command- ments engraved on every heart and brain; or he could have raised up prophets in every land; but he chose, rather, to allow countless millions of his children to wander in the darkness and blackness of
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Nature; chose, rather, that they should redden their hands in each other"s blood; chose, rather, that they should live without light, and die without hope; chose, rather, that they should suffer, not only in this world, but forever in the next. Of course we have no right to find fault with the choice of G.o.d.
_Question_. Now you can tell a sinner to "believe "on the Lord Jesus Christ;" what could a sinner have been told in Egypt, three thousand years ago; and in what language would you have addressed a Hindu in the days of Buddha--the "divine scheme" at that time being a secret in the divine breast?
_Answer_. It is not for us to think upon these questions. The moment we examine the Christian system, we begin to doubt. In a little while, we shall be infidels, and shall lose the respect of those who refuse to think. It is better to go with the majority.
These doctrines are too sacred to be touched. You should be satisfied with the religion of your father and your mother. "You want some book on the "centre-table," in the parlor; it is extremely handy to have a Family Record; and what book, other than the Bible, could a mother give a son as he leaves the old homestead?
_Question_. Is it not wonderful that all the writers
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of the four gospels do not give an account of the ascension of Jesus Christ?
_Answer_. This question has been answered long ago, time and time again.
_Question_. Perhaps it has, but would it not be well enough to answer it once more? Some may not have seen the answer?
_Answer_. Show me the hospitals that infidels have built; show me the asylums that infidels have founded.
_Question_. I know you have given the usual an- swer; but after all, is it not singular that a miracle so wonderful as the bodily ascension of a man, should not have been mentioned by all the writers of that man"s life? Is it not wonderful that some of them said that he did ascend, and others that he agreed to stay with his disciples always?
_Answer_. People unacquainted with the Hebrew, can have no conception of these things. A story in plain English, does not sound as it does in Hebrew.
Miracles seem altogether more credible, when told in a dead language.
_Question_. What, in your judgment, became of the dead who were raised by Christ? Is it not singular that they were never mentioned afterward?
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Would not a man who had been raised from the dead naturally be an object of considerable interest, especially to his friends and acquaintances? And is it not also wonderful that Christ, after having wrought so many miracles, cured so many lame and halt and blind, fed so many thousands miraculously, and after having entered Jerusalem in triumph as a conqueror and king, had to be pointed out by one of his own disciples who was bribed for the purpose?
_Answer_. Of course, all these things are exceed- ingly wonderful, and if found in any other book, would be absolutely incredible; but we have no right to apply the same kind of reasoning to the Bible that we apply to the Koran or to the sacred books of the Hindus. For the ordinary affairs of this world, G.o.d has given us reason; but in the examination of religious questions, we should de- pend upon credulity and faith.
_Question_. If Christ came to offer himself a sacri- fice, for the purpose of making atonement for the sins of such as might believe on him, why did he not make this fact known to all of his disciples?
_Answer_. He did. This was, and is, the gospel.
_Question_. How is it that Matthew says nothing about "salvation by faith," but simply says that G.o.d
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will be merciful to the merciful, that he will forgive the forgiving, and says not one word about the necessity of believing anything?
_Answer_. But you will remember that Mark says, in the last chapter of his gospel, that "whoso be- "lieveth not shall be d.a.m.ned."