all mankind will finally be saved。 Many regard the threatenings of the Bible
as designed merely to frighten men into obedience； and not to be literally
fulfilled。 Thus the sinner can live in selfish pleasure； disregarding the
requirements of God； and yet expect to be finally received into His favor。
Such a doctrine； presuming upon God's mercy； but ignoring His justice；
pleases the carnal heart and emboldens the wicked in their iniquity。
To show how believers in universal salvation wrest the Scriptures to sustain
their soul…destroying dogmas； it is needful only to cite their own
utterances。 At the funeral of an irreligious young man； who had been killed
instantly by an accident； a Universalist minister selected as his text the
Scripture statement concerning David： 〃He was comforted concerning Amnon；
seeing he was dead。〃 2 Samuel 13：39。
〃I am frequently asked；〃 said the speaker； 〃what will be the fate of those
who leave the world in sin； die； perhaps； in a state of inebriation； die
with the scarlet stains of crime unwashed from their robes； or die as this
young man died； having never made a profession or enjoyed an experience of
religion。 We are content with the Scriptures； their answer shall solve the
awful problem。 Amnon was exceedingly sinful； he was unrepentant； he was made
drunk； and while drunk was killed。 David was a prophet of God； he must have
known whether it would be ill or well for Amnon in the world to come。 What
were the expressions of his heart？
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‘The soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom： for he was
comforted concerning Amnon； seeing he was dead。' Verse 39。
〃And what is the inference to be deduced from this language？ Is 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 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。〃 He
declares that the vilest of sinnersthe murderer； the thief； and the
adultererwill 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 submission to the dispensation of
Providence。 His
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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
through fear of the just punishment of his crime。 And this is the evidence
that the incestuous； drunken Amnon was at death immediately 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？
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 their meaning to be exactly opposite to the
interpretation put upon them； 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。 1 Corinthians
6：10。 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 it were true that the souls of all men passed directly to heaven at the
hour of dissolution； then we might 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 decisive evidence that He will punish the
transgressors of His law。 Those who flatter
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themselves that He is too merciful to execute justice upon the sinner； have
only to look to the cross of Calvary。 The death of the spotless Son of God
testifies that 〃the wages of sin is death；〃 that every violation of God's
law must receive its just retribution。 Christ the sinless became sin for
man。 He bore the guilt of transgression； and the hiding of His Father's
face； until His heart was broken and His life crushed out。 All this
sacrifice was made that sinners might be redeemed。 In no other way could man
be freed from the penalty of sin。 And every soul that refuses to become a
partaker of the atonement provided at such a cost must bear in his own
person the guilt and punishment of transgression。
Let us consider what the Bible teaches further concerning the ungodly and
unrepentant； whom the Universalist places in heaven as holy； happy angels。
〃I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life
freely。〃 Revelation 21：6。 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。〃 Verse 7。 Here； also；
conditions are specified。 In order to inherit all things； we must resist and
overcome sin。
The Lord declares by the prophet Isaiah： 〃Say ye to the righteous； that it
shall be well with him。〃 〃Woe unto the wicked！ it shall be ill with him： for
the reward of his hands shall be given him。〃 Isaiah 3：10； 11。 〃Though a
sinner do evil an hundred times；〃 says the wise man； 〃and his days be
prolonged； yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God；
which fear before Him： but it shall not be well with the wicked。〃
Ecclesiastes 8：12； 13。 And Paul testifies that the sinner is treasuring up
unto himself 〃wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God； who will render to every man according to his deeds；〃
〃tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil。〃 Romans
2：5； 6；9。
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〃No fornicator； nor unclean person； nor covetous man； who is an idolater；
hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God。〃 Ephesians 5：5；
A。R。V。 〃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 and of His method of
dealing with sin。 〃The Lord God； merciful and gracious； long…suffering and
abundant in goodness and truth； keeping mercy for thousands； forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin； and that will by no means clear the
guilty。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。 〃All the wicked will He destroy。〃 〃The
transgressors shall be destroyed together： the end of the wicked shall be
cut off。〃 Psalms 145：20； 37：38。 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