1. ALL GOD'S PRECEDING DEALINGS HAVE BEEN REASONABLE. 334 2. GOD WILL FOR THE FUTURE BE UNIVERSALLY REASONABLE. 338 4. PROBATION IN LIFE, ENDLESS RETRIBUTION AT DEATH.. iii. Proved from Conduct of their Hearers. iv. Proved from plain Scripture Declarations. HUMANITY IMMORTAL. THE highest elevation attained in nature is the gratification of sentient life in the animal kingdom. not an! But in man sense has been crowned with reason, and 7 as supernatural, man has dominion over nature, and man is ref Confirmed and stable character in virtue can be 15 self-conflict alone can there be found self-conquest; and without the trial which opens a way for defeat and shame there cannot be victory and honor. It is no matter of choice, but necessity in the case itself, that humanity must be fully tested, since veteran courage and inflexible integrity can be gained and established only through the discipline of sore temptation and intense opposition. It is not paternal faithfulness, but parental weakness, which will withdraw the child from rigorous tests to his fidelity and allegiance. The virtue which has endured the severest conflicts is the most precious, and the love to truth and duty, which has in its way made the most sacrifices for truth and duty, is the most strong and reliable; while no seeming fidelity, which stands only amid favoring interests and congenial inclinations, can be trusted in the day of adversity and persecution. The sterling character is matured in the process of struggle and conflict, and the "patience, experience, and hope that maketh not ashamed," are only attained by having passed through "divers temptations." The first necessity for the newly created humanity is a fairly arranged discipline for the trial in virtue. It is necessary that the negative side ( ward should be develofend. (that i Nationalmanticene) and the posit. to man's THE nature of the case determines the necessity for human discipline; and if there be other orders of rational beings, the only way in which they also can be established in virtue, and maintain the integrity of moral character, is by an applied trial appropriate to) their constitution and condition. Many things, both from speculation and the facts connected with thei Divine Revelation of the trial of man, indicate that trial is The is Show man ངའ་ས his own mesef. hemmey, His his trial was at the same time an occasion for the dis- ud of a dung (conepplement Counterstand. cipline and trial of other and higher grades of intelligent beings; and that while some sustained the trial and gained confirmation in loyalty, others wilfully revolted from their allegiance, and in their fall became also direct sources of temptation and corruption to the human family. Nothing in reason or revelation contradicts, while much in both indicates, that all sin which has come into the universe found its first entrance in connection with man's trial and primitive disobedience. Repeated irruptions of sin and rebellion in separate orders or worlds of the divine government, making necessary varied methods of vindicating God's authority by retribution or redemption, can hardly be reconciled, by any rational speculation, with the majesty and integrity of the sovereignty; while ready relief in reconciling the admission of sin with the divine attributes is attained, by supposing all ranks of moral beings to have stood firm in allegiance through previous discipline, till, in the new circumstances occasioned by man's creation and trial, they came to a sharper test of fidelity, which many improved for firmer confirmation in loyalty, and some perverted the occasion and fell off in rebellion. If but slight hints that this was so, be found in revelation, their plain conformity with the reason of the case would make slight intimations grounds of safe conclusion. One occasion for sin, and one interposition for divine vindication in permitting it, will, then, be sufficient for all worlds through eternity. With such supposition, man is at once made the central point of moral interest for the universe, according with Scripture representation, that angels intently watch God's dealings with our small world. He is revealing himself here as he does. on no other theatre, and all orders of spirits look on and wonder. very unlikely! very! what offly & the proposes to this ways, past hunting out! |