THE OLD-FASHIONED HELL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 193, 8 December 1876, Page 13

THE OLD-FASHIONED HELL.

There is an article in the 'N. Z. Magazine ' by Mr. Carlisle ■vi Inch appeared to me to make light of that doctrine which teaches that the impenitent wicked shall "be consigned to a place of eternal punishment after death. This doctrine, he says, "when it is still accepted," is accepted in the face of so many contending principles, both of open and secret operation, that it tends to become more and more " a theory pure and simple," and less and less a " spring of action." Yes ; punishment of any sort is a very uncomfortable thing thing to think of; but eternal punishment, torture without end, is more terrible still. Mr. Carlisle seems to think that such an idea as eternal punishment is repugnant to a belief in God, as modern thought conceives Him. The old-fash-ioned hell is now a pure theory. Few if any philosophers would be so weak as to believe in it. Christianity is a mere changeable system of human opinions. No denomination, at least no Protestant denomination, thinks it now worth while to persecute any other for conscience sake. Religious toleration, therefore, is the order of the day, generally. Such, as I make him out, is the tendency or drift of Mr. Carlisle's article. The belief of future punishment got rid of, one of the strongest restraints on men's evil passions will be removed. Can it be for the benefit of society tnat an y one should try to create a disbelief in future punishment after de^iff? Can such a belief be rejected without rejecting Christianity itself. The writers in the 'N. Z. Magazine ' are bold men bold innovators. So were the men who paved the way for the great French Revolution. Men who, like the writers in the 'N. Z. Magazine,' had a strong aversion or rather hatred to the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Carlisle does not seem to know that whatever any civil government may have done in the way of persecution, the Church never puni&hed to the effusion of blood or loss of life. Will Mr. Carlisle or any other man produce the Bull of any Pope, or decree of any General Council authorising the ecclesiastical power to punish with death any of her disobedient Children. Mcclesia alhorret a sanguine. The object of the Church ever is to save men's souls not to take their lives Latp