of the false doctrines that
constitute the wine of the abominations of Babylon, of which she makes all
nations drink.(939) That ministers of Christ should have accepted this
heresy and proclaimed it from the sacred desk, is indeed a mystery. They
received it from Rome, as they received the false sabbath. True, it has
been taught by great and good men; but the light on this subject had not
come to them as it has come to us. They were responsible only for the
light which shone in their time; we are accountable for that which shines
in our day. If we turn from the testimony of God's word, and accept false
doctrines because our fathers taught them, we fall under the condemnation
pronounced upon Babylon; we are drinking of the wine of her abominations.

A large class to whom the doctrine of eternal torment is revolting, are
driven to the opposite error. They see that the Scriptures represent God
as a being of love and compassion, and they cannot believe that He will
consign His creatures to the fires of an eternally burning hell. But
holding that the soul is naturally immortal, they see no alternative but
to conclude that 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."(940)

"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. Da