"NEITHER SORROW NOR CRYING."
By W. N. Glenn
INFIDELS and universalists, in their opposition to the doctrine of a final punishment of the wicked, make much ado over the supposed sorrow, the redeemed would experience in realizing that their near and dear relatives and friends had been forever cut off. It is argued that, if Christians feel so great solicitude for their beloved ones as is manifested in this life, and are so grieved because they do not repent and accept salvation through Christ and his truth, surely their sorrow hereafter will be immeasurably increased and prolonged when it shall indeed appear that those for whom so many prayers have been offered and tears shed are irretrievably lost. It is claimed that this knowledge must of necessity destroy even the happiness of Heaven; and there are not a few earnest Christians who are sometimes troubled with such thoughts. A few considerations are worthy of notice, and may help to dispel fears of the happiness of Heaven being marred on account of the fate of those who refuse or neglect to accept its joys. And first of all is the necessity of a true appreciation of that great beatitude, justice, without which there can be no security, even in Heaven, and consequently no assurance of lasting happiness. There is a certain degree of anxiety on the subject of salvation which is very ardent concerning ourselves and friends, but does not go far enough to comprehend the dignity and glory of the Author of salvation, and the honor due to his name and station. This phase of religious zeal deals altogether in mercy—is rather shy of justice. But when the heart is opened wider, and the mind's eye begins to look beyond to the high origin and insulting nature of sin, and its direct antagonism to the government of the great Creator, then begins to spring up a desire to see the honor of Heaven vindicated, the glory of God universally portrayed, and his authority unquestioned. To this end justice must be established throughout creation, and sin, with its author and host of devotees, must be utterly dispelled. God himself has loved sinners as no earthly friend can; in long forbearance, unparalleled mercy, and the gift of his only Son. Yet, when mercy shall have ceased to avail, he will pour out upon them the vials of his wrath, and visit them with swift destruction. Does any one think that God will afterward be unhappy because the irredeemable offenders are cut off? The tender love of Jesus, his wonderful self-sacrifice, suffering, death, and long intercession in behalf of sinners, are familiar to all who know his name. Yet he will shortly change his attitude; he will cease to intercede for sinners, and descend from heaven to take vengeance upon the ungodly ones whose rejection of mercy will have rendered his atonement of no avail to them. Will he afterwards be sad on account of having executed judgment upon them? The angels who have so long acted as messengers of mercy between heaven and earth, and have so often assisted poor weak mortals in their5efforts to resist the power and wiles of Satan, must feel a deep sympathy for the fallen race. Yet, when the last judgments are being poured upon the earth, they will be loud in their approbation of retributive justice: "Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God; for true and righteous are his judgments. Allelulia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." And the perfect Christian, who will have washed his robe in the blood of the Lamb, and been resurrected or translated to immortal glory, will be all absorbed in sympathy with Heaven. When mercy casts down the censer, all sorrow and sighing for sinners will cease, and justice will finish the work. The final situation of the redeemed is thus described by "a voice out of heaven:" Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21 : 3, 4.