To the Point | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 8, 1877

To the Point.

A UNIVERSALIST, noted for his argumentativeness, says the biographer of Dr. Norman McLeod, resolved to heckle the young minister. McLeod first questioned him on the precise nature of his belief in universal salvation. “Do you really assert that every person, good and bad, is saved, and that, however wicked they may have been on earth, all are at once, when they die, received into glory?” “Most certainly,” replied the man. “A great and merciful Father must forgive every sinner. He is too good not to make all his creatures happy.” “Then why do you not cut your throat?” “Cut my throat!” exclaimed his astonished visitor, “I have duties to fulfill in the world.” “Certainly, but it seems to me that if your views are right, your highest duty is to send every one to Heaven as fast as possible. On your principles every doctor should be put in jail, and the murderer honored as a benefactor.” The effect of this argumentum ad absurdum was not only to convince the man of the extravagance of his beliefs, but to lead him shortly afterward to become a communicant.—Pres. Journal.