English

Hell And Its Punishments

Outside the Church at the present time the doctrine of hell is practically ignored. It is brushed aside as out of date, the relic of a bygone age. To speak of hell and its punishments is regarded, as Father Faber puts it: âA vulgar subject for vulgar people.â The prophet Isaias describes the so-called Christians of the present day, who believe only what pleases their fancy, in the following manner: âA people that will not hear the word of God. Who say to the seers: see not. And to them that beholdâ behold not for us those things that are right. Speak unto us pleasant things.â (Is. xxx, 10.) Speak to us of God's goodness, of His love, of heaven, of anything in a word that is interesting and entertaining; but of sin, of God's Justice, above all, of hell and its tormentsânot for us these things that are rightâspeak unto us pleasant things. And what shall we say of the modern âseersâ who see not, and who, Sunday after Sunday, preach to their hearers âpleasant thingsâ? The prophet Ezechiel cries out against all such: âWoe to them that sew cushions under every elbow, and make pillows for the heads of persons of every age.â (Ezech. xiii, 18.)

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