heaven that made his face like the face of an angel. But I think that even a brighter radiance than this beamed from the face of Stephen when, years after, the golden gates flew open, and the spirit of his ancient foe entered the kingdom! In the agony of the cross Jesus prayed for his murderers. Did he believe that his prayer would be answered? Did he want it answered ? If so, the day will yet come when the pierced hands of the Great Martyr will clasp in forgiveness the hands that nailed him to the tree. But those hands will be no longer polluted with blood, those hearts will be no longer filled with hatred. In the consuming fires of God's unending and tireless love, the stains and the evil will have been purged away forever!

III.

ENDLESS PUNISHMENT FROM THE STAND

POINT OF REASON.

[Sunday evening, October 26th, 1890.]

“And why, even of yourselves, judge ye not what is right."--LUKE 12: 57.

It is related that "when they dug for the dry dock, in the navy yard at New York, they struck a central spring, and the engineer said they had better have some cement put on it to stop it up. They opened a hole and put in some cement, but the next morning the cement was gone and the spring was bubbling up again. Then the engineer said there had better be some solid masonry to shut down the spring; so they built it in carefully with masonry. The spring waited until they got home and then burst out again. Then they determined to drive piles down and fix it. They did drive piles, and fixed it, but the spring bubbled up again just as if it did not care anything about engineers or engineering. After they had spent some months in trying to stop the spring, they built a curb around it and let it run. Afterwards they found that it had most of the east end of Long Island pushing it out, and no piles, nor masonry, nor cement could match the

secret underground force by which it was impelled."

Like that protest of the spring against the engineers has been the protest of humanity against the darker elements of theology,-especially against that darkest of all those dark elements, endless suffering in the world to come. Theologians, like spiritual engineers, have tried to stop this protest. They have plastered it over with their feeble explanations and apologies. They have built around it the masonry of their logic. They have driven into it the piles of their scriptural texts, but in vain. The entire strength of the human intellect and human heart has been behind this protest, and the devices of creedmakers have been powerless to check it!

The doctrine in question has been variously stated, and, even to-day, in details, there is extensive variation among those who hold it. Some consider one thing as essential to a complete statement; others do not. I do not wish to do anyone injustice. In all discussions of this kind, we should use the utmost fairness. Surely, it is in this spirit that I say the following proposition is one in which those who hold the doctrine will agree: THERE WILL BE IN THIS UNIVERSE, SUFFERING WITHOUT END, INFLICTED BY GOD EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE OPERATION OF HIS LAWS, IN CONSEQUENCE OF SIN.

When they descend into particulars, th .y differ. Those who hold to the theory of a bodily resurrection, might say that some of that suffering will be physical: others would say that it will be purely mental. Some say that the penalty is inflicted on account of sins committed in this world; others that the habit of sin is unchangeably acquired in this world, and leads to perpetual sin in that which is to come,- hence, the perpetual penalty. This was the phase of the subject that we considered last Sunday evening.

One thing you will observe: that in either case, THIS LIFE IS ABSOLUTELY DECISIVE. It fixes the status of the of the soul forever. It determines whether the existence that lies beyond the grave shall be happy; or wretched beyond all computation, through infinite ages. In the one case, the sins are committed here that bring the unending doom beyond: in the other case, the habit becomes fixed here, that leads to the unending sin. This incapacity for anything but sin, becomes a part of the penalty. In either case, there is no star of hope shining over the grave.

I have been asked why I spend my time in controverting a doctrine that is no longer believed; that is really dead. My answer is: In the first place, a great many people do believe it. In the second place, I am reminded of a story. Some one relates that in a thicket on a mountain-side

he once saw a man kill a rattlesnake. He beat the life out of it with a club, and then continued the pounding until it was mangled beyond recognition. When the gentleman remonstrated, the one who had done the killing said his say in seven very significant words: "Ye cayn't kill er rattlesnake too dead!"

I am also asked why I do not prove my doctrine. from Scripture. Those who are regular attendants here, will not charge me with this omission. For the benefit of those who are not, I intend to preach next Sunday evening a sermon on the Scriptural principles that are opposed to what Morely calls the "most frightful idea that ever corroded human character."

I view the subject from a rational standpoint to-night, because : Reason is the supreme gift of God, is itself a revelation. It is that part of our nature which links us to Deity, and which enables us to pronounce upon his nature and works. It is only by using this faculty that we can interpret the Bible or any other book; and all our interpretations must proceed upon principles which reason furnishes. The Bible itself makes constant appeal to the human intelligence. “Come, now, let us reason together." The text asks "And why, even of yourselves, judge ye not what is right?" Why do you not use your common sense in matters of religion, as well as