of the future history of some men in another world, ought not to make us pause with becoming self-distrust and reverence, if disposed to exclaim against the possibility of so terrible an ending as a thing “unjust,” “revengeful,” and “revolting to benevolence?” Who are we, what have we been, or what have we done for our fellow-men, that we should thus presume to have a more tender regard for their well-being than the Lord Jesus Christ or His apostles had, and to be incapable of entertaining or of uttering such “harsh thoughts” as they did about their future state?

The other question which I would humbly suggest for consideration is this:—­What is your real belief in reference to man’s future state?  Have you any faith in our Lord’s teaching?  Any firm practical conviction in the fact of future punishment?  After you have made every possible deduction from the weight of Scripture testimony, and explained away every metaphor, parable, and dogmatic statement to the lowest possible point short of absolute denial of their truth in any fair sense of their meaning,—­may I beg of you to consider what, or how much, remains to be firmly believed as the truth of God?  For it does appear to me that there exists a wide-spread callousness and indifference, an ease of mind, with reference to the fate hereafter of ungodly men, which cannot be accounted for except on the supposition that all earnest faith is lost in either the dread possibilities of future sin or of its future punishment.  Men seem to have made up their minds that they have nothing to fear in the next world, whatever they believe, whatever they are, or whatever they do in this.  We are, verily, not incapable of experiencing fear, but in a vast number of cases we are great cowards, in spite of all our bravery,—­cowards when there is nothing actually present to alarm us; and each one of us seeks to his very utmost to keep danger or suffering far away from himself or from those he loves.  Accordingly, the possible or near approach of mere bodily pain, or of domestic sorrow, or the anticipated loss of money—­not to speak of such horrors as public disgrace from loss of character, imprisonment, transportation as a felon, or execution as a criminal—­would induce thoughtfulness, anxiety, wretchedness.  Yet, strange to say, the very same persons who would tremble for such calamities as these, treat with indifference a coming punishment, which cannot, even in their own estimation, be less terrible, and which, as sure as Christ’s words are true, they may themselves, because of their present character, be liable at any hour to enter upon and endure.