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because He is worthy of love。 He would have them obey Him because they have
an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom； justice； and benevolence。 And all
who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are
drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes。
The principles of kindness； mercy； and love； taught and exemplified by our
Saviour； are a transcript of the will and character of God。 Christ declared
that He taught nothing except that which He had received from His Father。
The principles of the divine government are in perfect harmony with the
Saviour's precept； 〃Love your enemies。〃 God
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executes justice upon the wicked； for the good of the universe； and even for
the good of those upon whom His judgments are visited。 He would make them
happy if He could do so in accordance with the laws of His government and
the justice of His character。 He surrounds them with the tokens of His love；
He grants them a knowledge of His law； and follows them with the offers of
His mercy； but they despise His love； make void His law； and reject His
mercy。 While constantly receiving His gifts； they dishonor the Giver； they
hate God because they know that He abhors their sins。 The Lord bears long
with their perversity； but the decisive hour will come at last； when their
destiny is to be decided。 Will He then chain these rebels to His side？ Will
He force them to do His will？
Those who have chosen Satan as their leader and have been controlled by his
power are not prepared to enter the presence of God。 Pride； deception；
licentiousness； cruelty； have become fixed in their characters。 Can they
enter heaven to dwell forever with those whom they despised and hated on
earth？ Truth will never be agreeable to a liar； meekness will not satisfy
self…esteem and pride； purity is not acceptable to the corrupt；
disinterested love does not appear attractive to the selfish。 What source of
enjoyment could heaven offer to those who are wholly absorbed in earthly and
selfish interests？
Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be suddenly
transported to heaven and witness the high； the holy state of perfection
that ever exists there； every soul filled with love； every countenance
beaming with joy； enrapturing music in melodious strains rising in honor of
God and the Lamb； and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the redeemed
from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne；could those whose hearts
are filled with hatred of God； of truth and holiness； mingle with the
heavenly throng and join their songs of praise？ Could they endure the glory
of God and the Lamb？ No； no； years of probation
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were granted them； that they might form characters for heaven； but they have
never trained the mind to love purity； they have never learned the language
of heaven； and now it is too late。 A life of rebellion against God has
unfitted them for heaven。 Its purity； holiness； and peace would be torture
to them； the glory of God would be a consuming fire。 They would long to flee
from that holy place。 They would welcome destruction； that they might be
hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them。 The destiny of the
wicked is fixed by their own choice。 Their exclusion from heaven is
voluntary with themselves； and just and merciful on the part of God。
Like the waters of the Flood the fires of the great day declare God's
verdict that the wicked are incurable。 They have no disposition to submit to
divine authority。 Their will has been exercised in revolt； and when life is
ended； it is too late to turn the current of their thoughts in the opposite
direction； too late to turn from transgression to obedience； from hatred to
love。
In sparing the life of Cain the murderer； God gave the world an example of
what would be the result of permitting the sinner to live to continue a
course of unbridled iniquity。 Through the influence of Cain's teaching and
example； multitudes of his descendants were led into sin； until 〃the
wickedness of man was great in the earth〃 and 〃every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually。〃 〃The earth also was
corrupt before God； and the earth was filled with violence。〃 Genesis 6：5；
11。
In mercy to the world； God blotted out its wicked inhabitants in Noah's
time。 In mercy He destroyed the corrupt dwellers in Sodom。 Through the
deceptive power of Satan the workers of iniquity obtain sympathy and
admiration； and are thus constantly leading others to rebellion。 It was so
in Cain's and in Noah's day； and in the time of Abraham and Lot； it is so in
our time。 It is in mercy to the universe that God will finally destroy the
rejecters of His grace。
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〃The wages of sin is death； but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord。〃 Romans 6：23。 While life is the inheritance of the
righteous； death is the portion of the wicked。 Moses declared to Israel： 〃I
have set before thee this day life and good； and death and evil。〃
Deuteronomy 30：15。 The death referred to in these scriptures is not that
pronounced upon Adam； for all mankind suffer the penalty of his
transgression。 It is 〃the second death〃 that is placed in contrast with
everlasting life。
In consequence of Adam's sin； death passed upon the whole human race。 All
alike go down into the grave。 And through the provisions of the plan of
salvation； all are to be brought forth from their graves。 〃There shall be a
resurrection of the dead； both of the just and unjust；〃 〃for as in Adam all
die； even so in Christ shall all be made alive。〃 Acts 24：15； I Corinthians
15：22。 But a distinction is made between the two classes that are brought
forth。 〃All that are in the graves shall hear His voice； and shall come
forth； they that have done good； unto the resurrection of life； and they
that have done evil； unto the resurrection of damnation。〃 John 5：28； 29。
They who have been 〃accounted worthy〃 of the resurrection of life are
〃blessed and holy。〃 〃On such the second death hath no power。〃 Revelation
20：6。 But those who have not； through repentance and faith； secured pardon；
must receive the penalty of transgression〃the wages of sin。〃 They suffer
punishment varying in duration and intensity； 〃according to their works；〃
but finally ending in the second death。 Since it is impossible for God；
consistently with His justice and mercy； to save the sinner in his sins； He
deprives him of the existence which his transgressions have forfeited and of
which he has proved himself unworthy。 Says an inspired writer： 〃Yet a little
while； and the wicked shall not be： yea； thou shalt diligently consider his
place； and it shall not be。〃 And another declares： 〃They shall be as though
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they had not been。〃 Psalm 37：10； Obadiah 16。 Covered with infamy； they sink
into hopeless； eternal oblivion。
Thus will be made an end of sin； with all the woe and ruin which have
resulted from it。 Says the psalmist： 〃Thou hast destroyed the wicked； Thou
hast put out their name forever and ever。 O thou enemy； destructions are
come to a perpetual end。〃 Psalm 9：5； 6。 John； in the Revelation； looking
forward to the eternal state； hears a universal anthem of praise undisturbed
by one note of discord。 Every creature in heaven and earth was heard
ascribing glory to God。 Revelation 5：13。 There will then be no lost souls to
blaspheme God as they writhe in never…ending torment； no wretched beings in
hell will mingle their shrieks with the songs of the saved。
Upon the fundamental error of natural immortality rests the doctrine of
consciousness in deatha doctrine； like eternal torment； opposed to the
teachings of the Scriptures；to the dictates of reason； and to our feelings
of humanity。 According to the popular belief； the redeemed in heaven are
acquainted with all that takes place on the earth and especially with the
lives of the friends whom they have left behind。 But how could it be a
source of happiness to the dead to know the troubles of the living； to
witness the sins committed by their own loved ones； and to see them enduring
all the sorrows； disappointments； and anguish of life？ How much of heaven's
bliss would be enjoyed by those who were hovering over their friends on
earth？ And how utterly revolting is the belief that as soon as the breath
leaves the body the soul of the impenitent is consigned to the flames of
hell！ To what depths of anguish must those be plunged who see their friends
passing to the grave unprepared； to enter upon an eternity of woe and sin！
Many have been driven to insanity by this harrowing thought。
What say the Scriptures concerning these things？ David declares that man is
not conscious in death。 〃His breath goeth forth； he returneth to his earth；
in that very day his
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thoughts perish。〃 Psalm 146：4。 Solomon bears the same testimony： 〃The living
know that they shall die： but the dead know not anything。〃 〃Their love； and
their hatred； and their envy； is now perished； neither have they any more a
portion forever in anything that is done under the sun。〃 〃There is no work