DELAWARE ASSOCIATION 1841 (Beebe)

NEW VERNON, N. Y., JULY 15, 1841.

THE FINAL JUDGMENT.

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While preaching at the Delaware Association last May we expressed our dissent from the popular view, that the glorified spirits which now surround the radiant throne of God, would, after the resurrection of the bodies of the saints and the dissolution of this material world, be called from their lofty mansions in the heavens, to undergo a fearful examination in order to ascertain whether they were destined for heaven or hell; or that such as are now suffering the vengeance of eternal fire, will require to be put on trial, either to dissipate doubts on their own minds, or to convince their sovereign Judge in regard to where they belong. Unable as we were at that time to express our mind fully upon this subject, we were not surprised that some of our brethren desired a more full explanation of our views. Regarding this as their right, we felt a pleasure in promising to explain what were our views, through the Signs, especially as what we said on that occasion was not fully understood.—Our frequent absence from home since we returned from Delaware, has prevented our giving earlier attention to the subject; nor shall we do much more even now, than to open the way for a friendly discussion of this subject.

Upon all subjects involving the contemplation of time and eternity, such is the weakness of human capacity that we are apt to confound the one with the other in inexplicable jargon, and then leave the subject as a profound mystery. By some means, either by divine revelation, (as many believe) or by tradition, [as we are rather inclined to suspect] the notion is prevalent that the final destiny of mankind will not be known until after the end of time,—that prior to such knowledge these ethereal heavens and this terrestrial globe shall be wrapt in annihilating conflagration and cease to be. At that time it is supposed; the assembled race of Adam shall be summoned to attend the grand assize in one promiscuous mass, when Christ the Judge of quick and dead shall robe himself in garments of dreadful majesty, ascend the throne of final decision, and then proceed to the examination of mankind, each in his turn, to be examined, and then, as his case may be, take his place at the right hand or left. If these views are correct, are we not from necessity driven to the conclusion that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all the patriarchs and prophets, the thief that went with his Redeemer to paradise, the apostles and all the primitive saints must at that dread day vacate the sphere of their divine employment and stand with trembling and dire anxiety before the dread tribunal? How many of the dear lambs of the flock of Jesus have trembled at the thought of being finally unable to make a good and sufficient apology for every deed done in their bodies. That there are passages of scripture which, in the manner we have generally heard them expounded, would go far to establish such conclusions, we are not about to deny; but whether these scriptures have been rightly understood and their testimony properly brought to bear upon this subject, we wish with due caution to examine.

As this article is only designed to present the outline of the investigation before us, we will notice a few things for the consideration of our brethren, and leave them to reflect until a farther opportunity shall be afforded to pursue the investigation.

Subject to the correction of brethren who have clearer views of this subject than we, we shall for the present assume the position that, On the part of God, all his works were known unto him from the foundation of the world; that the disclosure of time or eternity can add nothing to his certain knowledge of beings or things. That in his all-wise and gracious purpose, every provision of grace was made that can possibly be requisite infallibly to secure the perfect safety of all his saints; and that he, having predestinated them to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself, and having made them accepted in the Beloved, has as perfect knowledge who they are, where they are, and to what they are destined, as he will have when all his saints shall sing the eternal anthem in the highest heavens. If this position can be established by the unerring word of truth, then the notion that arminian preachers, meeting-house walls, graveyards, &c. will be called on at some future judgment day to witness in the case of each individual of mankind, is a fallacious delusion.

We apprehend no difficulty in proving, to the satisfaction of all consistent Old School Baptists, that God has chosen, predestinated and effectually secured the salvation of all that will be eventually saved, so that no possible contingency can ever add to or diminish from the number; and that their names were enrolled in the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world. And it is certain beyond the remark that two important events have demonstrated the utter impossibility of overturning the counsel of God upon this subject. The events to which we allude are, one, the introduction of sin into the world; the other, the powers of earth and hell combined in the tragedy of Mt. Calvary: but in both the Lord has triumphed most gloriously. Of the first, the poet has justly said:

“Here satan was non-pluss’d in what he had done,
The fall brought the channel where mercy should run;
In streams of salvation that never run dry,
And all for the lifting of Jesus on high.”