REPROBATES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1013, 28 May 1878, Page 6

REPROBATES.

; I quite agree with the sentiments expressed by Canon Fairer, when delivering* recent sermon in Westminster Abbey on the rabjoot

or end less toriiieut, and reciprocate the horror lie. seems;tp have of toma people coqdemning others to a heli of end leas bodily torture; but I am disposed to go rather further than Canon Farrer,; aud aak those who complacently condemn their fellows to such a bell, how far they can be sure they are not themselves among the number fated to be damned, or bow they can be sure of salvation 1 Are human beings fit to judge each other or condemn each other's souls? The term " reprobate " may have a somewhat ' different meaning with God than; it has with men. It is quite within the range 6f possibility that a man who leads in the world's estimation a respectable life may be. guilty of sins which renders him in God's sight a greater reprobate than he who leads a life of sensuality and debauchery.^ What. are the sort of Bins. T moßt, severely candemned by Ghristi andion which the ponrs. out the vials of his fiercest wrath I Not those, common sins of humanity which have been condemned more orplessjin all .ages of the world, but bigotry, intolerance, insatiable avarice, hypocrisy, uumercifulness and harsh judgment of others. A man who wastes his life in riot and debauchery, though his soul may be in danger of damnation, is perhaps not so surely on the direct.road to hell as the bigot, thehypocrite, the tyrant, or he who is guilty of too readily cbrraemning the j soul of his fellow man. The Revivalists notion of "conversion" seems to me a gross and vulgar one. Is a man's soul to be- considered and acceptable in every way to God merely because be changes his habits of life, and instead of injuring his health, aod wasting his means in debauchery, becomes, a -respectable member of society — probably by .so, doing being able to enjoy the world much better than-he could do while on the other tack '1 ''. be change no doubt is a Jesirable-aud excellent lone, but whether it Mnounts to a conversion of the spirit is another question. A' sorry sight for gods aud mm is complacent-righteousness. I have a thorough contempt for those wretches who have got the notion confirmed r intp their Weak brains that they are absolutely certain to go " slap bang to Heaven" and be asked no questions.