ediately transported to the abodes of bliss, there to be purified
and prepared for the companionship of sinless angels! A pleasing fable
indeed, well suited to gratify the carnal heart! This is Satan's own
doctrine, and it does his work effectually. Should we be surprised that,
with such instruction, wickedness abounds?

The course pursued by this one false teacher illustrates that of many
others. A few words of Scripture are separated from the context, which
would, in many cases, show their meaning to be exactly opposite to the
interpretation put upon them; and such disjointed passages are perverted
and used in proof of doctrines that have no foundation in the word of God.
The testimony cited as evidence that the drunken Amnon is in heaven, is a
mere inference, directly contradicted by the plain and positive statement
of the Scriptures, that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God.(941)
It is thus that doubters, unbelievers, and skeptics turn the truth into a
lie. And multitudes have been deceived by their sophistry, and rocked to
sleep in the cradle of carnal security.

If it were true that the souls of all men passed directly to heaven at the
hour of dissolution, then we might well covet death rather than life. Many
have been led by this belief to put an end to their existence. When
overwhelmed with trouble, perplexity, and disappointment, it seems an easy
thing to break the brittle thread of life, and soar away into the bliss of
the eternal world.

God has given in His word decisive evidence that He will punish the
transgressors of His law. Those who flatter themselves that He is too
merciful to execute justice upon the sinner, have only to look to the
cross of Calvary. The death of the spotless Son of God testifies that "the
wages of sin is death," that every violation of God's law must receive its
just retribution. Christ the sinless became sin for man. He bore the guilt
of transgression, and the hiding of His Father's face, until His heart was
broken and His life crushed out. All this sacrifice was made that sinners
might be redeemed. In no other way could man be freed from the penalty of
sin. And every soul that refuses to become a partaker of the atonement
provided at such a cost, must bear in his own person the guilt and
punishment of transgression.

Let us consider what the Bible teaches further concerning the ungodly and
unrepentant, whom the Universalist places in heaven as holy, happy angels.

"I