SNIPPETS FROM THE HARD COPY UR LIBRARY OF RODGER TUTT

[Deena]

Indeed, the God of all Hope, steadfast in His goodness, for He alone is good.  What a relief to know that He will work all things according to the counsel of His will.

[rodgertutt]

MEMOIRS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF MY FATHER (James Necker) – by Baroness de Stael Holstien

"Eternal punishment! Power Almighty, can they who entertain such an idea know Thee? Eternal fire for those miserable creatures who have so many combats to sustain, and are armed with such feeble weapons! Power Almighty, Thy goodness preceded our birth, it still subsists, it will subsist after we are cut off by the hand of death."

175

[rodgertutt]

LETTER OF RESOLUTION – clergyman George Rust

"To imagine that man, for his disposition, be kept in a never-to-be-ended doom of intolerable pain and anguish of body and mind, is to fix so harsh a note upon the mercy and equity of the Righteous Judge of all the world, that the same temper in a man we would execrate and abominate."

176

[rodgertutt]

IN A LETTER FROM WILLIAM DUNCOMBE TO REV. SAMUEL SAY

"Vindictive justice, in the Deity, is, I own, no article in my creed. All punishment in the hands of an infinitely wise and good Being, I think, must be medicinal, and what we call chastisement."

177

[rodgertutt]

POEM by Soame Jenyns (eighteenth century)

"Oh could mankind but make this truth their guide
And force the helm from prejudice and pride,
Were once these maxims fixed, that God's our friend,
Virtue our good, and happiness our end.

How soon must reason o'er the world prevail,
And error, fraud and superstition fail!
None would hereafter, then, with groundless fear,
Describe the Almighty cruel and severe

Predestinating some without pretense
To Heav'n, and some to hell for no offense;
Inflicting endless pains for transient crimes,
And fav'ring sects, or nations, men or climbs.

None would fierce zeal for piety mistake,
Or malice for whatever tenets sake,
Or think salvation to a few confined
And heav'n too narrow to contain mankind!"

178

[VineBranch]

I love when someone you've never met or talked to states your thoughts
as if you had been best friends for years. :dsunny:

Haven't I been telling you this for decades?

[ded2daworld]

Seems like it. I'll learn someday.

[rodgertutt]

DYER'S LIFE OF ROBINSON (eighteenth century)
In a letter to a friend, Robert Robinson wrote

"These believers in eternal torment are never shocked; they never blush; but affirm, 'This is wise and just, and kind; and it will be more glorious to God to save me, and damn them to endless and unavoidable woe, than it would be to share eternal life amongst us, and we few, though we hate one another here, shall be the happier for the damnation of the rest.'

Barbarians! What arrogant madness inspires you?
Poor * honies! -- servants that know not what their Lord doth.
O my soul, to such be not thou united.
Cursed be their anger, for it is cruel."

* (definition of "honies" – "the common man without proper revelation")

179

[rodgertutt]

SERMONS by George Walker (eighteenth century)

"Some have thought that they could not clothe the future punishment of sin with sufficient terrors, and have given therefore, such exaggerated descriptions of them, both as to degree and duration, as in the opinion of many, can no way be reconciled with just sentiments of God.

The future punishment of the wicked does, in God's nature, suppose a capacity to be relieved of it, of gradually acquiring that better state of mind, and returning inclination towards virtue, which is the first and most desirable end of all punishment."

180

[rodgertutt]

From a letter by John Henderson to Dr. Joseph Priestly (eighteenth century)
"God hath declared that His will is that all should be saved; therefore, the doctrine which forges a contrary will, falsifies supreme unchangeable truth.

Unceasing torments can answer no possible good to anyone in the universe. I conclude them to be neither the will or work of God. Could I suppose them, I must believe them to be inflicted by a wantonness or cruelty which words cannot express, nor heart conceive.
But let this be the comfort of every humble soul, that it hath pleased God to reconcile all things to Himself."

181

[rodgertutt]

LITERARY HOURS – Dr. Nathan Drake

"That sin and torture should be eternal can neither accord with the justice nor the goodness of Deity, and would appear to many devout Christians to convert the God they should adore and love, into a perfect demon. Fortunately, however, an opinion so repulsive is neither accordant with reason, nor the Scriptures."

182

[Eduard]

I love this one, brother Rodger. :Peace2:

[rodgertutt]

I love this one, brother Rodger. :Peace2:

Mee too Eduard  :thumbsup:
Here is a similar one.

MISCELLANEOUS MAXIMS AND THOUGHTS – William Matthews

"In my childhood I found it impossible to fix my belief in the common notion of endless torments. I discovered there are plain arguments from reason and Scripture against that presumptuous doctrine of endless punishment, and I am now cheered with the rational, Scriptural, and as I think, glorious doctrine of the punishment of Divine justice being eventually subservient to a universal purification and fitness for heavenly habitations."

183

[rodgertutt]

CHRIST GLORIFIED IN THE SALVATION AND RESTORATION OF ALL MANKIND – Francis Leicester

"But the Scripture which crowns all, and the last which I shall bring into proof, is Revelation 5:13. Here all creation is at Christ's feet, and that not with tears in their eyes, or petitions in their hands, not with crying or supplications or weeping because things were hidden and kept secret; but with joy in their hearts, and praises in their mouths; with melody on their lips, and hallelujahs on their tongues; with looks and countenances full of satisfaction and delight; and their faces, instead of gathering blackness, turning into paleness, or being covered with shame and confusion (as once was the case with some of them) they all now shine as the sun, replete with light, life and love, full of ecstasy and rapture. And that because the book written within and on the backside, and sealed with seven seals, is now opened and unsealed, and all things revealed and explained: their own cases particularly unfolded to their view, with all the ways and means their loving Saviour took to bring them to the situation they are now in, with other miracles of grace and love.

Where then there is universal praise and thanksgiving, universal harmony and love, and both heaven and earth sounding and resounding acclamations of joy and peace, there must be universal salvation."

184

[rodgertutt]

Anna Letitia Barbuald, widow of Rev. Rochemont Barbuald wrote

"Rochemont's favorite doctrine was the final salvation of all the human race. He preached many sermons on this doctrine, which he defended both in the pulpit and in conversation with zeal and enthusiasm, which his congregation and his friends cannot but well remember."

Anna further commented, "I think it would be desirable to separate from religion that idea of gloom, which in this country (England) has but too generally accompanied it.
No one who embraces the common idea of future endless torments, that sins committed against an infinite Being do therefore deserve infinite punishment, no one, I will venture to assert, can believe such tenants, and have them often in his thoughts, and yet be cheerful.

Surely this age (the eighteenth century) which has demolished dungeons, rejected torture, and given so fair a prospect of abolishing the iniquity of the slave trade, cannot long retain among its articles of belief, the gloomy perplexities of Calvinism, and the heart-withering perspective of cruel and never-ending punishments."

185

[rodgertutt]

AN ESSAY ON UNIVERSAL REDEMPTION; TENDING TO PROVE THAT THE GENERAL SENSE OF SCRIPTURE FAVORS THE OPINION OF THE FINAL SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND. – Rev. John Brown (eighteenth century)

In UNIVERSALIST MISCELLANY, commenting on that work, William Vidler wrote,
"He considers the genuine import of the words and phrases which are thought to prove the endless duration of punishment, which he contends do not necessarily bear that sense, and he touches upon the usual topics of argument by which universalism has been defended."

186

[rodgertutt]

CONVERSATIONS ON THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT – Theophilus Lindsey

"The doctrine of eternal torments is a millstone that Christians hang around the neck of the Gospel. The words translated 'eternal,' 'everlasting,' 'forever,' and the like, generally signify limited periods of duration.

Everything is from God, and for the good of all. All things, good as well as what we call evil, are appointed by Infinite Wisdom and Benevolence, for the wisest and most gracious purposes for everyone."

187

[rodgertutt]

About Dr. Joseph Priestly, Thomas Whittimore writes in THE MODERN HISTORY OF UNIVERSALISM

"He believed that God's punishment will not be administered with the slightest tincture of revenge, but as a necessary means of qualifying the sinner for a better state of existence, which his present propensities disqualify him from enjoying. It is not the effect of anger in an irritated and avenging tyrant as the abominable tenets of orthodoxy would induce us to think of the Deity, but it is the medicine administered for our good by the Physician of our souls. Nor have we any reason to believe that it is greater in degree, or longer in duration than is necessary to produce the beneficial effect for which it is inflicted.

It was a constant source of great consolation to him that all things exist and move on harmoniously to produce universal good by Divine appointment and direction."

188

[Deena]

In my mind (a place that no one should enter alone  :laugh:), I see God drawing everything to Himself like a giant vortex.  On the outskirts of the vortex things are drawn in slowly, but the closer the object (us) get to the center of the vortex (God), things are drawn in at a greater speed and certain things are burned up in the drawing.  There is no fear of it in light of this fact--that which is burned off is to perfect us.  For me, I believe this is happening as we speak.  God's plan is accelerating. 

[rosered]

 Well said !, Deena  :thumbsup:

[eaglesway]

In my mind (a place that no one should enter alone  :laugh:), I see God drawing everything to Himself like a giant vortex.  On the outskirts of the vortex things are drawn in slowly, but the closer the object (us) get to the center of the vortex (God), things are drawn in at a greater speed and certain things are burned up in the drawing.  There is no fear of it in light of this fact--that which is burned off is to perfect us.  For me, I believe this is happening as we speak.  God's plan is accelerating.

Amen & Awesome. I once had a vision. I was in heaven/space far above the earth. I was looking down from beside Christ on the throne. The 24 elders surrounded the throne in a wide circle. I could see the earth way down through the circle and it was like a spiritual vortex as you descrided drawing souls up into it.

"If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me."

This same Jesus whom you crucified God has made both Lord and Messiah, and exalted Him to His right hand where he has received the Holy Spirit and poured forth this which you do now bot see and hear.

"And there was a sound as of a rushing, mighty wind(vortex:o) and tongues of fire hovered over their heads."

"When He ascended He gave gifts unto men and led captives in His train."

"The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it but you don't know where it comes from or wher it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

As we are drawn nearer to the center of the vortex we draw others with us, eventually setting the whole creation free into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Deena- this is so glorious I could jump through the roof  :dsunny:

He is still ascending and captives are still being liberated and added to thetrain of His glory like a comet, that instead of losing sparks, is drawing them unto itself wherever it goes.


Eph 2:4-10 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Come Quickly Lord Jesus.

[Lazarus Short]

The Vortex, turning so slowly at first, turning through the ages of gold, silver, bronze, and iron.  Each age a little shorter than the last by a factor of phi.  Each age a little quicker, a little more impoverished, but only in the human sense of impoverished.  This present age, turning inward sharply (involution), accelerating, being drawn upward to the high center.  The Hindus call it the "Kali Yuga," the Age of Iron.  It looks like an age of destruction, but the iron is needed to resist the purifying fires that free and perfect us.  The Vortex is pulling us up, to higher dimensions, to God.  Don't hold back, go with the flow, it looks like Chaos, but it is not.  It is a threshold, the border of something incomparably better.

If the above sounds too "New Age" for you, move on...

[onlytruth]

See the star of David . Two triangles(vortex) pointing at each other but overlapped.!

[Lazarus Short]

Some see the two triangles of the so-called Star of David as two tetrahedrons overlapped in three dimensions, making a regular solid called the stellated octahedron.

[Deena]

Fascinating. I am glad that this resonates with others. In the vortex we will be swallowed up in life. Christ made the journey first and He calls us to follow Him. It is not yet known what we will be, but the promise is glory. What a wonder.