ii4 Apparent Contradiction. CHAP. 



idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the 

 lake that burneth ivith fire and brimstone ; which is 

 the second death." x 



When we meet with such a contradiction as this, 

 the right way to resolve it is by the principle ex- 

 pressed by Saint Paul, that the ministration of con- 

 demnation is indeed glorious, yet it passeth away; 

 but the ministration of righteousness excelleth in 

 glory, and remaineth. 2 In the same spirit, Isaiah 

 asserts that wrath and vengeance are strange to God, 

 though they may be forced on Him. "The Lord 

 shall rise up, he shall be wroth ; that he may do his 

 work, his strange work ; and bring to pass his act, 

 his strange act." 3 



Still more difficult, if read without their context, 

 are the following words, also from the Apocalypse : 

 * He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness 

 still; and he that is filthy let him be made filthy 

 still ; and he that is righteous let him do righteous- 

 ness still ; and he that is holy let him be made holy 

 still." 4 This has been often quoted as an assertion 

 of the unchangeableness of man's moral nature in 

 the future state, and the consequent impossibility of 

 repentance and forgiveness. But it is not spoken 

 of the future state ; it is spoken before the judg- 

 ment, as is shown by the following words : " Behold, 

 I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to 

 render to each man according as his work is." If 



1 Rev. xxi. 3-8. 2 2 Cor. iii. 6-11. 



3 Isaiah xxviii. 21. 4 Rev. xxii. 11. 



