Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 68
68 second pillar of the theory of vicarious atonement, and it is asserted that if God did not punish men for their sins, he would not be just. The point here is that the mere change of label does not change the reality of a thing. A person commits theft, but we say, there would be no punishment for him, as the law of Moses is not there yet. As against him there is another person guilty of the same offence. We declare him to be an inmate of eternal hell, for the simple reason that the law of Moses finds him guilty. The nature of the act is the same; this one lifted property as did the other. We do not declare the act of the first as an offence, as the law of Moses (peace be on him) is not there yet, but we condemn the other, for the simple reason that the law of Moses (peace be on him) is in force. We leave alone the one and other while both have committed the same act. the justice and whence the equity that permits this? arraign the. Where lies. Let us take another instance, that of lying or of oppressing others. If we do not forbid these acts or do not condemn a person for lying or oppressing others, how can one who commits these acts be a righteous and clean-minded person?. How can a thief, a liar and a wrong-doer become righteousminded, for the simple reason that we did not restrain them, or that we did not condemn them? And if one is not guilty but the other is, on account of the same acts that both have committed, justice obviously loses its foothold. . ENOCH A RIGHTEOUS MAN AFTER ADAM. So far I have dealt with the subject in terms of principles in a philosophical strain. Now I propose to show that in the world of actualities too, as the Bible points out, there have been appearing men of virtue from time to time in the world. said of Enoch, great-grandson of Adam (peace be on him). It is