The Great Concern
A collection of discourses in the form of Tracts about Man's relation to God and a future state, requested by the parishioners of the Essex Street Church, Boston, 1857-8. First printed under the title of “Truths for the Times.” By Pastor Nehemiah Adams, D.D. Printed 1859.
“...Thus the soul of man is capable of perpetual advance-ment towards God; but if it persists in sin, it is no more “meet for any work.” As no good use can be made of a bad book, an obscene picture, or garments infected with contagious disease, but they must be buried or burned, so the sinner, if he cannot be reclaimed, must be disposed of in such a way as wisdom and justice shall determine. But some bestow all their sympathy on the incorrigible sinner, and forget that there are rights and privileges belonging to others--rights of protection, rights of self-defence--which, to say the least, are of equal importance with his. Others seem to make small account of sin; they see no reason for future, endless punishment, because they perceive nothing to punish. Others seem to think of God only as of a fond parent, who has no object but to see his children enjoy themselves, and with whom the shutting up of one of his offspring in close confinement for life would be impossible; and is he, they say, more humane than God? But so long as there are such subjects as Satan and his angels, and wicked men, to be governed, there is, of course, a God with a character appropriate to his office as governor of these his subjects. A man with such softness of character as many impute to the Most High, would not have the qualifications necessary in the humblest magistrate; he could not be trusted to try a question which involved the personal liberty of an offender. It is enough to make one sick and faint at heart to think of such a being as at the head of affairs....”