3RD ACT

And how can the Greek fathers in the primitive church mistake when they understand our Lord and his apostles to teach universal restoration? It may be well to note here, that after the third century the descent of the church into errors of doctrine and practice grew more rapid! The worship of Jesus, of Mary was called 'the Mother of God,' 'the Queen of Heaven.' As God began to be represented more stern, implacable, cruel, the people worshiped Jesus to induce him to placate his Father's wrath; and then as the Son was held up as the severe judge of sinners and the executioner of the Father's vengeance, men prayed Mary to mollify the anger of her God-child; and when she became unfeeling or lacked influence, they turned to intercede with their cold, implacable superiors. Thus theology became more hard and merciless-hell was intensified, and enlarged, and eternized-heaven shrunk, and recded, and lost its compassion-woman (despite the deification of Mary) was regarded as weak and despicable-the Agapae were abolished and the Eucharist deified, and its cup withheld from the people-and woman deemed too impure to touch it!