KETTBERG
1057
REU
1. Those passages which declare that certain sinners shall not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. v. 20; vii.
13, 21-23; xviii, 3; Mark x, 23-27; Luke xiii, 21. 26; John iii, 3-5; 1 Cor. vi, 9, 10; Gal. v, 19-21; Eph. v, 5; Heb. iii, 19; iv, 1, 13). If some men, according to the language of these Scriptures, are to be excluded from heaven, they must necessarily sink to hell; for the Scriptures give us no intimation of a middle state.
2. Those passages of Scripture which describe the fut- ure and final state of men in contrast (Psa. xvii, 14, 15; Prov. x, 28 ; xiv, 35 ; Dan. xii, 2 ; Matt, iii, 12 ; vii. 13.
14, 21; viii, 11, 12; xiii, 30-43, 47-50; xxiv, 46-51; xxv, 23-40 ; Mark xvi, 16 ; Luke vi, 23, 24, 47-49 ; John iii, 16; v. 29; Pom. vi, 21-23; ix, 21-23; Gal. vi, 7, 8; Phil, iii, 17-21 ; 2 Thess. i, 5-12 ; 2 Tim. ii, 19, 20 ; Heb. vi, 8, 9; 1 Pet. iv, 18). These passages are believed to refer to the final state of man because — (1) in sev- eral of them the state is expressly called their end. (2) The state of the righteous and that of the wicked are put in exact opposition to each other; and if one is not final, neither is the other. (3) There is a dead silence about any succeeding state; and (4) the phraseology of some of the passages will admit of no other interpreta- tion.
3. Those passages of Scripture which apply the terms "everlasting," "eternal," "forever," and "for ever and ever" to this future state (Dan. xii, 2; Matt, xviii. 8: xxv, 41-46; Mark iii, 29; 2 Cor. iv, 18; 2 Thess. i, 9; 2 Peter ii. 17; Jude 6,7, 13; Rev. xiv, 10-12; xix, 3; xx, 10).
4. Those passages which express future punishment by phrases which implv its everlasting duration (Matt. x, 28; xii, 31, 32; Ma'rk iii, 39; ix, 43-48; Luke ix, 25; xiv, 26; John iii, 36; viii, 21 ; xvii, 9; Phil, iii, 10; Heb. vi, 2; x, 26, 27; James ii, 13; 1 John v, 16).
5. Those passages which intimate that a change of heart and a preparation for heaven are confined to this life (Prov. i, 24-28 ; Isa.lv, 6, 7; Matt, xxv, 5-13; Luke xiii, 24-29 ; John xii, 36 ; 2 Cor. vi, 1, 2 ; Heb. iii, 1-10 ; xiii, 15-22; Rev. xxii, 11).
6. Those passages which foretell the consequences of rejecting the Gospel (Psa. ii, 12; Prov. xxix, 1; Acts xiii, 40-40 ; xx, 26 ; xxviii, 26, 27 ; Rom. x, 12 ; 1 Cor. i, 18; 2 Cor. ii, 15, 16; iv, 3; 1 Thess. v, 3; 2 Thess. i, 8; ii, 10-12; Heb. ii, 1-3; iv, 1-11; x, 26-31, 38, 39; xxii, 25-29; James ii, 14; 1 Pet. iv, 17, 18; 2 Pet. ii, 1-21 ; iii, 7). The Gospel being the only way of salva- tion for man (Acts iv, 12), its rejection is that of the only method of salvation. See Punishment, Eveii- l.vstixg ; Universalisji.
Rettberg, Friedrich Wiliielm, a German theo- logian, was born at Celle, Aug. 21, 1805. After teaching in several small institutions, he became professor of the- ology at Marburg, where he died, April 7, 1849. His works are, De ParabolisJesu Christi (Gottingen, 1827) : — Cyprianus nack seinem Leben und Wirken (ibid. 1831) : — Heilslehren des Christenthums nack den Grundsdtzen dei- lutherisciien Kirche (Leips. 1838) : — Kirchengesckichte ]>, utschlands (I rottingen, 1840-48).— Hoefer, Nouv.Biog. Generate, s. v.
Retz, Henri de Gondi de, a French prelate, was born at Paris in 1572. He was canon of Notre Dame, and held many rich abbeys. In 1596 he became coad- jutor of his uncle, cardinal Pierre de Gondi, bishop of Paris, with the promise of succeeding to his title. He received the cardinal's hat in 1618, and, as cardinal de Retz, took part in the affairs of State. He published one work, Ordonnnnces Synodales. He was the last bishop of Paris. His death occurred at Be'ziers, Aug. 2, 1622. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generate, s. v.
Retz, Jean Francois Paul de Gondi, Cardi- nal de, often written Rais, a French prelate, was born at Montmirail in Oct. 1614. By birth he was a Knight of Malta, and was destined by his father for the Church, in the hope that he might succeed his uncle as arch- VII I. -X x x
bishop of Paris. The ecclesiastical life was wholly dis- tasteful to him, and his earlier years were spent in prodi- gality and excesses of all kinds; but, at the same time, he prosecuted his theological studies with great success, and received valuable benefices. He was made canon of Notre Dame in 1627, and adopted the title of abbe de Retz. His ambition and hardihood gained for him the friendship of the count de Soissons, and by the conspir- acy planned by that nobleman he hoped to be released from his ecclesiastical life and enter upon a political one, which was more congenial to his intriguing nat- ure. After the death of the count, he devoted him- self with more regularity to his profession, and succeed- ed in gaining so great a popularity that Louis XIII, on his death-bed, appointed him coadjutor to his uncle, the bishop of Paris. In this position he gained the hearts of the people by his charities and great atten- tion to all the outward requirements of religion. Dur- ing the wars of the Fronde he rendered valuable assist- ance to the royal cause; but finding that he was dis- trusted, he finally became the secret leader of the popu- lar party, and the greatest opponent of cardinal Mazarin. He was made cardinal in 1652, and received tempting offers of a position as ambassador of France to the Holy See; but before he had decided to accept this proposi- tion, he was arrested by order of Louis XIV, and was kept closely confined at Vincennes. On the death of his uncle, March 21, 1654, his friends took possession of the archbishopric in his name. By resigning his claims, he succeeded in gaining a change of residence, and was removed to the Chateau of Nantes. He escaped from his confinement Aug. 8, 1654, and after many adventures reached Spain. Philip IV offered him an escort, and he immediately hastened to Rome, where he declared himself archbishop of Paris, the pope having refused to acknowledge his resignation. Retz subsequently trav- elled through Europe; and having been prohibited by Louis XIV from occupying his archbishopric in person, he governed it b}- vicars and subordinates until 1662, when he formally resigned all claim to it in considera- tion of receiving other valuable benefices. He was rec- onciled to the king, and received permission to establish himself at Commercy, where he kept up a petty state, and occupied himself in study and works of charity. He died at Paris, Aug. 24, 1079. His writings are chief- ly political, and as such are not of interest here. But his greatest work is his Memoires, composed during his years of retirement. They were first published in 1717, and have been translated into several foreign languages. See Memoires du Cardinal de Retz; Le/tres de Madame de Sevigne ; Voltaire, Siecle de Louis XIV. — Hoefer, Nouv. L'iog. Generate, s. v.