Love's Final Victory - free ebook by Horatio

Read as playlist

Love's Final Victory

Horatio

93 chapters

8 hour read

Read as playlist

Selected Chapters

93 chapters

LOVE'S FINAL VICTORY

LOVE'S FINAL VICTORY

Ultimate Universal Salvation on the Basis of Scripture and Reason An Orthodox Minister " That which is incredible to thee thou shalt not, at thy soul's peril, attempt to believe. Go to Perdition if thou must, but not with a lie in thy mouth. By the Eternal Maker, no."—Carlyle. " Is not Universal Salvation the Divine Corollary of Universal Atonement?"—Extract of a letter from the Author to an eminent Methodist minister in England....

22 minute read

Read Chapter

I.

I.

Fear of Punishment—Early Impressions—Men of Piety and Learning—Facts and Figures—Mental or Material Fire—The Theory of Conditional Immortality—Why Invented—Moody—Divine Failure Impossible—Future Operations of Grace—Restoration—A Plea for Charity—Other Worlds—The Heathen—Devout Use of the Imagination....

10 minute read

Read Chapter

II.

II.

Unconditional Election—Children of Believing Parents—An Arrogant Pretension—God's Own Children—The Heathen of All Time—A Baleful Shadow—Former Cruelty—Herbert Spencer—Dr. Farrar's Eternal Hope—A Lady With An Open Mind—Dr. Dawson's Larger View—The Universal Attraction....

10 minute read

Read Chapter

III.

III.

No Definite Note of Warning—Preachers Afraid of Discipline—Divided As to Restoration or Extinction—Plea for Liberty—Liberalism of the Episcopal Church—Advance in Christian Unity—Dr. Edward White—Conditional Immortality—Endless Torment—If True Ought to Be Preached Morning, Noon and Night—Awful Penalty of Sin—Extinction—True Religion Is Reasonable—Enlarged Conceptions....

14 minute read

Read Chapter

IV.

IV.

A Strong Argument—Universal Atonement—Infinite Justice Satisfied—A Candid Methodist Minister—Can Man Commit An Infinite Sin?—Everlasting Punishment Could Not Be Rendered—Uses of Suffering—Punitive and Remedial—The Penalty Has Been Paid—Moral Effect—Mystery of Pain—Not Punishment but Chastening—Extending Our Outlook Beyond—Boundless Time and Space—Operations of Grace in the Next Life—Infinite Power—Infinite Mercy—Infinite Love—Incentive to Endless Praise....

16 minute read

Read Chapter

V.

V.

Our Limitations—Development—Our Capacity—Divine Foreknowledge—No Divine Failure—The Heathen—Unchangeable Dove—Union of Four Attributes—Eternal Wisdom—A Marvel of Coercion and Freedom—The Day of Divine Power—An Unfathomable Mystery—Future Revelations—Coming to Zion with Songs....

10 minute read

Read Chapter

VI.

VI.

Abraham Tucker's View—Ingenious and Reverent—Variety of Endowment—Maximum of Happiness—Imparting and Receiving New Ideas—Compensations—Infinite Justice....

5 minute read

Read Chapter

VII.

VII.

Different Processes—The Case of Saul—Changed in a Moment—No Violence to Human Freedom—The Case of Nebuchadnezzar—Sudden or Slow—Basis of Warning—An Object Lesson—Function of Suffering....

7 minute read

Read Chapter

VIII.

VIII.

Meagre Details—Good Reasons Why—Extent of the Universe—Future Glory—Sin in Other Worlds—No Revelation—Future Abode of the Righteous—Solid or Ethereal—Impossible Revelations—Present Duties and Interests—Our Limitations—Necessity of Purification—Preaching to the Spirits in Prison—Stages of Progress—The Law of Gradual Development....

12 minute read

Read Chapter

IX.

IX.

The Descent of Jesus Into Hades—Singular Reserve of Preachers—Purgatory—Dr. Gerhardt's Book—A Bodily Resurrection—The Spirit World Requires a Spirit Body....

7 minute read

Read Chapter

X.

X.

Infinite Being and Perfection—Grades of Being—Variety—Man's Limitations—Moral Beings—Hopeless Surroundings—All Are the Children of God—Righting the Wrongs of Time—"The Heart of the Universe Is Love"—Eternal Conscious Torment Incredible—Conquering Power of Love—Eternal Purpose Will Not Fail—Omnipotence in the Moral Realm—The Divine Expression of Love—Universal Atonement Involves Universal Salvation—Final Success of God's Designs—Will Evil Necessarily Perpetuate Itself?—Triumph of Good Over Evil—F

27 minute read

Read Chapter

XI.

XI.

Extent of the Atonement—The Dilemma of Universal Atonement and Partial Salvation—Human Systems of Truth—Methodist Theology—Tradition and Reason—Dr. Dale's View—No Divine Failure—Imperfection of All Theological Systems—"Sufficient but Not Efficient"—Undeveloped Possibilities—The Angel in the Apocalypse—Omnipotence Both in the Physical and the Moral Realm—The Short Epoch of Time—Advance of the Presbyterian Church in the United States—Individual Congregations—Hardening Effects of the Narrower View—

24 minute read

Read Chapter

XII.

XII.

The Creed of Eternal Torment—Do Ministers Really Believe It?—If They Do, Why Not Say So?—No Decisive Note of Warning—Definite Missionary Incentive Is Wanting—The Phrase, "Eternal Death," Often Used—Does It Mean Annihilation, or Eternal Torment, or What?—Vague Reference to Punishment Fosters Unbelief—An Age of Compromise—Professor Faulkner's Testimony—The Idea of Restoration Would Fully Meet the Difficulty—Honesty and Candor—Carlyle's Scathing Warning—Ultimate Fulfilment of Prophecy—Eternal Songs

20 minute read

Read Chapter

XIII.

XIII.

Enlarging Vision—Promise to Abraham—A Host of Similar Promises—Many of Them Not Merely National—Their Fulfilment—Not Limited by the Short Epoch of Time—The Present Only One Part of the Divine Administration—Why the Revelation Was Not Given Sooner—Groping in the Twilight—Growing Illumination—A Time for Everything—Dazzle or Enlighten—Discoveries in Science are Really Revelations—Our Slowness in Receiving Spiritual Truth—Limitations of Great Men....

17 minute read

Read Chapter

XIV.

XIV.

The Unrevealed—Scripture and Reason—Bishop Butler's Dictum—Reverence of Kepler—Moral Courage of Sir Oliver Lodge—Increase of Laxity—The Spirit's Almighty Power—Supreme Authority of Scripture—The Proper Sphere of Reason—Fate of the Heathen—Singular Reserve of Preachers—Sin Is Abnormal—Union of Divine Power, Wisdom, and Love—Reasonableness and Harmony—A Multitude of Scripture Promises—Discipline Instead of Eternal Torment—Dr. Funk's View—The Great Panacea for Unbelief—Ingersoll—No Divine Failure..

18 minute read

Read Chapter

XV.

XV.

Divine Gift of Reason—Its Proper Sphere—No Dogmatism—Is Sin An Infinite Evil?—Infinite Penalty Impossible to Be Rendered—Justice Can Delay—Good Cannot Perish—Testimony of Dickens—Endless Punishment Would Increase Moral Evil—The Divine Character Never Changes—Time but a Short Epoch—Our Capacity of Development—Salvation of Infants—The Insane—Imperfect Christians—Their Destiny—Good Unchristian Men—Where Will They Go?—"All Souls Are Mine"—Worth Preserving—Fate of the Heathen—Reclaimed in the Next Li

38 minute read

Read Chapter

XVI.

XVI.

Divine Methods of Reclaiming Men—"The Chief of Sinners"—Changed' in a Moment—No Violence Done to His Freedom—Yet Sovereign Power—The Mystery of Grace—View of McCosh—Supremacy of Conscience—Sir Isaac Newton's Wonderful Alertness of Mind—Reason and Intuition—Capturing the Most Incorrigible—Evil Environment—Suffering a Necessary Factor—Agony of Remorse—Eternal Hope....

14 minute read

Read Chapter

XVII.

XVII.

An Everlasting Pang—David and Absalom—Strained Ideas of Late Momentary Repentance—King Solomon—King Saul—The Gracious Character of Sympathy—George Eliot's View—A Strong Argument for Restoration—Heresy of a Minister's Wife—A Minister's Orthodox View—Wonderful Goodness of a Criminal—Where Will He Finally Go?—Our Very Imperfect Friends—Glossing Over Their Faults When They Are Gone—Our Instinctive Hope for the Worst—Restoration the True Solution—A Final Era of Joy....

16 minute read

Read Chapter

XVIII.

XVIII.

Present Enthusiasm for Missions—Former Lassitude—The Basis of Missionary Enterprise—Supposed Damnation of the Heathen—If Really Believed Would Drive Us to Frenzy—Minister's Monday Meeting—Pretence Cuts the Nerve of Enthusiasm—Restoration the True Incentive—Effective Because Reasonable—Torment Not Really Believed—The Heart Often Truer Than the Head—Necessity for Preparatory State—Could Not Have Details Revealed—Orthodoxy of the Torment View—Trying to Believe It—Be Not Afraid of the Truth—Extreme

24 minute read

Read Chapter

XIX.

XIX.

Efforts to Attract Working Men to the Church—Restoration Would Largely Solve the Difficulty—Common Sense of Working-Men—Glorious Expansion of Truth—Recasting Traditional Views—The True Basis for Unity....

9 minute read

Read Chapter

XX.

XX.

Beauty Evolved from Chaos—Future Capacity of Motion—Gleams of the Invisible—Changing Into the Divine Image—Crying Out for God—From Barrenness to Beauty—The Glow of the Firefly—The Effulgent Divinity—Universal Sense of Beauty—Sunset on the Prairie—Guardian Angels—Death As Seen from This Side and That—Sunset on Yellowstone River—A Drop of Dew—Reality of Heaven—The Literal and the Figurative—The Spiritual Body—Expanding Glory of Creation—Sunset in Dakota—Lights Dim and Clear—Christ's Unsullied Puri

23 minute read

Read Chapter

XXI.

XXI.

Everlasting Love—Resources of Infinite Wisdom and Power—Redemption of the Whole Race—Forecast of the Final Day—The Conquest of Love —Christ Is Satisfied—He Is Singing with Joy—Ancient Prophecy Fulfilled—Adoration of the Heavenly Hosts—The Saviour Crowned. The circumstances under which these pages came to be written are rather peculiar. I am in favor of church unity, and I had thought of writing something that would tend to bring the churches into closer harmony. I am persuaded that their unity o

16 minute read

Read Chapter

THE MEANING OF THE WORD "HADES."

THE MEANING OF THE WORD "HADES."

The Greek language contains two words which are used many times in the New Testament—"Gehenna" and "Hades." When the Greek New Testament was translated into English, one English word'—"Hell"—was, very unfortunately, made to do service for the two Greek words named above. "Hell" was used to express both the place of future punishments, and also the abode of those, who having departed the Earth-life, are existing as disembodied spirits, physically disembodied. As was to be expected, confusion of i

41 minute read

Read Chapter

THE EARLY-CHRISTIAN CONCEPTION OF HADES.

THE EARLY-CHRISTIAN CONCEPTION OF HADES.

The foregoing conclusion is well-nigh unassailable, in view of the fact that the early Christians believed in an Intermediate State, which they, like the Jews and Greeks, called "Hades." Justin Martyr (A.D. 147) declares that "those who say that there is no Resurrection, but that, immediately after death, their souls are taken up to Heaven, these are not to be accounted either Christians or Jews." Tertullian (A.D. 200) states that "the souls of all men go to Hades until the Resurrection; the sou

2 minute read

Read Chapter

THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE DOCTRINE OF EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN BUILT.

THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE DOCTRINE OF EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN BUILT.

We must look for this in the mistranslation of a few words in the Greek New Testament. These words are:—(aion); (aionios); (krima); (krisis); (krinein); and (katakrinein). We shall show that the translators have dealt most misleadingly and inconsistently with these words. They have translated them, in a number or passages of Scripture in which they appear, strictly in accordance with their true meanings, while into the words as they occur in other passages they have imported meanings not only ex

10 minute read

Read Chapter

DIFFERENT THEORIES.

DIFFERENT THEORIES.

Fear of punishment—Early Impressions—Men of piety and learning—Fact and figures—Mental or material fire—The theory of conditional immortality—Why invented—Moody—Divine failure impossible—Future operations of grace—Restoration—A plea for charity—Other worlds—The heathen—Devout use of the imagination. There is a general fear of suffering after death. Such fear may be derived in part from early impressions and education, and in part from the conscience that God has given to every man. But whatever

2 minute read

Read Chapter

DR. EDWARD WHITE'S THEORY.

DR. EDWARD WHITE'S THEORY.

Some are very definite in locating the period of a second probation as co-extensive with the Millenial reign. Others do not pretend to know when it will happen, or how long it will last; they simply believe it will happen. This idea of a second probation is very similar to Dr. Edward White's theory of Conditional Immorality. He held that life in the Scripture simply means life, and that death simply means death. He believed that those who are fit for life will live, and that the rest will perish

2 minute read

Read Chapter

UNFOLDING LIGHT OF REVELATION.

UNFOLDING LIGHT OF REVELATION.

Yet on this momentous question they differ. It is really no wonder. I think I may say that there is no clear deliverance in Scripture, in absolute support of either of these views; or if there is, it is offset by some other statement that seems contrary. In the unfolding light of revelation we do not seem to have come to the time when this momentous question will be made absolutely and universally plain. It may be one of those questions on which we are to exercise faith alone. "Shall not the Jud

1 minute read

Read Chapter

SUFFICIENT REVELATION.

SUFFICIENT REVELATION.

It is not remarkable, then, that so little is revealed, even of Heaven. We do not know what activities will have place there. What particular business will engage redeemed souls, we do not know. We have a sufficient revelation to stimulate hope, but not enough to pander to curiosity. Such a limited revelation as we could receive would probably only confuse us. It is not remarkable, then, that we have but a meagre account of the preparatory processes for final blessedness. Yet, while all this is

1 minute read

Read Chapter

THE DEPARTED MORE AMENABLE.

THE DEPARTED MORE AMENABLE.

Explain it as we may, we have always to remember that there are myriads of human beings living now, and other myriads who have departed, who had no chance to know the way of life. Will not the God of all mercy and of all resource provide them with a chance on the other side of death? The mere accident of death makes no change in them. And who knows if the departed may not be more amenable to good influence then, than now? I have heard of heathens who heard the Gospel but once, and they received

16 minute read

Read Chapter

CRUELTY OF FORMER VIEWS.

CRUELTY OF FORMER VIEWS.

Unconditional Election—Children of Believing Parents—An Arrogant Pretension—God's Own Children—The Heathen of All Time—A Baleful Shadow—Former Cruelty—Herbert Spencer—Dr. Farrar's Eternal Hope—A Lady With an Open Mind—Dr. Dawson's Larger View.—The Universal Attraction. The old doctrine of God's unconditional decrees still survives, despite our conviction that perfect impartiality is one of the attributes of the divine character. The idea seems to have taken hold of some minds that a thing is rig

10 minute read

Read Chapter

THE CHURCH IN TRANSITION.

THE CHURCH IN TRANSITION.

No Definite note of Warning—Preachers Afraid of Discipline—Divided as to Restoration or Extinction—Plea of Liberty—Liberalism of the Episcopal Church—Advance in Christian Unity—Dr. Edward White—Conditional Immortality—Endless Torment—If True Ought to Be Preached Morning, Noon and Night—Awful Penalty of Sin—Extinction—True Religion is Reasonable—Enlarged Conceptions. There can hardly be a doubt that the church in general is in a state of transition on this question. The want of a definite note of

2 minute read

Read Chapter

OPENING OF THE PULPITS.

OPENING OF THE PULPITS.

And there was lately a remarkable expression of Christian charity on the part of the Episcopal Church in the United States. At a triennial convention of that body held at Richmond, there was passed a resolution opening the pulpits of the Episcopal Church to clergymen of other denominations. The resolution was then referred to the House of Bishops, which passed it by a vote that was practically unanimous. This is a marvellous advance in Christian unity, and a tacit recognition of the secondary na

1 minute read

Read Chapter

THERE IS NO WARNING.

THERE IS NO WARNING.

And here I would notice the great loss we sustain in having no emphatic note of warning. It used to be the custom of warning men of hell fire; but now there is no warning, except the very general and vague warning of wrath to come, which has really little meaning. We do not say in what it consists; therefore the vague statement has but slight significance. To this may be attributed much of the comfort and carelessness of sinners. Many there are, even of regular church goers, who hear nothing on

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A VITAL PHASE.

A VITAL PHASE.

Here, then, is the point of agreement. Suffering is entailed by Sin. Whatever view we espouse, that fact remains. It was mainly to emphasize that fact that we entered on this discussion. It is one phase of the agreement, and a vital one, between the Christian churches. While there is much diversity of view as to the mode and the object and the duration of suffering, there is a broad basis of agreement as to the fact. Not only, therefore, does the doctrine of eternal punishment recognize sufferin

5 minute read

Read Chapter

INFINITE JUSTICE.

INFINITE JUSTICE.

A Strong Argument—Universal Atonement—Infinite Justice Satisfied—A Candid Methodist Minister—Can Man Commit an Infinite Sin—Everlasting Punishment Could Never Be Endured—Uses of Suffering—Punitive and Remedial—The Penalty has Been Paid—Moral Effect—Mystery of Pain—Not Punishment but Chastening—Extending Our Outlook Beyond—Boundless Space and Time—Operation of Grace in the Next Life—Infinite Power—Infinite Mercy—Infinite Love—Incentive to Endless Praise. It may be said that in this argument I am

14 minute read

Read Chapter

HARMONY OF THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.

HARMONY OF THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.

Our Limitations—Development—Our Capacity—Divine Foreknowledge—No Divine Failure—The Heathen—Unchangeable Love—Union of Four Attributes—Eternal Wisdom—A Marvel of Coercion and Freedom—The Day of Divine Power—An Unfathomable Mystery—Future Revelations—Coming to Zion with Songs. Since trying to see the relation of absolute Justice to the Idea of Restoration, it has struck me that it may be well to take a glance at some others of the Divine attributes, and see if they also sustain the same theory. A

11 minute read

Read Chapter

THEORY OF EQUALITY.

THEORY OF EQUALITY.

Abraham Tucker's View—Ingenious and Reverent—Variety of Endowment—Maximum of Happiness—Imparting and Receiving New Ideas—Compensations—Infinite Justice. When I was a lad I met with an old book entitled "Equality," by Abraham Tucker. The main idea of the book, so far as I can recollect, was, that as God is infinitely just, He must treat all His creatures with absolute equality. As such a thing is evidently not in force now, the idea was that the future life will exactly rectify all the inequaliti

2 minute read

Read Chapter

PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION.

PROCESSES OF PURIFICATION.

Different Processes—The Case of Saul—Changed in a Moment—No Violence to Human Freedom—The Case of Nebuchadnezzar—Sudden or Slow—New Illumination—Basis of Warning—An Object Lesson—Function of Suffering. Here I would advert to the different processes that may be used for man's redemption. We have referred to the case of Saul. His case is a typical one. It illustrates the fact that God can use means by which the most incorrigible sinner may be entirely changed in a moment; and that, without doing a

7 minute read

Read Chapter

THE INTERMEDIATE STATE.

THE INTERMEDIATE STATE.

Meagre Details—Good Reasons Why—Extent of the Universe—Future Glory—Sin in Other Worlds—No Revelation—Future Abode of the Righteous—Solid or Ethereal—Impossible Revelations—Present Duties and Interests—Our Limitations—Necessity of Purification—Preaching to the Spirits in Prison—Stages of Progress—The Law of Gradual Development. There is one matter to which I would refer at this stage, because I think the settlement of it on a reasonable basis will be a great aid to many devout minds. It will be

8 minute read

Read Chapter

IMPRISONED SOULS.

IMPRISONED SOULS.

Yet, while we have no details given us as to the process or the time required for purification, we have certain suggestions. In the Old Testament there is a reference to "prisoners of hope." The reference is somewhat obscure, and taken by itself it is of doubtful meaning. But in the New Testament it is intimated that Christ went and "preached to the spirits in prison." There we have a gleam of light as to what is meant by "prisoners of hope." There were imprisoned souls to whom Christ took some

2 minute read

Read Chapter

THE SPIRITS IN PRISON.

THE SPIRITS IN PRISON.

The Descent of Jesus into Hades—Singular Reserve of Preachers —Purgatory—Dr. Gerhardt's Book—A Bodily Resurrection—The Spirit World Requires a Spirit Body. Here I would advert briefly to a topic that seems to me to have a strong bearing in the same direction. I mean the descent of Jesus into Hades, and the intimation that He "preached to the spirits in prison." On this subject the whole Christian world—at least the Protestant world—has maintained a singular reserve. In fact I have never heard th

4 minute read

Read Chapter

DIVINE LOVE.

DIVINE LOVE.

Infinite Being and Perfection—Grades of Being—Variety—Man's Limitations—Moral Beings—Hopeless Surroundings—All Are Children of God—Righting the Wrongs of Time—"The Heart of the Universe is Love" —Eternal Conscious Torment Incredible—Conquering Power of Love —Eternal Purpose Will Not Fail—Omnipotence in the Moral Realm—The Divine Expression of Love—Universal Atonement Involves Universal Salvation—Final Success of God's Designs—Will Evil Necessarily Perpetuate itself?—Triumph of Good Over Evil—Few

6 minute read

Read Chapter

A THEORY.

A THEORY.

Generality here tends to confusion and mistakes. It has been too much the habit to think and speak of God as giving His Son for the world, and yet holding a reserved and unexpressed idea that He gave His Son only for the saved. Such an idea is not often expressed publicly, and I believe is not held heartily, But it is formally professed; it is theory in a certain creed. Not only so, but it is felt that universal atonement involves universal salvation; and that is an issue which in many cases men

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A SERIOUS DEPARTURE.

A SERIOUS DEPARTURE.

Just apply that principle to the theory of everlasting torment. Is it to be supposed that God really "aims" at that, and that hence He "infallibly accomplishes" it? It is almost blasphemy to think so. Yet that is the idea that has been held to be orthodox, and any apparent swerving from it has been treated as a serious departure from the faith. But men's hearts are sometimes better than their heads; hence we hear little now of eternal torment. And the heart is a good place for a reform in doctri

1 minute read

Read Chapter

EVEN IF THEY ARE FAVORED.

EVEN IF THEY ARE FAVORED.

Roughly, there are two classes of men to be recognized. First there are those who have sat under the Gospel for years, but who have not yielded to its claims. The question is, Will they ever yield, even if they are favored with another opportunity? Will not the habit of their life culminate in an eternal refusal? Some think it will. My old minister used to say that it is the nature of evil to perpetuate itself. Hence it was argued that grace refused here will be always refused, even though it we

1 minute read

Read Chapter

TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL.

TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL.

It may just be so in our forecasts of the next life. In fact there is more likelihood of the triumph of good over evil in the next life than there could have been originally in this. And why? Because we know that a ransom has not to be provided, but that it is provided. We also know that it has been provided at a fearful cost, and we know that the glory of God is to a large extent bound up in its success. Moreover, we know that Christ is yet to see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied. A

4 minute read

Read Chapter

NOT ASKED TO SURRENDER.

NOT ASKED TO SURRENDER.

Take the case of Saul of Tarsus. I have referred to him elsewhere as a man who went as far as man could go in crime. But he was arrested and saved in a moment. And mark you, he was not coerced. No violence was done to his perfect freedom. Every man is free; that is his birthright; in Saul's case he was not asked to surrender an iota of it. Yet by some mysterious divine power he changed in a moment of time. Henceforth he was a new man, with a new heart, new ideals, new hopes, new ambitions, a new

2 minute read

Read Chapter

STERN FOR THE MOMENT.

STERN FOR THE MOMENT.

Even when there is divine wrath, there is infinite love blended and mingled with it. We shall see this as in a picture if we look at that scene in the life of Christ when He healed a certain man in the Synagogue. It was the Sabbath day. Knowing the hardness and hypocrisy of those present, He flung out this challenge—"Is it right to do good on the Sabbath day?" They could make no answer without committing themselves. Then we read that Christ "looked round about them with indignation." Ah, but lis

3 minute read

Read Chapter

ON A LARGE SCALE.

ON A LARGE SCALE.

In the light of this fact sin appears but an episode in eternal providence; and we can conceive that it is permitted for a time, for the realization of a greater good. It is but an expansion of the acknowledged principle that God brings good out of evil. Sin is not the normal condition of the universe. It is abnormal, and in time will give way to normal conditions. We are accustomed to believe in this principle on a small scale; but if we accustom ourselves to regard the same principle or a larg

2 minute read

Read Chapter

THE ATONEMENT.

THE ATONEMENT.

Extent of the Atonement—The Dilemma of Universal Atonement and Partial Salvation—Human Systems of Truth—Methodist Theology—Tradition and Reason—Dr. Dale's View—No Divine Failure—Imperfection of All Theological Systems—"Sufficient but not Efficient"—Undeveloped Possibilities—The Angel in the Apocalypse—Omnipotence Both in the Physical and the Moral Realm—The Short Epoch of Time—Advance of the Presbyterian Church in the United States—Individual Congregations —Hardening Effects of the Narrower View

13 minute read

Read Chapter

I TOOK THE LARGER VIEW.

I TOOK THE LARGER VIEW.

We are not surprised, therefore, that we have in Scripture such explicit statements as to the universality of the Atonement. I was brought up in that church which is identified with the theory of a limited Atonement. At an early age, however, I took the larger view of the Atonement, and I hold that view with increasing conviction now. In fact I do not see how the idea of a limited Atonement ever came to command the assent of intelligent men, except that it was found to be necessary as a part of

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A SPONTANEOUS ANSWER.

A SPONTANEOUS ANSWER.

I fully believe that in this matter I do not stand alone. I believe that this same liberal view of the Atonement is held, consciously or unconsciously, by the great majority of our ministers and members. If a spontaneous answer were asked as to whether Christ died for the whole of mankind or a part only, I feel sure that the general response would be that he died for all. And I appeal to you, if that is not your most inner and sacred conviction? In your best moods, when all theological subtletie

57 minute read

Read Chapter

THE SPIRIT OF THE LARGER DOCTRINE.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LARGER DOCTRINE.

And not only has that Church formally taken that position, but the spirit of the larger doctrine has so prevailed in the Church for some years past, that individual congregations could take the broader basis without having their soundness in the faith called in question. In a manual published by the Third Presbyterian Church of Chicago, for instance, the "Articles of Faith" of that Congregation are set forth under seven heads. Article III reads thus:—"We believe that Jesus Christ our Mediator is

4 minute read

Read Chapter

BUT A PASSING EPOCH.

BUT A PASSING EPOCH.

Let us remember that He knew well the magnitude of the task He had undertaken. Let us remember that He does nothing in vain. Let us remember that His love, and power, and purpose have undergone no change. And let us remember that this little span of time is but a passing epoch in His administration. He can complete in a future age what He commenced in this age. Nay, not commenced; for His purpose dates back from the eternal past. He is "the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world." When we

2 minute read

Read Chapter

THE DIVINE IMAGE.

THE DIVINE IMAGE.

As to the capacity of suffering in such a case on the part of God, we can judge of that faintly by our own case. We were made in the divine image, and suffer in a human degree as He suffers in a divine degree. Conceive, then, if you can, the untold suffering of the Father in making that sacrifice. The suffering which the Father endured I believe will never be measured. The matter is presented in that way when it is said that God so loved the world that He gave His Son. The word so in that connec

2 minute read

Read Chapter

DESTINED FOR A BETTER WORLD.

DESTINED FOR A BETTER WORLD.

I will refer here to one practical difficulty, which is solved by the theory of Restoration. We all know Christian men of whose real goodness we have no doubt whatever. But such a man has often great imperfections. There can be no doubt that he is destined for a better world; but in the meantime he is not fit for it. Such a man, we will say, meets with an accident that cuts him off in a moment. The question is, Where does he go? On the old theory he must go either to heaven or to hell. But he is

1 minute read

Read Chapter

THRUST INTO NEW CONDITIONS.

THRUST INTO NEW CONDITIONS.

Nor would it be in harmony with divine operations, so far as we know them, to thrust a frail, human, imperfect spirit into eternal joys so suddenly. He is not prepared for them. He requires a preliminary stage of preparation. It is only in harmony with what we know of God's methods to believe that such is provided. When a child is born into this world, it is not thrust into new conditions suddenly. For a time it is not even aware that it has entered on new conditions; but it adapts itself natura

2 minute read

Read Chapter

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.

And in this matter he does not confine himself to material things. The same law applies, as he says, to "personality, beauty, artistic achievement, knowledge, unselfish affection" and so on. So he really rises into the domain of the moral and spiritual. Regarded in this light, no incipient goodness acquired in this life will ever die. It will be developed, and in order to its development, there must be some means of development beyond the bourne of time. * * * * * We might suppose another case t

1 minute read

Read Chapter

FIRM AND QUICK TREAD.

FIRM AND QUICK TREAD.

At length a man starts from the middle of the crowd. He is a common, ill-clad, laboring man. The grime of his day's work is upon him. Resolutely he goes forward, pushing the bystanders to the right and left. With firm and quick tread he ascends the ladder. At the top he stands for a moment irresolute. Is it possible to reach the window? It seems impossible. But he makes a spring for it, and by an almost superhuman effort he gains it. He rescues the child.; with great risk he regains the ladder,

1 minute read

Read Chapter

EVERY POSSIBLE ARGUMENT.

EVERY POSSIBLE ARGUMENT.

If Dr. Adam Clarke had only been imbued with such an idea, he would not have required to labor so hard as he has done in trying to make out a hopeful prospect for Judas. With a truly charitable intent he summons every possible argument in support of the idea that Judas was truly penitent, and that he was saved in his last hour. He may have been; I do not say. But the idea of Restoration opens a far wider door of hope. In that case, there is no need for far-fetched argument. He will be restored,

3 minute read

Read Chapter

A FEEBLE NOTE OF WARNING.

A FEEBLE NOTE OF WARNING.

The Creed of Eternal Torment—Do Ministers Really Believe It—If They Do, Why Not Say So?—No Decisive Note of Warning—Definite Missionary Incentive Is Wanting—The Phrase "Eternal Death" often Used—Does It Mean Eternal Annihilation, or Eternal Torment, or What?—Vague Reference as to Punishment Fosters Unbelief—An Age of Compromise —Professor Faulkner's Testimony—The Idea of Restoration Would Wholly Meet the Difficulty—Honesty and Candor—Carlyle's Scathing Warning —Ultimate Fulfillment of Prophecy—E

25 minute read

Read Chapter

PROPHECIES YET TO BE FULFILLED.

PROPHECIES YET TO BE FULFILLED.

Enlarging Vision—Promise to Abraham—A Host of Similar Promises —Many of them Not Merely National—Their Fulfillment—Not Limited by the Short Epoch of Time—The Present Only One Part of the Divine Administration—Why the Revelation Was Not Given Sooner—Groping in the Twilight—Growing Illumination—A Time for Everything—Dazzle or Enlighten—Discoveries in Science and Revelation—Our Slowness in Receiving Spiritual Truth—Limitations of Great Men. If reason, even when based on revelation, still appears to

6 minute read

Read Chapter

UNCOUNTED MILLIONS.

UNCOUNTED MILLIONS.

Or, take the message which the angels brought down to earth on the occasion of the Saviour's birth. They told the shepherds that they brought good tidings of great joy to all people. What, then, about the uncounted millions of our race who had departed this life without ever having heard of a Saviour? If they were either in hopeless torment, or in extinction, how could the Saviour's coming be good tidings to them? And what about the millions that were then living in heathenism, and would die in

1 minute read

Read Chapter

THE GLADDEST MESSAGE.

THE GLADDEST MESSAGE.

The angels knew something of the glad purport of their words. Likely they saw this day of grace beyond the bourne of time. I cannot conceive of any other basis on which the words would be true. It was the gladdest message that ever fell on mortal ears, if we take it in this wide application. Likely these angels were able to exult in the prospect of every human soul being redeemed. In harmony with the passage referred to, we have the intimation that Christ will draw all men to Himself. That promi

1 minute read

Read Chapter

NO SMALLER MEANING.

NO SMALLER MEANING.

No; our Lord does a much wiser and kinder thing. By one simple sentence he opens the door of everlasting hope. He says He will draw all men to Himself; but He does not tell us how or when. Those are matters for faith, not for revelation. We can take no smaller meaning from this glorious promise, distort it as men will, to make it fit into some preconceived theory. Again, we would enquire, apart from all theories to be sustained, what is the meaning of those wonderful words: "All Israel shall be

10 minute read

Read Chapter

TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE.

TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE.

The Unrevealed—Scripture and Reason—Bishop Butler's Dictum —Reverence of Kepler—Moral Courage of Sir Oliver Lodge—Increase of Laxity—The Spirit's Almighty Power—Supreme Authority of Scripture —The Proper Sphere of Reason—Fate of the Heathen—Singular Reserve of Preachers—Sin is Abnormal—Union of Divine Power, Wisdom and Love —Reasonableness and Harmony—A Multitude of Scripture Promises —Discipline Instead of Eternal Torment—Dr. Funk's View—The Great Panacea for Unbelief—Ingersoll—No Divine Failur

6 minute read

Read Chapter

THIS DIVINE LIGHT.

THIS DIVINE LIGHT.

In the Scriptures we have a revelation of God's character, so far as we can receive such a revelation. We can also form some ideas of His law, and the potentiality of His wisdom and love. We have besides a revelation of the nature of sin, and can have some idea of what it deserves. Moreover, Christ is "the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." When we are illuminated with this divine Light, submit all our opinions to the Word of God, and are raised to an impartial plane

19 minute read

Read Chapter

TESTIMONY OF REASON.

TESTIMONY OF REASON.

Divine Gift of Reason—Its Proper Sphere—No Dogmatism—Is Sin an Infinite Evil?—Infinite Penalty Impossible to Be Rendered—Justice Can Delay—Good Cannot Perish—Testimony of Dickens—Endless Punishment Increases Moral Evil—The Divine Character Never Changes —Time But a Short Epoch—Our Capacity of Development—Salvation of Infants—The Insane—Imperfect Christians—Their Destiny—Good Unchristian Men—Where Will They Go?—"All Souls Are Mine"—Worth Preserving—Fate of the Heathen—Reclaimed in the Next Life—H

13 minute read

Read Chapter

PREPARATION FOR HEAVENLY BLESSEDNESS.

PREPARATION FOR HEAVENLY BLESSEDNESS.

That there is a way of salvation beyond the bound of time is strongly suggested by the salvation of infants. We are all agreed about the salvation of infants. Our heart refuses any other belief. In the case, however, of very young infants, they go into the next life destitute of all moral character. Either heaven must be a very large place, including a place for infants—or else they must undergo some preparatory process before entering. In either case their entire preparation for heavenly blesse

2 minute read

Read Chapter

THE SWEEP OF THE INFINITE MIND.

THE SWEEP OF THE INFINITE MIND.

I have sometimes on a sweet and hallowed night watched the moon riding so peacefully through the white clouds; and it did seem to me that if there is suffering anywhere, God has a time and a plan for relieving it. I could not think of Him as being happy otherwise. But if in the sweep of the infinite Mind he descries, even in some far off age, the entire passing away of sin and suffering, I can imagine Him as being perfectly happy. All events being equally present to Him, anticipation may be very

38 minute read

Read Chapter

HESITATING AND HALTING.

HESITATING AND HALTING.

Some time ago I presented this argument to a Presbyterian minister, not suspecting in the least that he was wanting in orthodoxy. He said the argument was conclusive, and that there is no such thing as eternal punishment. I have since spoken with many ministers on the same topic; and in no case was there any opposition. Many are hesitating and halting between this view and the one that has so widely prevailed. Especially is there a natural hesitation to speak about the matter publicly. The main

2 minute read

Read Chapter

BARBAROUS IDEAS.

BARBAROUS IDEAS.

But the preacher took the ground that it was a very cruel and barbarous thing to exterminate those nations, or to put them to the sword. He dwelt on the barbarous ideas that then prevailed, contrasting them with the toleration that prevails now. He said that we convert men now, instead of killing them. He took the ground that the extermination of those people was due to an entire misconception of the divine command. It struck me at the moment that such an idea was entirely contrary to the fact.

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A SHAFT OF RIDICULE.

A SHAFT OF RIDICULE.

That seems to be the grand solution of what has always seemed a barbarous proceeding. The want of such a solution has furnished Ingersoll and men like him with many a shaft of ridicule at the so-called merciful God of the Old Testament. This larger view shows Him to be all He claims; that His mercy is not confined to this short span of time; that it is from everlasting to everlasting. One great advantage in believing in Restoration is, that any good influence effected on any person will have its

4 minute read

Read Chapter

THE CASE OF SAUL.

THE CASE OF SAUL.

Divine Methods of Reclaiming Men—"The Chief of Sinners"—Changed in a Moment—No Violence Done to His Freedom—Yet Sovereign Power—The Mystery of Grace—View of McCosh—Supremacy of Conscience—Sir Isaac Newton's Alertness of Mind—Reason and Intuition—Capturing the Most Incorrigible—Evil Environment—Suffering a Necessary Factor—Agony of Remorse. We must remember that God has ways and means of reclaiming men that we do not see ordinarily put forth in this life. But we do see singular exhibitions of gra

2 minute read

Read Chapter

SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S OPINION.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S OPINION.

Then, as I have said, there is another reason why we think of conscience as our highest faculty. That is, that it acts instinctively. It has a sensitiveness of feeling towards questions of right and wrong, and of truth and error. This seems to me to be a higher faculty than mere reason. It seems to ally conscience more closely with the divine. We cannot think of God arriving at conclusions by reasoning. He is conscious of the truth without any intermediate process of reasoning. It is said of Sir

1 minute read

Read Chapter

THE WORST OF MANKIND.

THE WORST OF MANKIND.

We may reasonably conceive, then, of Christ acting on the most incorrigible of mankind, and entirely capturing them without in the least depriving them of freewill. What influences He may bring to bear upon them, who can say? What unfoldings of eternal love He may reveal are impossible to be imagined. We can thus believe that the worst of mankind might be captured and redeemed. I appeal to the capture of Saul of Tarsus as an example of such a possibility. What a door of hope is opened here for o

1 minute read

Read Chapter

THEY MAY YIELD SPEEDILY.

THEY MAY YIELD SPEEDILY.

It is well, however, to remember that the environment may be much more favorable in a future world than here. There are many who are almost of necessity sinners from their youth up, because of their evil surroundings. It would be hard to expect them to be much better than they are. But their surroundings may be entirely different in the next life; and they may yield speedily to the better influences. We see such effects so often in this life that we may well cherish hopes for their larger operat

1 minute read

Read Chapter

ETERNAL SEPARATIONS.

ETERNAL SEPARATIONS.

An Everlasting Pang—David and Absalom—Strained Ideas of Late Momentary Repentance—King Solomon—King Saul—The Gracious Character of Sympathy—George Eliot's View—A strong Argument for Restoration —Heresy of a Minister's Wife—The Minister's Orthodox View—Wonderful Goodness of a Criminal—Where Will He Finally Go?—Our Very Imperfect Friends—Glossing Over Their Faults When They Are Gone—Our Instinctive Hope for the Worst—Restoration the True Solution—A Final Era of Joy. We might glance here at another

2 minute read

Read Chapter

GEORGE ELIOT'S IDEA.

GEORGE ELIOT'S IDEA.

And if the fate of extinction would thus cause everlasting regret how much more would the knowledge that our friends are in everlasting torment. Surely our knowledge of such a fate would be unendurable. Would there not be everlasting distress in that world of joy? In fact it would be no world of joy. We shall have the same nature then as now. It will be only ennobled and purified. Certainly sympathy—which is one of the noblest of our feelings—will be more tender and intense than now. George Elio

8 minute read

Read Chapter

WE HAVE NO DATA.

WE HAVE NO DATA.

To this view a number of answers may be given. In the first place, Satan is of another race; we know very little of his former history, or the circumstances of his fall; and we know not if any means for his recovery have been provided. In the next place, a few thousand years may be but a span in the long sweep of his existence. Then further, he does not seem to be in a state of suffering at present. There is a hint in the Book of Revelation that he will be so by and by; and we know not what may

3 minute read

Read Chapter

NOT REALLY BELIEVED.

NOT REALLY BELIEVED.

Present Enthusiasm for Missions—Former Lassitude—The Basis of Missionary Enterprise—Supposed Damnation of the Heathen—If Really Believed, Would Drive Us to Frenzy—Ministers' Monday Meeting —Pretence Cuts the Nerve of Enthusiasm—Restoration the True Incentive —Effective Because Reasonable—Torment Not Really Believed—The Heart Often Truer Than the Head—Necessity for Preparatory State—Could not Have Details Revealed—Orthodoxy of the Torment View—Trying to Believe It—Be Not Afraid of the Truth—Extre

1 minute read

Read Chapter

INCREASED INTEREST AND SYMPATHY

INCREASED INTEREST AND SYMPATHY

And all the Christian churches are agreed that this duty has been laid upon them, The churches are alive to this duty as they never were before. And this is one of the most hopeful signs of the age. It does seem at times as if society were getting worse at the core; yet in regard to sympathy and helpfulness, especially in regions remote, it is certainly improving. And this increased interest and sympathy relates both to the bodies and the souls of men. This age has witnessed marvels of kindness

1 minute read

Read Chapter

WHAT BECOMES OF THE HEATHEN?

WHAT BECOMES OF THE HEATHEN?

But what is the basis of all missionary enterprise? I have said that it is the command of Christ. It is not necessary to believe that the heathen who do not hear the Gospel are lost. There were certainly some heathens who were not far from the kingdom of God. The possibility of men being raised to such a high spiritual level, even without the Gospel, gives us a hint of the ways and means that God can use for the ultimate salvation of the heathen world. And it is to be noted that Christ made no s

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A QUASI ENTHUSIASM.

A QUASI ENTHUSIASM.

Therefore any argument drawn from the supposed damnation of the heathen is unreal. We may stir up a quasi enthusiasm; we may be moved for the time; but we are not by any means moved to the level of the fate which we deplore. If we really believed it, as so many profess, we would spend our last dollar, and make all but superhuman efforts, to take the Gospel to the heathen. But instead of that, we are content to hear at long intervals a few points of information from the minister, take up a collec

1 minute read

Read Chapter

COULD NOT REST IN THEIR BEDS.

COULD NOT REST IN THEIR BEDS.

It will thus be seen that the church is in a very unsettled position on this question. Good men are trying to believe what in their hearts they repudiate. They think it a sign of soundness in the faith to believe in the doctrine of eternal torment. If they really believed it they could not rest in their beds at night, nor follow their usual avocations by day. But happily they do not really believe it. Thus the theory of eternal torment has this everlasting drawback that men will not believe it.

15 minute read

Read Chapter

ENCUMBERED THOUGH IT BE.

ENCUMBERED THOUGH IT BE.

But there are two or three facts that ought to be remembered in this connection. One is, that God is often pleased to own even a small modicum of truth, encumbered though it be with a great deal of error. Such may have been Finney's case in particular. He preached the Gospel; that was the secret of his genuine success. Men were simply frightened by his lurid descriptions of hell. So extreme was he in this respect that strong men trembled, and Finney had to be pulled by the coat tails that he 'mi

1 minute read

Read Chapter

WANT OF PROPORTION.

WANT OF PROPORTION.

A more notable case was that of Peter. You remember his glorious response to our Lord's challenge, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter promptly and gladly responded, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." By that confession, Peter has covered his name with immortal honor. You remember, too, his sermon on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand men were converted. You recall also that sermon a little later when the converts numbered five thousand. Yes; but the man who was thus owned and h

14 minute read

Read Chapter

SOUNDNESS IN THE FAITH.

SOUNDNESS IN THE FAITH.

At the same time it is but right that the Church should protect its soundness in the faith by some form of subscription. The trouble is, however, that the form now in force is subscribed to with reservations. Then what reservations? They are not defined; so it comes to this, that each subscriber makes his own reservations. As evidence that such is the case, I may say that no minister in the Presbyterian Church of Canada, with whom I have spoken—and I have spoken with many—really believes in endl

1 minute read

Read Chapter

WORKING MEN AND THE CHURCH.

WORKING MEN AND THE CHURCH.

Efforts to Attract Working Men to the Church—Restoration Would Largely Solve the Difficulty—Common Sense of Working Men—Glorious Expansion of Truth—Recasting Traditional Views—The True Basis for Unity. There is one aspect of this question that is of vast importance, but which, so far as I know, has not been recognized. I mean its bearing on the relation of working men to the church. It has to be admitted that working men in general are shy of the church. Yet almost every expedient has been resor

10 minute read

Read Chapter

THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN.

THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN.

Beauty Evolved from Chaos—Future Capacity of Motion—Gleams of the Invisible—Changing into the Divine Image—Crying Out for God—From Barrenness to Beauty—The Glow of the Firefly—The Effulgent Divinity —Sunset on the Prairie—Universal Sense of Beauty—Guardian Angels —Death as Seen from This Side and That—Sunset on the Yellowstone River—A Drop of Dew—Reality of Heaven—The Literal and the figurative—The Spiritual Body—Expanding Glory of Creation—Sunset in Dakota—Lights Dim and Clear—Christ's Unsullie

17 minute read

Read Chapter

THE FINAL DAY.

THE FINAL DAY.

Everlasting Love—Resources of Infinite Wisdom and Power—Redemption of the Whole Race—Forecast of the Final Day—The Conquest of Love —Christ Is Satisfied—He Is Singing with Joy—Ancient Prophecy Fulfilled—Adoration of the Heavenly Hosts—The Saviour Crowned. The main subject on which there is a division of opinion in the evangelical churches pertains to the ultimate destiny of the wicked. There are three main points of view. There is the theory of Extinction; there is the theory of Restoration; and

2 minute read

Read Chapter

DIVINE POWER AND GRACE.

DIVINE POWER AND GRACE.

Well, though he is a free agent, we believe that divine love and power could turn him, without in the least destroying his freedom. We instanced the case of Saul. In a moment he was overpowered by divine love; the whole man was changed; yet he lost not a particle of his free will. So it is easy to believe that divine power and grace may be brought to bear on the very worst of mankind, with the result that while losing none of their free will, but using it to the full, they are recovered and rede

2 minute read

Read Chapter