“These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished. ... As God hath appointed the elect unto glory.... Neither are any other redeemed by Christ effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
“The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin to the praise of his glorious justice.”
This is what the able defender says. Nor can we do any better than wind up the subject as he does, by a quotation from a magnificent poem. As he says:—
“The exquisite beauty of Edwin Arnold’s exposition of Karma in ‘The Light of Asia’ tempts to its reproduction here, but it is too long for quotation in full. Here is a portion of it:—
Karma—all that total of a soul Which is the things it did, the thoughts it had, The “self” it wove with woof of viewless time Crossed on the warp invisible of acts.
Before beginning and without an end, As space eternal and as surety sure, Is fixed a Power divine which moves to good, Only its laws endure.
It will not be contemned of anyone; Who thwarts it loses, and who serves it gains: The hidden good it pays with peace and bliss, The hidden ill with pains.
It seeth everywhere and marketh all; Do right—it recompenseth! Do one wrong— The equal retribution must be made, Though Dharma tarry long.
It knows not wrath nor pardon; utter-true, Its measures mete, its faultless balance weighs; Times are as naught, to-morrow it will judge Or after many days.