To think that man was made in the divine image, and had within him the potentiality of attaining to absolute perfection and blessedness, but that his career has culminated instead in the character of a demon, and the suffering of endless torment! Is it possible to believe that the divine administration could be such a failure?
This is no exaggeration Men believed, or tried to believe, that for certain persons of the human race there was no possibility of a different fate. They might say it was possible because they did not know who was elected and who was not; and that they did not know for whom Christ died, and for whom He did not die. Therefore, they might argue that all men had a chance. No; they had no chance if the secret divine intention was against them.
Away with all untruth and misrepresentation. How much better, and how much more in keeping with the divine character, and the divine revelation to say, without any halting or doubt, that God loves every man whom He has made; that He has provided for every man's salvation; that if men do not accept the provision they will suffer; but that God will triumph in the end, and that divine love will win. Surely, that would be a Gospel indeed for our poor sin-stricken world!
XV.
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—Human
Freedom Never Destroyed—Provision for All—A Dreadful Hymn—Divine
Sacrifice not in Vain—Bringing Good Out of Evil—Final Triumph of
Goodness—Sin Is Abnormal—Will Therefore Cease—Law of Gradual
Change—Sins of the Mind—The Race Might Easily Have Been Intercepted
—Endless Torment Cannot be Believed—The Mind's Affinity for Truth
—True Punishment Is Reformatory—Alleged Divine Cruelty—Agony of
Eternal Separation—All Are God's Own Children—The Universal Call
—No Design of God Can Fail—Ingersoll and His Shafts of Ridicule
—Incentive to Good Works—Unfathomable Divine Love—"Joy Cometh in
the Morning."
It may be said that we are dealing here with matters that are entirely too high for our reason. Let it be remembered that we absolutely bow to revelation. Yet we are not to stultify our reason. It is not out of its sphere in dealing with such high themes. Our reason is a sacred gift from God; it is to be used for His glory. Formerly, it was deemed almost sacrilegious to allow reason to intrude into such a sacred domain. That was surely an unworthy mistake. We may and ought to be humble; but we have minds to think as well as hearts to adore.
It may be well, therefore, to present, in as condensed a form as possible, some considerations founded on reason, in support of the idea of Restoration. And, forasmuch as many of these ideas may or may not be familiar to you, I would ask you to ponder each of them separately. They do not all profess to be conclusive, but I think some of them are nearly so; others are strongly suggestive. As I have said, the question is, not which theory is absolutely demonstrated, but which is most in accord with reason and revelation.
I would like to say that I abhor any appearance of being dogmatic; but the mere statement of an argument almost necessarily induces dogmatism in some degree. At any rate, it is well to have a reasonable and candid mind.
I think, then, that what has been advanced will make you seriously reflect. Give the matter time, and thought, and prayer; and I think you will have a larger vision of the truth, and a higher hope for our poor lost race. To be sure, we are but groping in the twilight as yet. Yes; but it is the twilight of the eternal morning!