“Let me ask you,” said the elder, “if God was under any obligations to save any one?”
“No, certainly not.”
“If He were to send all to eternal torment, would it be just?” asked the Elder.
“Yes,” answered father Grimshaw.
“Well, then, if God, in mercy, choose to save a large portion of the human race, and leave the rest to perish in their sins, and on account of their sins, how is any injustice done them?”
“Because they have as much right to be chosen as the others,” said father Grimshaw.
“Right!” said the elder, “What right do they have? I suppose if the Governor were to pardon two or three convicts, he is bound to pardon all, is he? Why, my dear, sir, your position runs squarely into Universalism!”
“How does it?”
“Why, you say that one man has as much right to be saved as another. If then, God saves one, He must save all. What is that but Universalism?” asked the Elder.
“He’s got you there, father Grimshaw,” cried one of the by-standers with a laugh.