of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given us eternal life; and this life is in his Son. I John 10, 11. That is the divine plan, and all the means have been adopted to insure success. In the Divine mind the future is the present, what is to be, is. Thus God is the Savior of all men. This was WHY PAUL WAS PERSECUTED. It was for preaching Universal Salvation. Не says: For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men especially of those that believe. I Tim. iv: 10. Paul does not claim that he was persecuted for teaching that God had made it possible for all to be saved, but for declaring that God is actually the Savior of all men. Had he inculcated the Methodist or Presbyterian scheme of partial salvation, he would have agreed, substantially, with the heathen and the Jews. They believed in a partial God who would save but a part. Had the apostles taught only that, they would not have been reproached. But believing in the salvation of all, they were persecuted. Had they been partialists as were the Jews and the heathen would they have been persecuted for teaching that God is the universal Savior! Can God be the Savior of those he does not save? If any one is lost, is God the Savior of all men? Is he in any sense the Savior of unbelievers? He is not the especial Savior of believers, unless he is the actual Savior of all. Paul suffered reproach for no other reason than for teaching that God is a universal Savior. ALL ARE TO BE RIGHTEOUS. All will confess righteousness: THE FINAL CONSUMMATION. 105 Unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear, surely shall say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength. Isa xlv: 24. This confesses the Lordship of Jesus. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confesss that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Phil. ii: 9—11. This is not compelled, but voluntary. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost. I Cor. xii: 3. Hence, the attractions of the cross will win the loving allegiance of all souls, at the last. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John xii: 32. This condition is now fulfilled, he has been crucified, the conclusion follows in due time. Then cometh the end, when he shall have deliv. ered up the kingdom to God even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority, and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. I Cor. xv: 24-28. THE FINAL CONSUMMATION. The apostle describes the "far-off divine event to which the whole creation moves," thus: For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb. viii : 10-12. And the Apocalyptic seer saw all men happy when he beheld the final consummation: Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth On the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Rev. v: 13. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev. xxi: 2-4. We have thus indicated the chief passages that teach the doctrine of universal salvation. We have not quoted all of them, nor have we quoted that spirit which is without measure, and which can not be reduced to chapter and verse, which pervades the Bible the divine aroma that sweetens and perfumes the Book of books. The love and character of God, and the life and spirit of Christ are forever at war with the idea of endless hate and ceaseless torment, and breathe that holy spirit that will have nothing less than universal reconciliation to God, universal holiness among men. The few passages we have quoted unmistakably teach the great truth inculcated by all God's attributes, and that was the vital breath of him who came to do God's will THE FINAL CONSUMMATION. 107 among men, and who successfully accomplished his great mission, in reconciling universal humanity to When God's plans shall have its God and Father. been completed, Then THE END, beneath his rod Man's last enemy shall fall; |