The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-20

the shepherds near Bethlehem, speaks
in a similar strain Fear not, for be-
hold, bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For
unto you was born to-day in the city of
David Saviour, who is Christ the
Lord" luke ii, 10, H.
Now, we cannot doubt that the Cos
pei preached to dead persons dwells on
the same fact. 1t tells that Jesus is
the Lord, possessor of every soul, and
destined to bless all humanity by turn
ing them from their iniquities, and
be the preachers in the unseen world,
to whom Peter refers, whom they might;
they made the same entreaty to their
hearers that Paul addressed to the
Corinthians: "Now then we are en-
bassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you through us we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God" These preachers were, perhaps,
John the Baptist, James and Stephen,
the martyrs, or perhaps the prophets of
the old dispensation, Indeed, it is per-
fectly credible that all of them, and a
great crowd of other godly men were
proclaiming the glad tidings to myri-
ads of myriads of souls that had passed
away before Peter wrote.
But what was to result from the glad
tidings being thus preached to dead
persons The Apostle gives reply,
'They would be judged after the man
ner of men in the flesh, but live accord
ing to God in the spirit" How shall
we interpret these words ? Do we not
know that corrupt and sensual life
produces remorse and wretchedness
How impressive Paul's words, "Be not
deceived God will not let himself be
Knocked; for whatsoever a man SOW
eth, that shall be also reap. For he
that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting" Let wording, sensu-
alist, drop this material body, and be
clothed with spiritual body, and jour-
ney to either Hades or Paradise, and
what must be his condition Must it
not be an exaggeration of the state of
the prodigal when he found himself
forsaken by his sunshine friends and
left penniless, hungry, ragged and
wretched I? OF material wealth we
bring none into the world, and we can
carry none out. Almost the only treas
ure one carries to the unseen world is
his soul. If that is defiled, whence can
it gain gladness or peace The old
avenues of pleasure are all closed. God,
immortality, duty, once decided, are
now seen to be the paramount facts of
existence; and how can any one think
of vile, a wasted life without shame =?
For him damnation slumbereth not;
the very tidings of Gods goodness, and
the Saviour's compassion wake unaf-
fected shame. But who can remain
the prey of remorse ? While the soul
hears the invitation to reform, the
promise of pardon, will it not echo the
prodigal's words, 81 will arise and go
to my Father, and say, have madly
sinned. And will God refuse to for
give"? Will Christ fail to intercede ?
Will not penitence open the door to
forgiveness, and usher one into holier
life? Under Christ's mediation, con-
demnation is not sought as an end. II
came not to judge the world, but to
save it,"
The words of Peter thus show the
efficacy of preaching the gospel to dead
persons. 1t leads them to live to God
in the spirit. They know too well the
anguish of condemnation, the unrest of
guilt; they long for purity, pardon and
peace in God. According to the Apos-
tie, then, the glad tidings have been
preached to some dead persons and to
repeat the inquiry Of correspondent
of the Independent, ''If to some, why
not to many? And if to many, why
shall they not be proclaimed to all ?"
But this implies universal salvation.
Why not ? Does not God will that all
shall be saved, and come to knowl-
edge of the truth ? NJ. G.