The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23


men as Mulford, Brooks, Munger, Tay-
lor, the two Smytbs, Egbert and New
man, the two Beechers, Henry Ward
and Edward, in the Episcopal and Con-
gregational Churches in this country,
have discerned " the signs of the times"
are in sympathy with " the spirit of the
age" and in favor of q radical reconstruct
ton of the old theology - are, indeed
themselves, at the present moment, en-
gagged in the work of reconstruction
And in solid bulk, behind these men,
are large masses of the people pressing
them on. The Theological Faculties at
Andover, New Haven, Williams, Amherst,
Bangor and Bowdoin, are certainly in
sympathy with them. The doctrine of
"Coutinued Probation" now agitating
the evangelical churches and schools in
New England, and in slightly less de-
gree the same class of schools and
churches throughout the country, and
just now threatening serious disruption,
indicates a popular drift that ere long
will become an avalanche. A Continued
Probation means Universalism and the
opponents of the doctrine are not slow to
make this charge against it.
"True as the needle to the pole,
1t points and trembes there"
The popular drift in every department
of human endeavor, is, beyond question,
toward Universalism. The eloquent
words of Cannon Farrar in a recent ser
mon, in which he asserts the great tenet
of our faith-"the Universal redemption
of all mankiDd"--not only prove this
but indicate the influence our church
has had "as Il co-laborer with God" and
the influence it is having to day, in bring
ing about what must, inevitably, be the ul-
innate result. The Great Captain Cen
eral of one of the most djgniGed and ex-
elusive Divisions of the Grand Army Of
the Church, steps from the ranks, and
comes over to the ''skirmish line" to speak
words of encouragement, and cheer us
on, His trumpet has no uncertain sound;
though he, too, protests he is not Uni
yersalist! Let us hear him.
First, he energetically condemns what
he calls the ruthless Pharisaism which,
supporting its own ruthlessness by scraps
of texts and shreds of metaphor, used to
call itself orthodox theology, until men
were almost tempted to exclaim, natur-
al man is better than an unnatural theo-
lOgiaD;" and then, little further on, he
bursts out in stormy pecan of triumph:
"When there shall be no more sorrow
and no more signing; when God shall
have wiped all tears from off all faces, in
the restitution of all things; when God
shall be all in all; when the lost sheep is
brought home, the lost coin found the
lost son welcomed repentant to his
Fathers home; when the whole meal is
leavened; when the Son of man, having
been lifted up, has drawn eli men unto
him; when he has destroyed the works of
the devil; when he has had mercy upon
all; when he has become Lord of the dead
and the living; when he hath gathered
together into one all things in Christ;
when he has reconciled all men to him
self--and remember that every one of
these sentences is a Scripture text and a
Scripture promise then, if there be Joy
in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine Just
persons who need no repentance, what
shall there be over myriads and the null
titude which no man can number? When
the Good Shepherd calls heaven and
earth together to witness his final and
eternal triumph, such tumult OF acclaim
shall ring through heaven, such a seven
fold chorus Of harping symphonies,
while all the rounds and arches blue
Resound and echo Halelu-
Such a whirlwind of multitudinous Joy
shall sweep the perfect diapason of those
innumerable harps,
"Wnh sanity shout and solemn jubilee,
Where the bright Seraphim in burning,
Their loud, uphfted, angel trumpets blow,
And the Cherubc Host in thousand ehoirs
Sound their immortal harps and golden wires
with those Just spirits that wear victorious
palms,
Hymns devout and holy psalms
Singing everlastngy"-
Yea. There shall be such song like
the sound of thunder, and the voice Of
many waters, that the universe OF God
shall never have heard such floods of un-
imaginable music no! not when the
herald angels sang the birth of the
Saviour - no! not when at creations
dawn the morning stare sang together
and all the sons Of God shouted for joy &"
And yet not a Universalist! Could the
Ballous, Streeters, SINNERS, have heard
such words as these from a great prelate
of Westminster, how would their hearts
have leaped for JOY. But this privilege
was denied them. They were appointed
to scorn and contempt, to work in the
night season and prophesy the day,-to
SOW seed that, in after time, should
spring up and "shake like Lebanon"
To you a different privilege is granted
The seed sown by the fathers has sprung
up, and to-day the Master saith, - Lift
up your eyes and look upon the fields!
Behold they are white and ready for the
harvest"
But, my brothers, be not deceived.
The battle Is not yet fought out TIE
time is not vet come when we can safely