The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-31
The ATTRACTIVE Power OF THE Cross.

(31-32) And the browning glory of the Son
of Man was thus foretokened: Nov is the
| Judgment of this world; now will the prince
of this world be cast out. And if be lifted
| up from the earth will draw all men unto
myself" The word translated judgment is
| really krisis, and here seems to mean what
| the English word "crisis" means.
| The meaning of it [verse 81 may be thus
expressed: "Now is approaching the decisive
scene, the eventful period-the crisis-when
| it shall be determined who shall rule this
world. There has been long conflict be-
| tween the powers of light and darkness
between GoD and the devil. Satan has SO
| effectually ruled that he may be said to be
the prince of the world; but my approaching
death will destroy his kingdom, will break
| down his power, and will be the means of
setting up the kingdom of GoD over man."
Be cast out: his [Satan's kingdom
shall be destroyed; his empire shall come to
an end 1t does not mean that his reign over
all men would entirely cease then, but that
then would be the crisis, the grand conflict
in which he would be vanquished, and from
that time his kingdom began to decline, until
it would finally cease, and then be free alto
gether from his dominion. - Rev. Albert
Barnes
When Satan's kingdom finally ceases,
there would seem to be no room for sin or
hell.
The 32d verse is an explicit declaration
Of universal deiiverance. We say this delib-
erately after reading the following
Some infer from pantas the apocatastasis
or final restitution of all men. But in all
such passages all must be explained in ac-
cordance with other passages where faith is
expressly laid down as the Indispensable con-
dition of Salvation. Chrysostom finds in
elkuo an intimation of deliverance from the
chains of Satan. 1t rather implies the strong
and irresistible power of CHESTS love-
Rec. Philip Schaf, DID,, Lange's John.
There seems to be no inconsistency be-
tween the indispensable condition and the
widest Interpretation of the word "all. " ''By
faith have ye been saved through grace; and
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of COP"
| (Ephesians ii. 81 The source of Salvation
is grace; the power, "strong and irresistible"
| is "CHRIsT's love-: the medium is faith: and
| all are of COP. If some have been drawn to
CHRIST, why not all at last? Let us see how
the passage would read, according to DR..
| Schaff's limitation: "Now is the judgment
! Tcrisisl of the world; now will the prince of
this world be cast out This kingdom finally
cease]; and if be lifted up from the earth,
will draw unto myself all who shall have be-
lieved in the earthly life." But they would
have been already drawn to him: and what a
fall from the dignity and glory of the Saw
iour's prophetic declaration! To draw to JE-
sus is necessarily to excite faith in him; it is
| through him that the attraction has power;
and when he AYERS that he will accomplish
the fact he implies that he will provide the
conditions.
Or let us consider another interpreta-
tion:-
Au men: will incline all kinds of men; OF
will make the way open by the Cross, so that
| all men may come. | will provide a way
| which shall present a strong motive or in
| ducement-the strongest that can be pre-
sented-to all men to come to me.-Ree.
Albert Barnes.
We suppose that in these paraphrases Mr..
Barnes was guided by the "great principle
which he announces regarding Corinthians
XIV. p: 'It must be held as great principle
that this passage is not to be so interpreted
| as to teach the doctrine of salvation to al
men," And so he clouds the glory of the
Son of man! Read the passage in the light Of
BIS paraphrases, concerning which he appears
to be in great doubt. (a) / will incline somC
saints and some sinners TO come unto me: al
if there were any to be " inclined" but sin
nersl II is sinners, and sinners alone, who
are to be attracted. (b) will make the wa!
open, SO that all men [who believed ma!
come. But the work of JESUS was to draw
the unbelieving to himself; and all "are con
cluded in unbelef." (e) 1 will present TIN
strongest inducement possible to all men 4
come to me, which will be totally ineffeetua
as to large proportion of mankind. If an,
man will not 90 to JEsus, it is his gloriou