The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-04
LIFE A SCHOOL.
BY REV. S. CRANE, d. d.
(Norwalk, o.

In former article we considered the
theological meaning Of the word proba'
tion. We showed that this word could
not be used as a definition of life in
any system of theology that held to a
Divine purpose in life; that it can only
be used in a scheme of thought like
Arminianism that excludes the divine
purpose and puts mans destiny abso
lutely in his own hands. What word
!, then Lei Us inquire may define. life.ia a
scheme of thought that includes the
Divine purpose? In a theology which
holds that God has absolutely willed a
destiny for man, what word best sets
forth the true idea of life? We have
seen that probation does not, what
word then does?
That word we have placed at the
head of this article. 1t is the word
school. Life is school. All life is a
school, here and hereafter. We live to
learn, to learn more and still more, to
become more and still more in all de-
partments of our being. ITO have life
and to have it more abundantly." This
is the true idea of life. At least it is
the only one that can exis5 in system
of theology that holds to divine pur-
pose in life. IL God has purpOsed that
life should have definite result in
each and every case, then life must be
a school, and not probation.
For a school exists for a definite
purpose. 1t has an object, an end in
view. 1t purposes to educate, train,
produce a given result. Hence it falls
into harmony with that idea of life
in which there is a divine purpose.
God purposing life to a def nite end, it
must be a means to that end and so
must, or at least may be school to
secure that end. a school being a
means for the securing Of definite re-
suit, life may be school in the
economy of God for the securing of the
divine end of life. Whether it is or
not may depend on other considera-
tions; but that the school idea of life
harmonizss with the idea of divine
purpose in life is very clear. While in
system of thought, therefore, that
holds to the will or purpose of God in
life, there can be no such thing as pro.
baton, there can and may be such a
thing as school. Life in this system
may be, indeed we may safely say must
be school.
This is true in Calvinism. In this
system life is school. God has pur
pose in life. He has decreed that a
part of mankind shall be righteous and
so happy to all eternity and the other
part sinful and 80 miserable to all eter-
nifty; and life is means to these two
ends. The destiny of both good and
bad is determined at the outset and the
world is means to the working out or
securing this destiny. Life is not a
probation, but school in which there
are two opposing forces, one of which
inevitably leads the elect to obey God
and be saved; and the other jus! as in
evitably leads the nOn-elect to disobey
him and be lost So the school idea of
life harmonizes perfectly with the
DEGREES of Calvinism, though it de-
crees some to eternal good and others
to eternal evil. So with Universalism
The school idea of life is in perfect
keeping with our scheme of thought.
We hold that God has purposed to
bring all men to holiness and happi-
ness at last. This is the destiny which