The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-07

have Mr.. Bristols evidence for believ-
ing that the Methodist idea of eternal
punishment is rational, merciful, just
and scriptural" But in default of this
we are obliged to discount somewhat
his glowing eulogy. He further says,
speaking for his own denomination:
1--WE do not believe that any soul will
be lost without having had every
possible opportunity to be saved con-
sistent with the integrity of moral gov
eminent and the free moral agency of
man, whether he belong to the present
or to any past age, to Christian or to
heather lands"
The mastery ease with which our
preacher glides over the pivotal ques-
tions concerned with his subject is no.
ticeable in the above extract. We
study his words only to find ourselves
unenlightened as to what, and how
much, is embraced in that high sound
ing phrase, 'every possible opportuni-
ty," and also as to what is really "con-
sistent with the integrity of moral gov
eminent" If Mr.. Bristol addressed
himself to the exact points in contro-
versy he would endeavor to enlighten
us as to whether or not "every possible
opportunity for the sinners salvation
is exhausted at the end Of this life
whether or not God exhausts his own
resources in dealing with the sinner
during the period of earthly probation
and also as to whether or not, "the
integrity of moral government" is in
validated by the Divine being affording
souls an opportunity for repentance in
the future world.
We must now follow Mr.. Bristol as
he leaves the Methodist doctrine in
this unsatisfactory form, and proceeds
to state what ''others" believe in regard
to the question under discussion. Here
we find him speaking of certain doc
trine as degrading to the dignity and
virtue of man, and as representing that
imam will be saved by an exercise Of
Divine prerogative which tramples on
mans moral agency and reduces men to
cattle and heaven to a corral.".
''The sentimental liberalism" he again
remarks, 1.-THE sugar plum theology, that
denies the possibility of future endless
punishment for sin must first reduce
man to fool and Christ to knave; rob
man of the power Of moral choice and
Christ Of the atoning merit which he
claims his death possessed"
Mr.. Bristol has in this struck out an
original idea-the first we may add,
which we have observed in his dis.
course. He does not name any church
in connection with this caricature of
salvation; and we must conclude that
the discovery is one of the results of
Mr.. BristoPs antiquarian researches.
He has well known tastes in this direc-
ton, and no doubt has discovered this
queer opinion among some of the
records of past ages. We recognize no
such doctrine as that described, in the
beliefs of any denomination of Christ
ians at the present upon the face of the
earth. In no view of the salvation of
the race with which we are acquainted
is the doctrine taught that God saves
men by the exercise of his own pre-
rogative." Calvinism asserted the dam
nation of myriads Of the race by the
Divine prerogative, but that God
saves mankind in this way is not
among the records of any living
sect. 1t would certainly be a more
desirable and merciful exercise of
the Divine prerogative to save uni
versal mankind than to damn mankind
particularly and specifically; and yet
we know Of no denomination of
Christians that represent the matter Of
salvation in this way. Nor is there any
body of believers who represent that
the race is Internationally saved"
1t is just possible that in the above
characterization of sentimental liber-
alism" and ''sugar plum theology Mr..
Bristol refers to Universalism. But he
should understand that the merest tyro
in our theology would inform him that
Universalists do not believe in this
salvation, and see no necessity for rs.
ducing imam to fool or Christ to
knave,' tn fulfill the u1timatum of
grace. Mr.. Bristol's 'fools" and "imbe-
ciles' are those held in the embrace of
his own theology which represents that
large proportion of the race will con-
tinue in rebellion and alienation to
God, throughout the endless ages of
eternity. His theology indeed reduces
men to Seattle" representing them as
continuing everlastingly in blind I'M
reasonable and brute-like alienation to
God and so remaining of their own
Stree moral choice" forever; and his
'corral" is that of an infinite devil who
holds these human ''cattle" everlast-
ingly under his own dominion; their
''free moral choice" not availing them
after they once drop into his hands.
Uniyersalism believes neither in this
kind of ''cattle," nor in this eternal
tIcorralo for mVriads of the race for