The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-28


mere conquest, but these are not nu-
merous. The tendencies of Christian
thought ara toward construction, not
destruction. In this we may truly re-
joice. 1t is the work of the Lord. The
walls Of the new Jerusalem are being
laid, and soon there shall arise mighty
structures Of untold strength and val
ne. Not only can we rejoice that so
many errors and false doctrines are
buried that infant damnation and
literal hell are given up, and the doc
trines Of total depravity, the trinity, the
personality of the devil and endless
misery considered as unintelligible and
of little consequence, but we rejoice
the more, that since these have been
torn down, there has been erected the
grander structure. The belief in God
of infinite love who created all his chill
dren for happiness; who hath made of one
blood all kindreds and nations that dwell
on the face of the earth: that God who
made his children pure and inno-
cent, giving them the holy spirit, the
comforter He revealed to them his
infinite goodness and divine character
through his son Jesus Christ-and thus
also proved that God-like possibilities
are to be found in every soul, and that
heaven must be the ultimate home of
all Gods creatures. These are the
truths over which we may rejoice with
exceeding great joy.
AT one time destru ctive work was
necessary. The world was full of false
dogmas which tended not only to mar,
but to destroy, the true faith and real
life Of man. The old building must be
torn down before new one could be
erected. Men could never be recon-
ciled to the belief in God of love as
long as they believed that he would tor
ment his children in an endless hell.
They could not rejoice in the Lord with
such a belief; it was incongruous, and
the very natural result was that the
idea of an endless hell was given up, and
the belief in a God who loves all his
children confirmed. Our forefathers
saw that such beliefs were contrary to
the very nature of man, and established
by an erroneous Interpretation of Scrip
ture, and SO they nobly fought the
great battle. Few in number, but
mighty in strength, they went forth
with the fulness of the spirit of God
faced the hosts of the enemy and were
victorious.
Considering all these victories are
we ready to ask, ''Is not the work of
the Lord we'll done?" ''Can we not
now cease work, sit down and rejoice in
the Lord?" All, mol The world is
not yet saved. We may always rejoice
in the work of the Lord. We may
always find the beds of the sick and dy-
ing who need our word of consolation
and labor Of love. We may always
find those in poverty and distress who
need our aid. We may always find
hearts in sadness and unbelief who
need the sure promises of Gods word,
and who need some one to make clear
the realities of the divine life here and
the assurance of a home in heaven.
All need the gospel as we present it.
The soul that could not rejoice always
in this work must be indeed strange
and unnatural. The glad tidings are
what shall make the whole world re-
joice and sing for joyl How can we
even now sit down at ease while hui
mainly everywhere are hungering and
thirsting for the gospel food and drink,
which we may bring to them.
There is nothing over which we
should rejoice so much as in promul-
eating the doctrines of our faith. We
should rel dice to build up the hopes of
humanity. We should rejoice to pro-
claim that gospel which carries joy and
comfort to the troubled heart, and fills
man with love toward his fellow-man
and gratitude to his father-God.
The highest thought Of the hum an
mind is the thought of our faith. Mil
lions upon millions of souls all brought
to holiness at last in heavenl In this
destiny is the great and only ground
for complete rejoicing. In this belief
is the only hope of man. If one soul is
truly saved, all souls must be saved. If
one soul is lost all souls are lost. one
soul is lost heaven is not complete and
Gods creation is in vain. God will
eventually take care of all his children
and bring them home. With this faith
living reality in our souls we shall re.
joice in the Lord Away. 1t enables
US to endure the trials and Affections of
life. This faith removes all fear
every fear. Death, hell and the grave
lose their terrors. No earthly woes
greatly trouble US, for we know that
these shall all be over soon and that the
slight Affections" here are only for
moment only blessings in Disguise
waiting to reveal to us the eternal
glory beyond.
We should rejoice especially in the
new spirit of the faith-coming into