The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-18

works. And this salvation will be
completely realized in that soul when
the moral and spiritual life is that to
which God is calling us by his revela-
tion of human possibilities in the per
feet humanity Of Jesus. Universalism
teaches that this condition of holiness
to which God is calling his children
is the greatest good, as sin is the
greatest evil, in the universe; and that
the Father of ali spirits has proposed
by whatever instrumantalitie are
needed to bring all souls at last into the
enjoyment Of this salvation which is a
holy character, which is the blessed
ness of heaven, and without which
there can be no lasting peace or joy for
any soul, Universal salvation will be
an accomplished fact when all souls.
with the divine help, shall have
achieved such a condition of spiritual
well being; and SO the faith Of the Uni
versalist in this final attainment Of
humanity interprets the assurance OF
Gods spiritual providence over us as a
proclamation Of what God will cause
each one of us, with his help, to do for
ourselves, and SO is call to earnest
work on the part Of each believer.
Universalism teaches that man is an
immortal being, the present existence
being the first stage in the continued
life Of the soul. Its theory of the re-
latiOn Of the present life to the future
is that Of continuance, believing that
Gods law and spiritual providence are
| the same in all worlds; so that leaving
the body behind us does not change
Gods feelings toward us, or change the
relation of the soul to God, or his law,
or the redemptive work Of Christ So
it does not consider the death of the
body as the portal either Of a miracu-
lous salvation or an irreversible doom;
as an agency that either takes from, or
adds to our spiritual possessions; but
|
soul from it's feshly surroundings,
probably withdraws it from many
temptations, and places it under more
favorable conditions for growth and
development. Universalism teaches
that the life upon which we shall en-
! ter in the future world will correspond
with the spiritual quality Of the life
which we were living here; and there
fore that the best preparation for the
life and opportunity of the world of
the immortals is in living rightly the
life on earth; by making the best use of
its opportunities for spiritual growth.
1t does not claim to know the details
of the future life, the employment Of
/ th6 ifnra ortis1lessS or the varieties es-ttae
celestial scenery, satisfied to believe
that "we cannot go where God is not, y
and that where he is there will be beau
ty and truth and goodness and love TO
be enjoyed under the conditions Of his
spiritual providence; and, because of
its faith that no change of worlds will
make God any less our father, it
teaches that there must be opportunity
for repentance and reformation in the
future life; that the Infinite Father
will always be ready to welcome and
bless the returning prodigal; indeed
that with the limitless spiritual re-
sources at his command he will be ever
seeking the lost; so that the divine
love Will be
"The missionary of eternity,
VIII still find work in worlds beyond the
grave
So long as there's a single soul to save"
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