The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-02


gressive; but there is continuity of
thought running through all, which
unfolds in the later books, declaring
the unity of law, the possibility of
man, the purpose of God and His re-
lation to man and nature, and human
destiny. The Bible. from Genesis to
Revelation, is continuous hallelujah,
and the song grows in sweetness, UNI
til the angels burst forth with celes-
tial harmony, "Glory to God in the
highest" because of the 'glad tidings
which shall be to all people"
II. eve believe there is one God"
Similar to st. Paul, ITO us there is
one God the Father, of whom are all
things and we unto him." His wis
dom is infinite: known unto Him
are all things since the creation of
the world. He is just: "Shall not the
Judge of all the earth do right?" He
has mercy (which endureth forever"
A definite plan preceded creation.
This is not world of chance, but law
and order are the governing forces.
God is not outside the universe, but
in it; moulding our lives, shaping
! our destinies; encompassing eternity,
coexistent with time.
Not only is He a creator but the
Father of every soul. "Our Father
which art in heaven" is a universal
prayer. Love is the essence of his
character. "God is love-" Love gov
ems his actions-a love too deep for
mans comprehension:
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of mans mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind"
love that will endure through eter-
nifty; and that love will not be salts
fed until the last child is home, I'M
til every soul is redeemed.
III. Universalism asserts that God
sis revealed in our Lord Jesus
Christ" Jesus is the hope of the
world; he is the inspiration of the
ages. The deity of Jesus is denied
by us, it being unscriptural and IRA
tional. He never claimed for himself
deity which the church has thrust
upon him. He emphatically denied
it when it was intimated that he made
himself equal with God. If he were
on the earth he would say to those
who bend the knee to him, "Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and
him only shalt thou serve"
He is our spiritual leader. We be-
lieve he was everything which he
claimed to be; that he was commits
stoned by God to bring to men rev.
elation of himself; that he had the
power necessary to fix that revelation
in the hearts of men; that he is the
perfect flower of humanity, the type
of the race. He reveals Gods great
love for us, for "God so loved the
world" sinful as it was, that he sent
his son to redeem it, by his life, his
character and his death.
He was entrusted with a sacred
mission, and the beloved disciple tells
us what that mission was: eve have
seen and do testify that the Father
sent the Son to be the Saviour of the
world" or in other words, the Saviour
of the human race. Moreover, we be-
believe his mission will be successful;
that he lived not in vain; that it was
no idle assertion when he said, 81, if
l be lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men unto myself" We be-
lieve the God-given power with
which he was endowed, he would not
pervert, neither would he neglect its
highest use. We believe that he is
the Saviour of all men,"
The glorious contamination of his
mission was the theme of Messianic
prophecies, and they were fulfilled,
when, hanging on the cross, Jesus
cried out, at is fnishedp The leaven
of faith, and hope, and love which he
reflected upon the children of men,
would, he knew, leaven all. Could
he have given utterance to these
words, had he believed otherwisei
"The Father loveth the son and hath
given all things into his hands"
"Hath gwen panta-"every one"
"all" "into his hands" Will Jesus
betray that trusti No, not if we be-
lieve his own words: All,"-pan-
everyone shat the Father giveth me
shall come to me; and him that COM
eth to me l will in no wise cast out"
Jesus triumphed over sin; conquer
ed death; sacrificed himself for man,
for truth. But his death is not the
price paid for mankind's redemption,
nor did he die as the sinners substi-
tute. This idea sweeps away the
common speculative theology that
Jesus sufferings were "sacrifcial."