The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-10

among the last words he ever spoke
to the eleven as they we're assembled
together. When Christ had suffered
death and full a generation had
passed the text of the sermon was
written by st. Luke. The universal
ity of the Chrietian religion was then
believed. After Christ's instruction,
and all his holy labor, it was yet
deemed appropriate to declare that
the good tidings of great joy were
sent unto all people. If Christ had
proclaimed partialistic salvation the
text never could have become part
of any Gospel more than half cen
fury after that glorious event &C.
Cured in Bethlehem.
The presence of such words adds
emphasis to spirit of hope then per-
vading the church, and destined not
to set until the darkne IS of later age
had obscured its glory, but could not
destroy it's existence, no more than
the shadows which fall from the west
can destroy the sun. Are we evan
gelical9 If the gospel implies that
meaning which we maintain we are.
Not only are we evangelical in the
sense that we are faithful teachers of
mans duty, but we teach a destiny
which above all other messages
taught is one of "Good will" This
promise unto all people" is to
be found in most portions of the
Bible. From Genesis to Revelation
are the foot marks of the Prophet of
Peace. 1t is a we'll known and ac-
knowledged fact that the greatness
of the Jewish race, their perseverance
as nation and the glory of their lit
erature is all indebted to the under
current of their hopes, which the
Gentle world believed to be fulfilled
in the mission of Jesus of Nazareth.
The greater the Jewish character, the
more evident does the truth appear.
In Abraham, Isaiah, Jesus and st.
Paul, we find the proclaimers of the
"good tidings of great JOY which shall
be unto all people," If these express
sions of hope were seldom appearing
we might have grounds to draw the
opposite conclusion than we have as
a church 1t is the perseverance OF
this thought, both expressed in open
declaration and in the spirit, in the
Bible which confirms our faith and
destroys our fear.
Therefore it is most appropriate
that our second article of doctrine
read:
"We believe in one God whose ma
ture in here unveiled in our Lord
Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of
Grace, who will finally restore the
whole family of mankind to holiness
and happiness" This is no more
than the Old Testament teaches; no
more than our text implies; no more
than Jesus came to perform; no more
than Paul said was the will of God
when he wrote generation after the
death of Christ:
Il exhort, therefore, that first of
all, supplications, prayers, interces-
sions and giving of thanks be made
for all men.
"For kings, and for all that are in
au hority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all goodness and
honesty.
"For this is good and acceptable in
the sight of Col our Saviour.
"Who will have all men to be saved
and to come unto a knowledge of the
truth.
''For there is one God, and one
mediator between God and men, IT,
man Christ Jesus.
"Who gave himself ransom for
all to be testified in due time"
We are in no position to judge how
others may estimate their faith. No
doubt many are happy in believing
that they have been redeemed from
eternal torments and that happiness
shall be their future. If the partial
ist is right his message is not unto
all people. 1t is no message peculiar
to Christianity if that were the gospel
message. A large number of Jews,
contemporary with the founder of
Christianity are said to have believed
in endless punishment. To have
taught them that would have been
nothing better than what they were
being taught. But the peculiar mes
sage of Christianity was the universal
nature OF redemption. "As in Adam
all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive" That was the glad
promise of apostolic Christianity.
That promise was the good will''
unto all people. That message was
the evangelical Christianity of the