The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-28
COMMON AND SPECIAL SALVATION
BY ERMINA G. STRAY.
l Timothy. iv-10.

anu SpSCtdl SdlNdtlOu, tuluh ohCll
prejudice in regard to the salvation
of the entire race would vanish. It
is very plainly set forth in Paul's
writings and also in Revelations.
where it speaks of the great multi
tude standing before the throne,
which no man could number. In this
text in Timothy it says: "God is the
Saviour of all men, especially of those
who believe" and / do not think any
man can be specially saved unless,
like Christ, he desires the salvation
of the world, and is ready like him to
pray, "Father forgive them for they
know not what they do"
Looking back into the Old Tesla
ment history with its symbolical sig
nifcance of the New, We see Esau, a
type of the Jewish church and Jacob
of the Gospel church. Esau despised
his birthright-s piritually-and sold
it for mess of potage worldly ad-
vancement. Our orthodox friends
will tell us that Esau is type of the
lost, and by selling his birthright lost
it forever. Yet we see that Esau, at
the last, in pleading for blessing,
received it. The fact that Esau after
ward found no place of repentance
though he sought it carefully, with
tears, only shows that the fathers
decision was not changed. Esau had
lost the blessing, and afterward in
pleading for blessing he received it.
Esau may also serve as type for
certain class in the Gospel church.
He afterward received another bless
ing, and was reconciled to his lot and
his brother. If you doubt it read
and consider his plaintive cry to his
father. In either instance there is
nothing that suggests the idea of
endless torment or hopeless death.
And 80 we can see the difference
between the little flock and the great
multitude in the New Jerusalem.
The little flock are the overcomers,
who are to religion as kings and
priests, to help to save and bless the
world. They are the elect, the royal
priesthood, the people taken out for
his name, who are to serve and bless
the nations.
The great multitude who serve be-
fore the throne are the great mass of
people who are to receive the blessing
of everlasting life, but cannot be
kings and priests, because they were
not overcomers here. But to our
friends who ridicule the idea of pro-
baton after death, this view may
not be entirely acceptable. 1t is en-
tirely plain to us however, and we
are delighted to advance it whenever
the opportunity occurs. 1t was not
Gods purpose and plan to draw the
multitude to Christ, and Jesus says
"No man cometh unto me except the
Father draw him." The Father is
not going to leave US in endless tor
ment or hopeless death, because he
does not see fit to draw us here and
now. "One star differeth from other
star in glory" you know, and, every
one in his own order"
The common salvation, then, per-
tains to the multitude and the special
to the elect; the co workers with
Christ, 1.-The called according to his
purpose" The Gospel church first,
the little flock. To us there is won
derful significance in this Gospel
church, this little flock, this little de-
spised flock, and not all of the honor
and prosperity of the popular church
es of the day could buy the very low
est seat that one of the "little fock,"
occupies. Not once in the Bible is
it intimated that the mercy of God
will ever end, but it is stated more
than hundred times that the mercy
the Lord endureth forever, (and it is
we'll for the traducers of God and his
word that his mercy does endure for
ever0 that he will have mercy upon
those who sin through ignorance, and
teach false doctrines as snare and
delusion. There had to be apostasy,
falling away and diverse delusions
before the pure white banner of the
Gospel could be made visible to the
world. AS Christian brothers and
sisters let us be tolerant to the erring
even though they point the finger of
scorn and derision at us. History
repeats itself, and the "little flock"
of the olden time was a mark for
pharisaical hate and rage.
NoBLE.O