The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-11
"OLD FAITHS AND NEW FACTS

The writer of the notice of Mr..
Kinsley's cold Faiths and New
Facts" which is printed this week, is
certainly correct in his estimate of
the general scope and purpose OF
that work, and in what is said of its
temperate and at times sympathetic
discussion of the question of ulti-
mate human destiny. But for all
that the volume is orthodox" to the
core and at the core. We concede
that Mr.. Kinsley does not approach
this part of his subject in any such
spirit as marked the earlier discus
sions of the great question and does
not repel his readers by any great
earnestness in behalf of the current
dogmas, but Notwithstanding this he
is clearly on the line of the old ortho-
doxy as regards the final doom of
what he calls "sin- distorted souls"
who shear deaths summons un-
prepared and pass within the sha-
dow"
For such as these, remaining i'm
penitent, the writer has no hope be-
yond the grave. He deems it posi-
BILE that, by their own choice and
despite all Gods strivings," they
may at last sink to the dreaded
doom of devils" No polished rheto-
ric or amiable spirit of discussion
can hide the revolving features of
such a conception of the ultimate
destiny of any class or portion OF
Gods intelligent creation. In this
particular the clear affirmation of Mr..
Kinsley places him in line with the
advocates of eternal punishment
from Augustine to Joseph Cook.
This conception of the old faith is
not changed by any new statement
or rendered more in consonance with
reason or less revolving to the human
heart by any change which has come
Ger the dream of modern orthodoxy.
We are interested in ascertaining
how such view can be held by such
humane and generous thinker as
the author of "Old Faiths and New
Facts" Asking the question which
leads up to the discussion resulting
in this affirmation of the possibility
of endless suffering for these "sin
distorted SOULS" Mr.. Kinsley says:
"This much think we can safely say:
Not until God has fully comprised the
resources of his infinite love to win back
the erring and has finally lost all hope
of their return will his striving cease
and his sustaining presence be with
drawn. Yet when the last ray OF hope
is quenched in the great yearning heart
of God, then, but not till then, will the
hardened, migrate rebel be forever ban
ished from his presence"
The believer in Universalism can
safely rest the conclusions of his faith
just at the point where this author
interposes the fatal doubt that Gods
infinite love will prove fruitless in
dealing with the sinner. 1t is almost
inconceivable that one should speak
of the infinite love of the Heavenly
Father and then in the same sentence
intimate that this love can fail in its
great purpose-a purpose dear to the
very heart of God and vital in every
view of the divine nature.
The infinite love must have infinite
results; it is beyond the possibility
of failure. If God "compasses the
resources" of this love to Twin back
the erring," we may rest secure in the
result. Infinite resources are amply
sufficient to compass any end; moth
ing can intervene to prevent the ulti-
mate accomplishment of that which
these resources" contemplate. To
speak of hope being "quenched in
the great yearning heart of God" is
to confess to disappointment which
belongs to earthly and finite things
and not to Being whose plans and
purposes are embosomed in infinite
perfection and will thus assuredly
come to pass.
Universalism is predicated on the
impossibility of exhausting the "re-
sources of infinite love-" and hence
it's sublime faith. The "yearning
heart of God" will never cease its
striving until the infinite end is &C
complished and his hayward and
wandering children are won to his
own holiness and to his own heaven.
Mr.. Kinsley ignores the omnipotence
of divine love and its all-conquering
power. He believes that God will,
under certain contingencies, present
the marble heart" to his creatures.
Such a thought is incredible in the
view of the infinite love. "Not until"
the last sinner is redeemed and