For the writer evidently
refers to the time when the church awoke to the necessity of missions;
and he evidently thinks that our feeble efforts in that direction prove
in a general way that God "would have all men to be saved." He takes no
note of the millions and millions that have passed away without so much
as hearing the joyful sound. And he is equally oblivious to the fact
that millions who are living now, and other millions yet to come, will
never hear the Gospel in this life. Are not these some of the "all men"
whom God would save? Does it matter to Him whether they are in this
world or the next? Has any one of them gone beyond the sphere of His
love? We must enlarge our conception of God's own words and thoughts;
they are as high as heaven is high above the earth.
I have just received a circular from a pastor of a certain congregation.
It is an appeal on behalf of missions. It asks if this scheme of the
church is a failure; and if not, why it is not supported. Then it goes
on to say that the churches have been assessed in certain amounts, and
that this particular church is far behind in raising its share. Each
member is then urged to pay up.
But not a word of incentive is given. We are not told what the heathen
are to be saved from, or what they are to be saved to. Surely we would
like to know if they are going straight to everlasting fire if they are
not converted.
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