But they will come gloriously true on
the basis of final salvation.
So the "millions" and "billions" that our author says have been "going
out into the darkness," and into the "blackness of despair," are
redeemed as well as we. The author himself says: "Jesus wants every one
of these poor creatures told at once of Him and His love." Now, if that
is His wish, is He going to be thwarted by any coldness or indifference
of ours? We may fail in our duty; but is He going to fail? A thousand
times, No! He has all power and all love, as well as all eternity, in
which to work out His glorious designs. We cannot conceive of Him as
being "satisfied" with either extinction or endless torment. No; the day
of grace for the millions and billions will come. "He will be
satisfied." His "expecting" will be realized. What wonders of redeeming
love eternity will reveal!
In the meantime, our author furnishes no effective incentive to
missionary effort.
When the idea of final salvation is generally accepted, I believe there
will be awakened an enthusiasm for missions such as the world has
never seen.
Since writing the above, I have unexpectedly been in a large missionary
meeting where two noted men of the Methodist Church were the chief
speakers. Both addresses were most fervid and eloquent.
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