So men went on for a long time, even the most devout
and kind-hearted, coolly consigning millions and millions of their
fellowmen to everlasting fire.
At length a better day dawned. Feeling was discerned not to be so
dreadfully dangerous as was supposed. It began to be realized that the
heart sees as well as the head, and often much truer and quicker. The
fact is that feeling on the part of a man at his best, is no small
factor in distinguishing between right and wrong, and between truth
and error.
And if in our best moods we have any hesitation in consigning millions
of men to eternal torment, the thought will suggest itself---Has not God
more reluctance? Then when we think of Him being everlasting love; and
moreover, when we think of Him as possessing the resources of infinite
wisdom and power, we begin to see that there must be some other
alternative.
Extinction would be one alternative. But would not extinction be a
frustration of the divine intention, and unworthy of God? Would it not
have been better and wiser never to create those millions of men than to
extinguish them? That is not like an outcome of the divine Mind, that
sees the end from the beginning.
What remains, then, but Restoration? That seems for more consistent with
divine power and divine love? But what about divine justice? Will not
justice require a penalty, and an infinite one? Well; surely a penalty
has been paid, and a penalty of infinite value.
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