THE LARGER HOPE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1823, 24 April 1888, Page 4

THE LARGER HOPE.

Though the etiquette of journalism forbids the discussion m a secular newspaper of purely theological questions, it yet comes within the legitimate scope of its functions to chronicle as a matter of news the spread of ideas which indicate the possibility of a great revolution m the teachings of the Christian Church. The movement of thought we refer to is by no means a denominational one, and is not confined to any particular Beet, and is as world-wide m. its interest as the bounds ot humanity. For there can be no more -absorbingly important consideration than that of the tremendons issues of the life that now is, and the future that awaits humanity m the infinite ages thatmust succeed thenarrow span of sublunary existence. Orthodox theology, that is to say the theology commonly accepted as orthodox, has taught that the final result of the great schemes of Creation and [Redemption will be the infiuite happiness of a few and the infinite misery of the many — thus reversing the natural instinct that : goo"d should ultimately have j complete triumph over evil, and leading thousands -into a maze of difficulty m which faith and love are circumscribed by the narrowness of hope. Yet there are many who searching the Inspired Record, whereon are founded the canons of laith, have arrived at the conclusion that doctrinal theology as tanght by orthodoxy is not a true interpretation of the Book of Books, and who hold that Scripture justifies the larger hope that m the coming ages there will be a time of the restitution of all things, of the titter annihilation of evil and of the redemption of all mankind. We do not propose to take up the question with a view of seeking to prove whether the old school or new school theologians are m the right, but merely to record the fact that the views of the new school appear to be spreading, and to be held and advocated m wholly unexpected quarters. For example, there has just been published by Mr James Horsburgh of Dunedin, a pamphlet intituled " The Beign .of Grace " from the pen of Dr. William Salmond, Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy m the University of Otago, m which the author treats affirmatively of " the possibility of salvation for all men m this life or m the life to come. "At pages 16 and 17 of his pamphlet the Professor says : — " If no one of all the race can inwardly possess fch£ redemption of Christ save m this little life, the myriad myriads of the human race have, beyond doubt, perished everlastingly. My brain reels and a horror of great darkness comes down on my heart as I try to realise what these centuries of human history signify. When I further couple this thought with the doctrine of strict Calvinism I feel like one struck on the head with a club, or pierced with a poisoned arrow. In the successive generations all such as God pre-determined to save are saved. In the case of all such as are lost God never cherished any purpose to save them ; for them Christ did not die, and does not intercede. Now, as His history is only fulfilling the purpose of God, it follows that all that has transpired has been with a view to gather out of the race a handful of elect souls, all the rest being related to them as dung to ffuit and flowers. O, Father of Heaven ! is not every man and woman on earth Thy lost child ? " Summing up his conclusions the Professor says : — " This, then, is the sum of what we teach and believe :— As a divine purpose of grace has, from the beginning, brooded over humanity, watchfully guiding its entire course, pressing into its service even the sins and frowardness of men- -never despairing, but with patient pity and holy love pursuing its way, neither hasting nor tarrying — through dreary periods, scarcely giving any sign, yet ever anew m ripe fulness revealing its watchful presence — now crushing men with the hand of righteousness, and anon lifting them up m pity — ebbing and flowing, following paths whose orbit passes beyond our vision, yet ever pressing* forward towards (he goal of the Kingdom of Heaven ; even so also does a divine purpose brood over every sir.gh human spirit, pursuing precisely simitar ways ; for to God humanity is as we learn as one man — and one man is as humanity— -the evolution of human history but as the story of an individual life, and the guidance of each spirit ia its entire moral history as great a concern as the story of the race." The writer of a Beview on the pamphlet under notice m the " Dunedin Evening Herald" (to which we are indebted for the extracts above given) observes that the meaning of the Professor is clearly " that • not one fragment ' of humanity will be lost — all will somehow be saved ; m fact that the * one increasing purpose ' that runs through the ages is entire salvation for all." With the reviewer we concur that this remarkable pamphlet " newly proves that The thoughts of men are widened with the process of ..the suns.' " And with Professor Salmond we also concur m the remark which he makes (though he expects hostile criticism) " I shall be much astonished if I have not given expression' to the thoughts of many minds and gathered to a focus the feelings of many hearts."

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