Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/109

 Our Lard's Return. wo*

by faith, another by works, and another by ignorance. Neither does it teach the God-dishonoring doctrine of fatal- ism. While it shows every other door of hope closed against the race, it throws wide open the one, only door, and pro- claims that whosoever will may enter into life ; and it shows that all who do not now see or appreciate the blessed priv- ilege of entering shall in due time be brought to a full knowledge and appreciation. The only way, by which any and all of the condemned race may come to God, is not by meritorious works, neither by ignorance, but by faith in the precious blood of Christ, which taketh away the sin of the world, (i Peter i : 19 ; John i : 29.) This is the Gos- pel, the good tidings of great joy, "which shall be unto

ALL PEOPLE."

Suppose we now look at these things just as God tells us of them, and leave the clearing of his character to himself. Let us inquire, What has become of the one hundred and forty-two billions ?

Whatever may have become of them, we may be sure they are not now in a condition of suffering ; because, not only do the Scriptures teach that full and complete reward is not given to the Church until Christ comes, when he shall re- ward every man (Matt 16 : 27), but that the unjust are to receive their punishment then also. Whatever may be their present condition, it cannot be their full reward ; for Peter says, "The Lord knoweth how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2 : 9); and he will do so.

But the thought that so many of our fellow creatures should at any time be lost from lack of having had the knowledge which is necessary to salvation would be sud indeed to all who have a spark of love or pity. Then, too, there are numerous scriptures which it seems impossible to harmonize with all this. Let us see : In the light of the

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