To my mind, all this is only theory. We really know very little of the
next life. The influences that may be used for reformation may really be
overpowering. Just think how it has fared with this world of ours since
the introduction of evil. Has evil perpetuated itself? Or will it
perpetuate itself? No! the very opposite has been the case, and will be
the case. A scheme of redemption above all human thought has been
enacted here, by which the world has in part regained the innocence that
if lost, and is destined to regain it fully.

No one could have foreseen this. We can imagine some sinless world,
cognizant of the evil that had entered here, forecasting our eternal
doom. They might reason that evil would perpetuate itself, and that
therefore there could be nothing in store for us but eternal sin and
suffering. They did not know the provision that was to be made for our
redemption; hence their conclusion would be all wrong.


TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVIL.

It may just be so in our forecasts of the next life. In fact there is
more likelihood of the triumph of good over evil in the next life than
there could have been originally in this. And why? Because we know that
a ransom has not to be provided, but that it is provided. We also know
that it has been provided at a fearful cost, and we know that the glory
of God is to a large extent bound up in its success. Moreover, we know
that Christ is yet to see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied.
And will anything less satisfy Him than the salvation of every one for
whom He died? He has said, too, that He will draw all men to Himself. It
is plain that He does not draw all men in this life; will He not then
draw them in the next life? Therefore I think it is not too much to say