will refuse to believe it.




XI.


THE ATONEMENT.

Extent of the Atonement--The Dilemma of Universal Atonement and Partial
Salvation--Human Systems of Truth--Methodist Theology--Tradition and
Reason--Dr. Dale's View--No Divine Failure--Imperfection of All
Theological Systems--"Sufficient but not Efficient"--Undeveloped
Possibilities--The Angel in the Apocalypse--Omnipotence Both in the
Physical and the Moral Realm--The Short Epoch of Time--Advance of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States--Individual Congregations
--Hardening Effects of the Narrower View--The Softening Influence of
Dreams--Divine Capacity of Suffering--Persistence of What is Good--Good
Men Who Are Not Christians--Insanity--Blind Tom.


In this larger view all difficulty disappears in regard to the extent of
the Atonement. Sometime ago men had little conception of the operation
of saving grace beyond this life. It was believed that every man fixed
his eternal destiny here and now. But then there would arise in
thoughtful minds a difficulty about the extent of the Atonement. To a
candid mind it was manifestly universal. The statements of Scripture are
full and clear on that point, yet it would appear very strange that
there would be universal Atonement, but not universal salvation. Would