have the doctrine of the Atonement presented in all its divine efficacy.
And you will notice that it is set forth both as to its quality, and
its extent.

As to its quality, it is said to be more than sufficient; and as to its
extent it is represented to be as wide as the human race. As to its
quality, take these words: "Where sin abounded grace did much more
abound." As to its extent, take these: "As by one man's disobedience
many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous."

It seems to me a wonderful thing that these glorious truths were in
obscurity so long. I suppose it must be due to the fact that the idea
of a limited Atonement came to be really believed. There was evidently
a limited salvation; must there not then be a limited Atonement? So that
doctrine became a necessary part of a certain system of theology; and
men clung to it--honestly no doubt--thinking that if that doctrine would
go, their whole system of truth would have to go along with it. All
credit is thus due to the men who were so tenacious of what they
believed to be the truth.

* * * * *

But we get larger conceptions as time goes on; and it seems a marvel
that we had not such conceptions sooner. Take for instance the word
"many" as it occurs twice in the one sentence that we have quoted. Has
it not the same meaning in both cases? Both good language and good
sense--apart from all preconceived opinion--would say that it has. But
in the one case "many were made sinners." There is no doubt about the
meaning of the word there. Certainly the whole race was made sinners.