not taken by surprise that so few are saved. Now all eternity is at His
disposal. Who can say that in the infinite sweep of His administration,
which relates to other worlds as well as ours, there may not be good
reasons for saving some of our race in the next life? At all events, His
counsel will stand. He will do all His pleasure. The day will come when
every prodigal will come home. Then Hallelujah! "The Lord God omnipotent
reigneth!"

And so with Christ as well. His sacrifice is the expression of His love,
and the only adequate expression of it. He loved us, and gave Himself
for us. Paul says, "He loved me, and gave Himself for me." So every
believing sinner may say. And in securing the effects of that sacrifice
He is not limited to the short era of time. If He had chosen He might
have secured the effects of His sacrifice in this age. But for some good
reason unknown to us, His redeeming activity is exercised in a future
age. We are not surprised. His administration is from everlasting to
everlasting.

Such a consideration does not mitigate, in my view, the Father's
solicitude for the salvation of His children now. We almost hear His
sigh as He says, "How can I give thee up?" And again he says, "O that
Israel had hearkened to my commandments!" And this divine solicitude was
expressed in human tears when the Son sobbed over the apostate city: "O,
if thou hadst only known in this thy day the things that belong to
thy peace!"


DESTINED FOR A BETTER WORLD.

I will refer here to one practical difficulty, which is solved by the