I believe that is the position of very many. They are hovering between
the idea of extinction and that of torment. They try to believe in
torment; they have been inoculated with that idea; they think, or are
afraid, that it is Scriptural; but they recoil from any hearty reception
of it. They have not got the length as yet of the idea of final
salvation. But some day that truth may flash upon their souls like a
gleam of heaven's own sunlight.

To come back to our author. He tries to give us a due incentive to awake
from our apathy, and enter on a Missionary Crusade with a spirit of
self-denial and zeal never yet known. He quotes two passages, which he
presents as a very strong incentive. But neither of these passages has
any force, on the theory either of extinction or of torment. Otherwise,
they are pregnant with eternal hope. Listen: "He shall see of the
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." Again: "He, after He had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."
Neither of those passages can come true on the basis either of
extinction or of endless torment. But they will come gloriously true on
the basis of final salvation.

So the "millions" and "billions" that our author says have been "going
out into the darkness," and into the "blackness of despair," are
redeemed as well as we. The author himself says: "Jesus wants every one
of these poor creatures told at once of Him and His love." Now, if that
is His wish, is He going to be thwarted by any coldness or indifference
of ours? We may fail in our duty; but is He going to fail? A thousand
times, No! He has all power and all love, as well as all eternity, in
which to work out His glorious designs. We cannot conceive of Him as
being "satisfied" with either extinction or endless torment. No; the day