Ill 



Infant Salvation. 27 



generally held in this sense, though in an undecided 

 sort of way, by those who belong to the same school 

 of religious thought with him. Now, if a human 

 being can become spiritual, and capable of eternal 

 life, only by conversion occurring within conscious- 

 ness, what is to become of those who pass out of the 

 present life before religious consciousness has been 

 awakened? If Professor Drummond's theory were 

 true, the position of infants in relation to spiritual 

 life would be analogous to the position of matter in 

 relation to natural life in the ages before life was in- 

 troduced into the world of matter ; and the inference 

 from this would be that they cannot attain to eternal 

 life not perhaps sharing the fate of devils, but at 

 least that of beasts. Conscience, however, rejects 

 this : the belief in infant salvation is almost universal, 

 and I have no doubt Professor Drummond shares it. 

 But if any believe as thousands do, or fancy they 

 do at once in the salvation of infants unto eternal 

 life, and in the necessity of conscious conversion 

 occurring at a definite time, they are sounder in their 

 instinct than in their logic. 



The reply to this will probably be that the case of 

 young children in the eternal world is exceptional ; 

 but Christ declares that it is normal. "Except ye 

 become as little children," He says, " ye shall in no 

 wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." This leads 

 on to a question which is of the highest practical 

 importance, and is far too seldom distinctly asked. 

 How are children in the enjoyment of Christian 



