vi The Larger Hope is best for the Elect. 119 



ness, it is because they have passed too deeply into 

 character for repentance. 



Besides the testimony of Holy Scripture there 

 are two moral arguments not perhaps for abso- 

 lutely universal restoration, but certainly against 

 the hopelessness of the future state which are of 

 great and, to me, conclusive force. 



In the first place, granting what I do not grant 

 that the perfecting of an elect Church is the last word 

 and the ultimate purpose of Creation, Providence, 

 and Grace, it will even then be best for the elect 

 that their hopes should not be selfish, but that they 

 should look forward to sharing their bliss with all. 

 This argument is based on general and recognised 

 facts of human nature. But I will add that, for 

 myself, a belief in the hopelessness of the future 

 state a conviction that eternal hope was baseless 

 would make any feeling of thankfulness towards God 

 impossible. 



The second argument is drawn from the treat- 

 ment by God of men's religious aspirations under 

 the dispensation of the Old Testament. The per- 

 plexity of the faithful of old those men whose 

 historical types are David, Asaph, and Job was 

 that God should permit iniquity to prosper and 

 triumph ; and God's revealed reply was, that it shall 

 not be so for ever ; that all powers of iniquity shall 

 be overtaken by the vengeance of God. But to 

 the Christian this answer is only too complete ; he 



