THE THREE-FOLD BASIS

OF

UNIVERSAL RESTITUTION.

BIBLIOTHECA

AUC 80

BODLEIANA

WILLIAMS & NORGATE,

14 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON; AND 20 SOUTH FREDERICK STREET, EDINBURGH.

[The Rights of Translation and Reproduction are Reserved.]

GLASGOW:

PRINTED BY H. NISBET AND CO.,

ROPEWORK LANE.

CONTENTS.

PART I.-CONSTITUTION OF MAN.

Evidence of Law, or Causation of a Moral kind, extending

PAGE

The Power to Commit Final Moral Self-Destruction not
entrusted to Man,

Re-incarnation a possible means of Restitution,

21

27

PART II.—THE NATURE OF GOD.

Man's very existence, as the outcome of Divine Love, an

assurance of his Final Perfection and Happiness,

43

The Hope of Universal Moral Restitution not inconsistent
with the Doctrine of Free Will or Self-Determinism,

The Purpose of the Omnipotent cannot be frustrated by

Finite Perversity,

46

64

Objections of Annihilationists Answered,

68

PART III.-THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF

REDEMPTION.

The Manner of the Generation of our Lord's Human

Nature the Key to the Genesis of Man,

Atonement: its Nature and Universality,

The Risen Christ the Type, Promise, and Potency of the

New Creation, comprehensive of the entire Human

Family,

The Soul or Spirit-Body an Ether-Atomic Structure; the
Continent of Individuality; Undestroyed by Death, -

Future Probation-Viewed in the Light of God's Fatherly

Relationship-Rich Man and Lazarus―Judas, -

Impenitency-The Unpardonable Sin-Involves Loss of

the Capacity of Spiritual Development in the present

Christian Age-Exposes to "Fire of Ages"-Renewed

Opportunity after Punishment, -

Annihilation-Supported neither by Reason nor Revela-

tion-The Second Death not the Destruction of Indi-

viduality-Re-incarnation Unnecessary-God's Action

never Retrogressive, -

Eternal Punishment-Meaning of Aionios-Doctrine of

the Eons-Christ's Words Misinterpreted-Recent

Arguments in Vindication of the Confessional Doctrine

of Eternal Torments Refuted-Punishment of the

Impenitent not Interminable,

Restitution-Involved in the Unity and Consolidarity of

Mankind-Virtually achieved in the Glorification of

Christ as the Head of Humanity, and "the Head of all

Principality and Power"-Ultimate Position in the

Glorified Body of Humanity determined by Present

Conduct-The Divine Creative Spirit able to Evolve

the Conditions under which Faith and Spiritual Life

will be developed in all Men,

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PREFATORY NOTE.

KNOWING that many anxious and earnest minds, searching in the direction of universal restitution for a satisfactory solution of the problem of human destiny, would gladly embrace the "larger hope," if they could find an explanation of the difficulties involved in the freedom of the will, and the deep and persistent sinfulness of some men, the writer of these pages begs to submit to such "The Threefold Basis of Universal Restitution" as a theory which meets all difficulties and answers all objections.