are condemned for the sin of the one, so all are saved by the riorht- eousness of the other, those only excepted whom the Scriptures except ; but the principle assumed throuo-hout the whole discussion teaches the same doctrine. That principle is that it is more con- genial with the nature of God to bless than to curse, to save than to destroy. If the race fell in Adam, much more shall it be re- stored in Christ. If death reigned by one, much more shall grace reign by one. This " much more " is repeated over and over. The Bible everywhere teaches that God delighteth not in the death of the wicked ; that judgment is his strange work. It is, therefore, contrary not only to the argument of the Apostle, but to the whole spirit of the passage (Romans v. 12-21), to exclude infants from "the all " who are made alive in Christ.
The conduct and language of our Lord in reference to children are not to be regarded as matters of sentiment, or simply expressive of kindly feeling. He evidently looked upon them as the lambs of the flock for which, as the good Shepherd, He laid down his life, and of whom He said they shall never perish, and no man could pluck them out of his hands. Of such He tells us is the kingdom of heaven, as though heaven was, in great measure, composed of the souls of redeemed infants. It is, therefore, the general belief of Protestants, contrary to the doctrine of Romanists and Roman- izers, that all who die in infancy are saved.
B. Rule of Judgment for Adults. 2. Another general fact clearly revealed in Scripture is, that men are to be judged according to their works, and according to the light wdiich they have severally enjoyed. God " will render to every man according to his deeds : to them who, by patient con- tinuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life ; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribu- lation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil ; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile ; but glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good ; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." (Rom. ii. 6-12.) Our Lord teaches that those who sinned with a knowledge of God's will, shall be beaten with many stripes ; and. that those who sinned without such knowledge shall he beaten with few stripes ; and that it will be more tolerable in the day of judg-
28 INTRODUCTION. [Ch. U.— Theology.
ment for the heathen, even for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for those who perish under the light of the gospeL (Matt. x. 15 ; xi. 20-24.) The Judge of all the earth will do right. No human being will suffer more than he deserves, or more than his own con- science shall recognize as just.
C. All Men wider Condemnation.
3. But the Bible tells us, that judged according to their works and according to the light wliich they have severally enjoyed, all men will be condemned. There is none righteous ; no, not one. The whole world is guilty before God. This verdict is confirmed by every man's conscience. The consciousness of guilt and of moral pollution is absolutely universal.
Here it is that natural theology utterly fails. It cannot answer the question, How can man be just with God ? or, How can God be just and yet justify the ungodly ? Mankind have anxiously pondered this question for ages, and have gained no satisfaction. The ear has been placed on the bosom of humanity, to catch the still, small voice of conscience, and got no answer. It has been directed heavenward, and received no response. Reason, con- science, tradition, history, unite in saying that sin is death ; and, therefore, that so far as human wisdom and resources are concerned, the salvation of sinners is as impossible as raising the dead. Every conceivable method of expiation and purification has been tried without success.
4. The Scriptures, therefore, teach that the heathen are " with- out Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers fi'oxn. the covenants of promise, having no hope, and with- out God." (Eph. ii. 12.) They are declared to be without ex- cuse, "Because, that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful ; but became vain in their imagina- tions, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncor- ruptible God, into an image made like unto corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom. i. 21-25.) The Apostle says of the Gentiles that they " walk in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the hfe of God through the igno-