A Victorian’s Religious Beliefs

UNIVERSAL SALVATION

The word Salvation is full of charm. Its music-song is joy. It suits all languages, and it is set in the Bible – especially in the Psalms – like Gems of light – adding lustre to the sacred page.

The nature of Salvation is to save from some misfortune, or condition, or sorrow, or injury, or evil, or sin.

Every living being on earth – civilised or uncivilised – in one way or another is continually seeking some kind of salvation.

• The Warrior was (saved) in battle

• All hands on board, were saved

• “The prudent man who looketh well to his being” is saved from trouble

• The good man, is saved, from his sins

• The sick man, is saved, from dying

• And Faith and Reason, as good as proved, that the Spirit-man is saved, from going into the grave.

Therefore, it is clear that Salvation in its millions of forms reaches all living beings, according to their millions of events. And this ceaseless process of Salvation is equally Free to All. The word Salvation however, is popularly used in its relation to religion here, and to the condition of Spirit-beings, hereafter. But, in all its relations, and with all beings, and in all worlds, it operates according to the same eternal laws; Salvation must be sought, or it is never found – Its process must be used, or it never saves. Occasionally, from accidents &Co, others week the means, and fine them, and use them, and save us. But we are never saved without the means being used. And the universal natural law is that each man must save himself. If a man is in any kind of wrong, and will not try to work himself out, he will remain in the wrong and get deeper still. So that man is bound to help “work out his own Salvation”.

In the old Bible it cannot be said that the word Salvation ever clearly refers to another world to come! It is used only in relation to the present world, with its many forms of evil and wrong from which Salvation is sought. In the New Testament it is said “God should give Jesus the throne of his Father David, and that he should reign over the house of Jacob for ever”. This was the salvation that Simeon has waited for, and said - “Now mine eyes have seen they Salvation”. The Angel, and Zachariah and Simeon only referred to a temporal Jewish Kingdom with Jesus as their King. But the meaning of the word Salvation through the New Testament often does refer to the world to come. Although John the Baptist did not use it, nor did Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, yet in that sermon Jesus very clearly teaches that there is a Heaven, where God the Father especially lives.

Reason, and Scripture, are on the side of universal belief in the “better country”, “that is a heavenly” where complete and universal salvation will finally be enjoyed by the whole family of the living God, who “hath made of one blood, all nations of med, and all the face of the earth”.

Universal Heavenly Salvation has been believed in for aged. It is the only reasonable and consistent theory because: -

• God is Almighty – Therefore he is able to superintend, and influence the complete progress of all beings, so as to assure universal salvation, happiness, and Heaven, for all mankind.

• God is all-wise – Therefore He knows how to make man, and adapt his nature to the ceaseless working of Divine laws, so as to bring all mankind up to universal salvation and Heaven.

• God is all-just – Therefore, after mankind being naturally and justly rewarded for their sins and mistakes, mainly in this world, and partly in the world to come, Justice then can only allow, and inspire them to go on and on towards perfection, and become fully perfect, “even as their Father in Heaven is perfect”.

• God is all – Good – Therefore, His whole Plan must have been in creating man kind, to secure their greatest possible amount of happiness during their entire Existence. And this would mean final and universal salvation and happiness for All beings.

NOTHING – CAN, THWART THE ALMIGHTY’S PLAN: -
“God is love”. Therefore, even more so than a loving Father on earth – will our loving Father in Heaven so train and perfect His universal Salvation” and “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory”.

George Burgess – July 1899