WHAT IT INVOLVES AND HOW IT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED BY THE REV. DAVID FINDLEY BONNER, A.M., D.D. "And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath HANFORD AND HORTON MIDDLETOWN, N. Y. 1902 INTRODUCTION. THIS little book is neither a history of redemption nor a formal treatise on the plan of salvation. It makes no attempt to trace the revelation, through prophecy and providence, of the purpose of redemption; and there are many things connected with the plan of salvation that are not even touched in its pages. It aims simply to describe, comprehensively and yet scripturally, the great work of saving the world as it is being actually accomplished. The two antipodal systems of Christian soteriology are Universalism and Calvinism. In logical conception, though not in formal presentation, these two systems approach the subject from precisely opposite directions. Universalism contemplates salvation as provided, and maintains that ultimately it will be as grandly realized as it is graciously proffered. But in the judgment of the great majority of Christians, it fails to support its teaching by a philosophy of salvation that makes such an expectation reasonable, and to substantiate it with such proof from the word of God as to make it Scriptural. Calvinism contemplates salvation as finally accomplished, and presents a philosophy of salvation that claims to explain the results that are ultimately reached. It must be conceded. that it is very largely successful. Confessional Calvinism presents a scheme of salvation which is clear, |