Christ Preaching to the Spirits in Prison [pp. 636-650]

1874.] CHnrST PREACHING TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON.
spirits in prison whose salvation is not yet accomplishedl. This
passage of Peter, therefore, teachles nothing positively as to
whet'her lhe,re is hope for any of the " rest of the ((ea(d " who
have not been ersantgelized in this life.
That there is salvation for " elect infants dyling in infancy,"
andt for " other el,et persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Wordcl" our Confession of
faith ditiinetly teaches. They are "saved by Christ through
tle spirit, who worlketh when and where and how he pleaseth."
But whether this saving work is wrought in this world or in the
disembodied stats of such spirits we are not informed. Until
it is wroulht, mlay not stluch also be regarded as " spirits in
prison."
There is also here suggested the inomientous inquiry, whether
amiong livi;(, mc there may not be those "elect persons inlcapable of being outwardly called,"-among the unevangelized
nations, e..q.-who may be regarded as living'"spirits in prison,"
awaitirg anxiously for light, until in some extraordinary way,
either in this life or the next, they are brought to a knowledge
of salvation through Christ. but are never brought into the
visible Church.
It is but a fe; indeed hlo Nave hitherto been saved through
the Church or its ordinances. Noah and his family alone comuposed the Church of the Ark. The Jewish Church included
but a small palt of the human family. And the Christian Church
has thus far been but a " little flock." The spirits in prison
of Noah's day were saved without the Arki. Melchisedeck,
Job and others were saved without being of the commonwealth
of Israel. The "wise men of the East " who came to worship
the infant Saviour were not of Abraham's seed. And Peter
was taught by a significant vision that such men as Cornelius —
"men in every nation who fear God and work righteousness
are accepted with himn."
We would not indeed speak of St. Socrates, St. Plato, St.
Sakya Mfini, or St. Antoninus Pius, or give any countenance
to those liberals who regard Christianity as only the best of
the many religions in which men can be saved. We believe
there is none other name under heaven given among men
whereby we can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ. But
have we not evidence that there are often to be found wait
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