As to the capacity of suffering in such a case on the part of God, we
can judge of that faintly by our own case. We were made in the divine
image, and suffer in a human degree as He suffers in a divine degree.
Conceive, then, if you can, the untold suffering of the Father in making
that sacrifice. The suffering which the Father endured I believe will
never be measured.
The matter is presented in that way when it is said that God so loved
the world that He gave His Son. The word _so_ in that connection would
have no meaning if it did not mean sacrifice. I believe it means a depth
of suffering which no man nor angel has sounded.
Now can it be thought that the Father would make such a sacrifice for
less than the whole race? If the Atonement was suitable for every one of
the race was it not intended for every one? And cannot God make it
effective for every one? Evidently it is not so now. But all eternity is
at God's disposal. Can it be imagined that having made a suitable
provision for all, He will be content with saving only some?
In fact I have the idea that God suffered by sympathy with the Son as
much as the Son suffered actually. We can never know in this life if
that was really so; but I have the idea that there was such divine
sympathy between the Father and the Son that they suffered equally. This
is holy ground; we shall trespass on it no further.
But do you think the Father will ever be satisfied until every soul for
whom Christ died will be saved? He saw the end from the beginning. He is
not taken by surprise that so few are saved. Now all eternity is at His
disposal. Who can say that in the infinite sweep of His administration,
which relates to other worlds as well as ours, there may not be good
reasons for saving some of our race in the next life? At all events, His
counsel will stand. He will do all His pleasure. The day will come when
every prodigal will come home. Then Hallelujah! "The Lord God omnipotent
reigneth!"
And so with Christ as well. His sacrifice is the expression of His love,
and the only adequate expression of it. He loved us, and gave Himself
for us. Paul says, "He loved me, and gave Himself for me." So every
believing sinner may say. And in securing the effects of that sacrifice
He is not limited to the short era of time. If He had chosen He might
have secured the effects of His sacrifice in this age. But for some good
reason unknown to us, His redeeming activity is exercised in a future
age. We are not surprised. His administration is from everlasting to
everlasting.
Such a consideration does not mitigate, in my view, the Father's
solicitude for the salvation of His children now. We almost hear His
sigh as He says, "How can I give thee up?" And again he says, "O that
Israel had hearkened to my commandments!" And this divine solicitude was
expressed in human tears when the Son sobbed over the apostate city: "O,
if thou hadst only known in this thy day the things that belong to
thy peace!"