I will refer here to one practical difficulty, which is solved by the
theory of Restoration. We all know Christian men of whose real goodness
we have no doubt whatever. But such a man has often great imperfections.
There can be no doubt that he is destined for a better world; but in the
meantime he is not fit for it. Such a man, we will say, meets with an
accident that cuts him off in a moment. The question is, Where does he
go? On the old theory he must go either to heaven or to hell. But he is
really fit for neither. The work of grace is far from being completed in
him, and therefore he is not prepared for the better world. But he has
the germ of grace in him, and it is partly developed; therefore he would
be out of place in the better world. Then where does he go? The
difficulty is settled at once if we suppose that there is a preparatory
stage of preparation for eternal joy. He will arrive at the goal in due
time; but meantime he must have his faults and imperfections pruned
off. Death will certainly not effect the necessary improvement. All are
agreed that the fact of dying makes no change in a man's character. Nor
is there any change usually effected just before death. In many cases
there is no opportunity. "The souls of believers are at their death made
perfect in holiness." So says the Catechism. But there is no evidence of
it in the case of one who is stricken down suddenly. But suppose there
is a preparatory stage beyond; then all difficulty disappears.