period, though that period may be fearfully long, and then will come a state of non-existence, or unconsciousness, like the future state of the Buddhist.” The advocates of this modern theory contend that the endless existence of beings in suffering is irreconcilable with the character of a loving and merciful God. Now, it would be easy to reply that mortal man is a very poor judge of what is suitable to the character of God, or what is inconsistent with it. Man’s ideas of the enormous sinfulness