n as the doctrine of
supererogation. As stated by Mosheim (_Eccl. Hist._ Cent. xii, part ii,
ch. 3:4) the dreadful doctrine was formulated in the thirteenth century
as follows: "That there actually existed an immense treasure of _merit_,
composed of the pious deeds and virtuous actions which the saints had
performed _beyond what was necessary for their own salvation_, and which
were therefore applicable to the benefit of others; that the guardian
and dispenser of this precious treasure was the Roman pontiff, and that
of consequence he was empowered to assign to such as he thought proper a
portion of this inexhaustible source of merit, suitable to their
respective guilt, and sufficient to deliver them from the punishment due
to their crimes." Concerning the fallacy of this doctrine the author has
written (_The Great Apostasy_, 9:15), in this wise: "This doctrine of
supererogation is as unreasonable as it is unscriptural and untrue.
Man's individual responsibility for his acts is as surely a fact as is
his agency to act for himself. He will be saved through the merits and
by the atoning sacrifice of our Redeemer and Lord; and his claim upon
the salvation provided is strictly dependent on his compliance with the
principles and ordinances of the gospel as established by Jesus Christ.
Remission of sins and the eventual salvation of the human soul are
provided for; but these gifts of God are not to be purchased with money.
Compare the awful fallacies of supererogation and the blasphemous
practise of assuming to remit the sins of one man in consideration of
the merits of another, with the declaration of the one and only Savior
of mankind: 'But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.'" If
conclusions as to doctrine may be drawn from our Lord's parables, the
parable of the Ten Virgins affords refutation of the Satanic suggestion
that one man's sin may be neutralized by another's righteousness. We
know no supererogation but that of the Lord Jesus Christ, through whose
merits salvation is placed within the reach of all men.

5. "This Generation."--Consult any reliable unabridged dictionary of the
English language for evidence of the fact that the term "generation," as
connoting a period of time, has many meanings, among which are "race,
kind, class." The term is not confined to a body of people living at one
time. Fausett's _Bible Cyclopedia, Critical and