pleasure in the death of the wicked; he clearly evinces the falsehood of the assertion, that a certain number of the human race are reprobated, or destined to eternal misery." How does this comport with your former expressions-" He delights in the punishment of the unbelievers."-"He wills that they should perish eternally?" Again,-in page 22, you say, "Are the blessings of the atonement compared to a feast? It is a feast prepared for all people, (Isa. xxv. 6.) Is the account of it denominated glad tidings? it is so to all people, (Luke ii. 10.). Was the brazen serpent a figure of Christ, as the Lord that healeth? The cure, in this case, was as universal as the malady, (John iii. 14.). Is Jesus. the bread of life? He gave his flesh for the life of the world, (John vi. 51.). Is he a propitiation for sins? It is "for the sins of the whole world." And, in page 23, you say, "If there · be, in the creation of God, one human being, not redeemed by the blood of Christ, then I aver, that, for that being, there is no Gospel, no Saviour, no Pardon, no Heaven and the Salvation of that creature is morally and physically impossible." You reason justly (page 31) when you say that "upon any other principles than that of universal atonement"-why not say universal redemption"the language of the apostles is absolutely unintelligible, and that it would be dishonourable to God, the supposition, that he is capable of creating, perhaps, the greater part of the human race, for no other purpose than that of glorifying himself in their eternal misery." Now, to reason thus, so justly and scripturally, in favour of universal redemption, and with the next breath, to admit, that the greater. 'portion of the human race shall never obtain mercy, is a manifest contradiction in terms. It is absurd to tell us, that though all shall not be saved, Christ nevertheless died for all. This is say-. ing, in plain language, that "he died for millions whom he never meant should receive any benefit from his death." It is either giving the lie to that passage "Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created;" or it is asserting that his pleasure was their eternal damnation, or that he was disappointed in his end respecting them, either of which would be blasphemy. In short, to talk of universal atonement, as you do, and not to admit universal redemption, is just saying that the atonement is incomplete.

On the subject of the love of God, you have some beautiful, and christian-like remarks. And these, I maintain (whether you will

admit it or not), can only be consistent in one who is a believer in universal redemption. You remark, page 53, " He is love, as essentially as he is light; and St. John says, God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. It hence follows, that God is love, and in him is no hatred at all." "God was no less love when he consigned the rebel angels to bottomless perdition, there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal fire, than when, in the form of a servant, he bore our sins in his own body on the tree; and he will be no less love when he damns the despisers of his grace, than when he shall welcome his saints, to the Kingdom, prepared for them before the foundation of the world. Shall we dare to aver that God is, in some instances, the opposite of love, because our purblind reason cannot trace his philanthropy, distinctly, in every act of his administration?. He is eternally, and uniformly, LOVE. And he dwells not in love who exercises that principle, in some instances, and to some individuals merely. No; he only dwells in love, who habitually breathes that heavenly principle, and whose philanthropy is universal." Now, these are exactly my sentiments; for I believe that his every act of chastisement, damnation, or punishment, is, though not joyous, but grievous," nevertheless, in love to the subjects of it. From his very nature and essence it must be so. But, I would ask,-how, in the name of reason, or common sense, can you, consistently hold these sentiments, expressed by the above quotations, and not be a believer in the doctrine of universal redemption? How can the love of God be manifested, in consigning the rebel angels to bottomless perdition, or in damning the despisers of his grace, unless these awful dispensations are of a mediatory nature, and are ultimately to give place to endless life? If all his chastisements are in love, and mercy, they must issue in salvation, or he is not omnipotent to save them. There is no avoiding this conclusion.

"

By comparing different expressions in your book with one another," and with various sentences in your discourses, you are, evidently very inconsistent with yourself, and no less inconsistent with the most obvious parts of the divine testimony. Forego, therefore, that which is both dark and doubtful, and which, if admitted, would evidently involve the character of Jehovah, and the consequence will be a perfect consistency, on the glorious scheme of universal reconciliation. Is it possible the phrase Universalist can offend one of your good sense and liberality? I should think not. Yet, true it is,

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that the very best of men are, less or more, the creatures of prejudice. But the shackles of "tyrant custom," and prejudice, imposed by priestcraft, are wearing off, and will utterly give way before the force of Scripture, Truth, and Reason. But a few centuries ago, it would have been reckoned blasphemy to deny the doctrine of transubstantiation, and now even the most zealous catholic is half ashamed to avow it. And but half a century ago, the salvation of all who die in infancy, was but partially believed, or at least avowed.—" None but the elect children," said they can be saved." Now, where will you find one, who is not devoted to bigotry and prejudice, who will hesitate to pronounce all such to belong, to the Kingdom of Heaven. The march of true knowledge is advancing; and prejudice will, by and by, as ashamed, hide its face. I have no doubt, that in a century hence, the doctrine of eternal torments will be as little believed in, as either transubstantiation or the damnation of infants are at the present day. So true it is, that in nothing have mankind ever been so much misled, as in their opinions about religion, as the history of the world abundantly showeth.

Were prejudice, superstition, and bigotry, banished from amongst mankind, as becometh saints, then farewell to the dominion of the clergy, and to all national establishments of christianity. Then would men, with the scriptures in their hands, with God and a good conscience before their eyes, under the influence of Scripture, Truth, and Reason, look every subject fairly and candidly in the face. Then would men only act a rational part, when they should begin to think and act for themselves, unassisted by Priestcraft, and uninfluenced by prejudice. This day is upon the wing, and will arrive. Then shall the Minister, or Preacher, be no longer the bond of union among christian societies, their bond of union will be love, for the truth's sake. There shall then be a real "unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,"

...October 29.-You told us from the pulpit, this day, after reciting that passage, that "As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall allTM be made alive," that "all mankind are the subjects of his mediation;" and that "he will vindicate his mediatorial authority, over sinners, in raising them to condemnation." And you referred to that passage, "That as sin hath reigned unto natural death, over all Adam's posterity, so would grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, in that all shall be raised to life through Jesus Christ." So,

then, according to your view of the subject, this is the benefit they all are to enjoy (who are not of the elect) from Christ's mediation and atonement, namely, to be made eternally alive, in order to be eternally miserable!!! Much better had it been, for at least nine tenths of the human race, who arrive at maturity, had Christ never interfered in their behalf at all, nor died for them, as you are pleased to say he did. In this case, the language of the Saviour, when he shall come to deliver up the kingdom to the Father, will behove to be such as the followingI have done what I could to save the whole human race whom I died to redeem, but I found their natures so corrupted by Adam's fall, and their appetites and passions so vitiated, and the devil so artful and cunning, in suiting his temptations to their corrupt appetites and passions, that I was at length obliged to come to a compromise with him, and give him up nine tenths of the human race, to recover one tenth." And well might the Devil triumph over the Saviour and say-" Here are the millions you fondly imagined you could rescue from my power;-for them you left the bosom of your Father;-for them you assumed the human form ;—for them you suffered many hardships and indignities;-for them you shed blood your on the cross; but after all this, behold! they are mine eternally;—you tried to save them, but you could not.". As one justly asks-"Is this the triumphant victory the Savour of mankind was to gain over the powers of darkness! Is it all to terminate in peopling the infernal regions with those very beings, who the Father of mercies wished and intended should be eternally happy?" Where then the triumphant exclamation,—“ O death where is thy sting, O grave' where is thy victory?" Where then the boasting. that "for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil?" I shall now, in borrowed language, ask you one question, according to your doctrine, "who has ultimately the greatest cause to triumph-God, or Man, or Devil ?"

To conclude:-I recollect you said to me one day, when speaking about the subject of universal reconciliation, that you wished the doctrine were true. This is truly a benevolent wish, and such a wish as every good man must secretly have, whether he may express it or not. I think it was the pious Philip Dodridge, whose ̈. benevolence, shuddering at the common doctrine of eternal tor

ments, involuntarily exclaimed," Well! if even the Devil is to be damned to all eternity, I shall be sorry for it." And elsewhere he says "of all things credible to me, the doctrine of endless. damnation appears the most incredible." He shuddered at it, and secretly dissented, though he never publicly renounced the popular belief. Now, let me candidly ask you, and do you candidly answer the question.-Whence, do you think, does this wish of your's -of Philip Dodridge's, and of all good men, proceed?. Does it proceed from a truly christian-like temper of mind, and heavenly principles; or, does it proceed from an unregenerated mind, and from hellish principles? Whether can such a wish be ranked amongst the "fruits of the spirit," or "the works of the flesh?" I think I need not put the question. Well then, if such are the fruits of the spirit, how do you think that He, "with whom is the residue of the spirit," can be less benevolent than you are, or than he enjoins us to be, as imitators and followers of him? Do not, I beseech you, make the Almighty Father of our spirits, of " the spirits of all flesh," less benevolent and merciful than you are your self. This would be arrogating to yourself a perfection which, according to your representation, is not to be found in God. Let you-let popular opinion-let what is called orthodoxy-let al, or any who will think so,-for my part I cannot-I dare not.

8

Letter Second.

From the Baptist Minister to the Author.

MY DEAR SIR,

Agreeably to your desire, I sit down to make a few remarks on a written communication, which you have thought it necessary to submit to my consideration. Had you thought proper to discuss the subject in a conversational way, I should have been more happy, as an epistolary correspondence between individuals, situated as you and me, indicates a want of confidence, which does not exist, at least on my part.

A categorical reply to the communication, in question, suits neither my time, nor inclination. I shall, however, in the first place, notice a few passages in it, and then confine myself to some general observations.

In regard to what concerns myself, I certainly have no pleasure