But if this little volume can stop the mouth of the malignant scorner, or shake the false confidence of the heedless bigot, it will accomplish the writer's intention, and may save deluded souls from perdition. God grant that such may be the result, and accept the praise!

A. W. M.

LECTURE 1.

THE GREAT DUTY OF UNIVERSALISTS CONSIDERED AND URGED.

JAMES ii. 18.

I WILL SHOW THEE MY FAITH, BY MY WORKS.

Faith without works is dead. And not only so, it is ridiculous and contemptible. Our apostle sneers at it when he says, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

If our doctrines be true, we are bound in honor and justice, we are bound by interest and consistency, to carry them out into all their practical results. Otherwise we shall be shamefully and wickedly false to the truths we hold.

All will be prepared to admit, that, if Universalism' be true, its disciples ought to discharge every duty growing out of it. In all conscience and honesty, those who believe and declare that there is no actual punishment subsequent to the close

of this present life, ought to fulfil the obligations arising from such a sentiment.

My own impression is, that preachers of Universalism are apt to keep out of view one of its most serious and obvious results, and fail to urge upon their hearers one of the most important practical duties belonging to their blessed doctrine.' The remissness of the ordained supporters of that creed, in this particular respect, is greatly to be reprehended and deplored. Their want of fidelity devolves upon others a task belonging to them. The present discourse is intended to make good their deficiency in the point alluded to. It is my design to stand in the gap which their selfishness or timidity has left me and I ask your candid and thoughtful attention, while THE GREAT DUTY Of UniverSALIST IS CONSIDERED AND URGED.

st my Universalist hearers be assured, that is no part of my design to wound their feelings through mere wantonness and malice, or unjustifiable perversion of their favorite doctrines.Far be it from me to pursue any such object. am sensible that such an aim would be too inglorious; and that success would but poorly reward the labor of securing it.

I

At the same time, I would not pretend to conceal my intention of presenting the subject which has been selected, just as it presents itself to my own mind. Of course, some of my representations will be likely to give you unavoidable pain; as well as to shock your prejudices; or, if you

Let me

prefer another term, your convictions. hope that you will, nevertheless, listen calmly, and decide impartially let me hope that you will listen without interruption or disturbance, and without thinking of quitting this place till the exercises of the evening are concluded.

Without further preface, I would state, that the great duty of Universalists as Universalists is THE COMMISSION OF SUICIDE.

I shall undertake to prove, that, if their doctrine be true, they are bound to hasten the termination of their mortal lives. If, as they affirm, there is no suffering of pain beyond the grave; if our existence thenceforth, as far as we are endowed with consciousness, is a state of unmingled felicity;-then no wise man will hesitate to hurry on to that desirable condition. He will use the first convenient tool he can find, ratsbane or razor, halter or pistol, to work out such an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Should his anxiety be aroused, or his nerves be shaken, he will the more literally come up to the apostolic direction,- Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.* As he bids farewell to one friend after another, let him say to each,—I will show thee my faith by my works.

I. In pursuing the subject systematically, I

*It may be as well to remark, that many texts occurring in these lectures are obviously introduced merely to exhibit the Universalist modes of perverting and accommodating Scripture. Such as that, for instance, which applies (Heb. ix. 27,) to the Jewish high priest !