that men are not, and cannot be adequately punished in this life, while he admits, as if by accident, that flagrant vices commonly bring their own punishment, Which is true? Both cannot be.

Let a brief synopsis close the present Number, and this Review.

The first four Letters, are principally occupied by an appeal to the ignorance and prejudices of the readers. All is assertion, unsupported by a solitary important fact, either as respects the doctrine taught or the conduct of the professors. An appeal has been made to facts, and the common sense of mankind, whether the declaration of the Letter writer were consistent with a state of civilized society, and the charge of falsehood was returned, which will be maintained whenever the case may require it.

In examining the foundation principle of Mr. H. the most incontestible facts were adduced, fixing the character which he had drawn for Universalists, on those of his own creed. To these will now be added some few precious confessions of Synods, Presbyteries, and Associations, giving a picture of modern orthodoxy in the words of its advocates.

"While they (the Synod,) believe that there is a time to mourn, and a time to rejoice, they are constrained to admit that the FORMER appears to be principally their duty at the present season." "The Synod believe that it is our sins which have separated between us and our God, that he is chastising us for our unfaithfulness." "The lukewarmness and worldly spirit which so generally prevail among the professed children of God thoughout our bounds, the Synod believe to be the immediate cause of much of that indifference to the one thing needful, which is so unhappily prevalent among men of the world."

"While the low state of religious feeling in our church calls for deep repentance and humiliation be

fore God, the Synod regret to say that very few of our people appear to feel properly sensible of their situation and their duty."

"The Synod are also constrained with pain to notice the great neglect to sanctify the Lord's day, which appears to be increasing to an alarming degree.”— "We are with grief compelled to witness parties of pleasure devoting this sacred day to purposes of amusement and dissipation."

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Clergymen deceased.-God in his righteous displeasure for our sins, is laying a heavy hand upon the Ministry of reconciliation. No less than eleven of our Fathers and Brethren in the ministry have within the year past, and several in the midst of their usefulness, been called away by death."

"In the commencement of their narrative, the Synod enumerate and deplore the moral evils which exist within their bounds, and which call for humiliation, fasting, and prayer.

The deductions from these facts are now at his service, and are proposed for your consideration.

The charge of inconsistency alleged against Universalists, was apparently intended as general, and not as appertaining to the writings or preaching of any one man. The charge is now retorted with proof of the most palpable inconsistency, drawn from his own writings. It is demonstrable that he affirms and denies the same proposition, as the object which he has in view seems to require tergiversation, and at all hazards appears determined, either on Calvinistic, Arminian, or Hopkinsian principles, or all united, to shut some from the region of blessedness in a future life.Whether these different modes of defence, used in the same series of Letters, argue for or against the cause in which he is engaged, is left to the good sense of the community to decide. Whether his mutilations of scripture, arrogant assumptions, unsupported asser

tions, or puerile reasoning, have gained friends to the cause, or honour to himself, is not for me to decide. For myself, I can truly say, that my object has been to elicit truth. If in doing this, I have wounded the feelings of the writer, or his friends, my only plea is the necessity of the case. Acknowledging no man as master, I have, fearlessly exposed in part the deceptious mode of argument, the falsehood of assertions and the miscitations of scripture. If in doing what was considered a duty, a single expression is rashly made, or a wrong principle inculcated, my pledge is given to acknowledge it publicly, and to make all the reparation in my power. Until this is shown, I claim the boon of having intended well, and at least, of having written nothing subversive of good morals, or of injuring the cause of truth, in defence of which I am engaged. With a warm desire for the progress of knowledge, and the consequent well-being of society, I remain your willing servant in the gospel.

CANDIDUS.

FRIENDLY LETTERS

TO A CANDIDATE FOR THE MINISTRY.

LETTER 1.

DEAR SIR-The best return I can make for the confidence you repose in me, is to attempt the fulfilment of your request. In doing this, I shall endeavor to confirm the good opinion you have expressed of my willingness to communicate information; of my ability to fulfil the task imposed upon me by your friendship, let the result determine.

In examining the multiplicity of texts you have quoted, and the arguments you have expressed, or implied in their production, necessity will impel me to observe the utmost brevity, which may be consistent with the subject. Your attention will therefore be taxed, that you may be able to follow up the illustrations, and proceed in the course of investigation which will probably lead you into that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Should you deem any of my facts or arguments untenable, or obscure, a hint from you will be followed by further illustration, or an acknowledgment of error.

First, then, we will look at your quotation from Gen. 6:3," My spirit shall not always strive with man." The argument you deduce from this, is, that what is termed a state of probation, may close within the present span of existence, and man be thus left to unmitigated and unending suffering, in a state of cease

less rebellion against God. To show that this is not the import of the passage, it might be sufficient to remark, that the connection is a refutation of the assumption. The subject being utterly distinct from that to which it is thought to apply, the argument it was supposed to furnish, is entirely nugatory. But perhaps you will ask for a rational understanding of the passage; I will suggest one. Please read the

verse thus; "My spirit shall not always strive against man." This reading, if correct, you must acknowledge, will materially alter the sense. That it is correct, is made to appear from the connexion. The reason given, why the strife will cease, is," for that he also is flesh;" and it is added, "yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." In accordance with this sense, are the words of the Psalmist, "He knoweth our frames; he remembereth that we are dust." But Isa. 57: 16, is directly to the point. "For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made." But besides this lucid illustration of the prophet, your own reading will furnish repeated instances in the scriptures, where the tein with is improperly used for against. I ask you now, seriously to reflect; and if you are satisfied that the connexion will not warrant the common use of the text-and if your view of its application militate against clear and explicit scripture testimony-admit that one stumbling block, at least, is removed.

Having summarily disposed of the first passage, let us now briefly examine the second, found 2 Cor. 6: 2, "Behold, Now is the accepted time; behold, Now is the day of salvation." That the apostle cited this as the sense of some former scripture, is evident from the first part of the verse. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee;" and then adds, as giving the