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ON THE DOCTRINES OF

ATONEMENT,

UNIVERSAL SALVATION,

AND

ENDLESS PUNISHMENT.

HELD IN GENOA, CAYUGA CO., N. Y.,

From December 28th, 1847, to January 5th, 1848,

BETWEEN

REV. DAVID HOLMES, A. M.,

PRESIDING ELDER OF CAYUGA DISTRICT, ONEIDA CONFERENCE,

AND

REV. JOHN M. AUSTIN,

PASTOR OF THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY, AUBURN, AUTHOR OF "VOICE TO YOUTH," "VOICE TO MARRIED," ," "AUSTIN ON THE ATTRIBUTES."

REPORTED BY W. G. BISHOP, ESQ., OF ALBANY,

AND

REVISED BY THE PARTIES.

AUBURN, N. Y.:

PUBLISHED BY ALDEN & MARKHAM.

C. P. BRAGDON.

RY OLIPHANT, PRINTER, AUBURN.

84

2

BX

9946 •HY cop, 2

QUESTIONS DISCUSSED.

1. DOES GOSPEL SALVATION EMBRACE DELIVERANCE FROM JUST AND DESERVED PUNISHMENT?

2 IS THERE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR BELIEVING THAT ALL MEN WILL BE FINALLY HOLY AND HAPPY 1

3. IS THERE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR BELIEVING THAT ANY PART OF THE HUMAN FAMILY WILL SUFFER ENDLESS MISERY IN A FUTURE STATE?

The following gentlemen acted as Moderators:

WILLIAM B. WOODEN, Esq., Genoa,

G. CHAMBERLAIN, Esq., McLean.
Dr. WHITE, Lansing.

DISCUSSION.

FIRST QUESTION.

DOES GOSPEL SALVATION EMBRACE DELIVERANCE FROM JUST AND

DESERVED PUNISHMENT?

[MR. HOLMES' FIRST SPEECH.]

GENTLEMEN MODERATORS, and Respected Audience :-In opening the discussion to which I am now committed, my mind is affected by emotions somewhat conflicting. I trust, therefore, I shall not be deemed as departing from the rules of this discussion, or from the proprieties due the occasion, if at this point I indulge in a few remarks personal to myself. I am willing to allow that I have felt some little diffidence and hesitation at entering into this discussion; although, since I put my name to the paper, just read, I have never for one moment faltered. This diffidence and hesitation have arisen from a variety of considerations, some of which I will briefly mention. First, I make no claim to that peculiar talent, which I suppose to be best adapted to public discussions of this kind. To conduct such discussions, with interest and success, needs a mind characterized by elasticity and vivacity, with the power of ready comparison, quick apprehension, nice discrimination, and capable of giving free and easy expression to its thoughts, in a flowing and commanding style. I feel conscious that I do not possess all these qualifications to the extent a debater should, and that I enter upon this discussion under some disadvantages on this account. I wish to have it understood therefore, that I do not depend for success in this debate upon my power or rhetoric as a debater, or upon my eloquence; to neither of which do I make any considerable pretensions, but I do depend upon the soundnes of my cause, and the strength of my arguments. I enter to upon this discussion in violation of the sense of propriety of som of my best and most valued friends, whose judgment on any cas I am bound to respect, though I may not always follow. There i doubt in many intelligent minds, with respect to the utility of such discussions, and I confess that my own mind has been in doubt on the same point. And my opinion still is, that unless they can be properly conducted, they had better not be held at all. There are,

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