Page images
PDF
EPUB

19. The grave [hell] is to fall into oblivion.-(Hosea xiii. 14.) 20. Death, the last enemy, is to be destroyed-(1 Cor. xv. 26)---and swallowed up in victory.-(Isa. xxv. 8.) 21. God will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.-(1 Tim. ii. 4.) 22. He hath concluded all in unbelief, that he might have MECRY upon ALL!—(Rom. xi. 32.) 23. He shall finally become ALL in the hearts of ALL his creatures.-(1 Cor. xv. 28) 24. Every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, will at length be heard saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.-(Rev. v. 13.)

I insist here is a mass of testimony which no man who believes in the Bible, is at liberty to resist, or can resist with the approbation of his reason and conscience. It totally annihilates the doctrine of endless punishment, and clearly establishes the truth of the final salvation of the world. These passages are not figurative, parabolical, or in any way indefinite in their meaning, as those are which my friend has cited in proof of the ceaseless duration of punishment; but they are literal, plain, positive and unquestioned in their meaning. If they do not unequivocally assert the truth of Universal Salvation, then human language cannot express that glorious sentiment. We have seen this doctrine bears all those distinctive features which ever characterize God's truth, and commend it to the reception of those of sound minds and honest hearts. It is a doctrine which is Scriptural, Reasonable and Desirable. That it is Scriptural, to an unprecedented degree, we have just shown. And what can be more Reasonable than the fact that a Father, who is infinitely holy, good and merciful-whose spirit is Love-who is omnipotent in power, and abundantly able to do whatever he pleases, both in heaven and earth -should at last, bring all his offspring to repentance, holiness and happiness? This is so reasonable, that my opponent has felt himself compelled to urge men to distrust their reason on this subject. That this doctrine accords with the purest desire, will not be doubted. My friend desires its truth--all good men desire it. Surely nothing can be more desirable to the sincere Christian, who loves his God and his fellow man-nothing can more highly gratify the purest and holiest emotions of his soul, than this most blessed assurance of a reign of Universal Holiness, Love, and Peace!

Coming to us with all this weight of evidence, and under these impressive sanctions, it becomes not only our Privilege, but our Duty, to receive and rejoice in the doctrine of the salvation of all mankind. Equally is it our duty to abandon forever, the infinite libel on God's character, contained in the fiction of endless wretchedness! Let none believe they incur any danger, or can expose themselves to peril of any description, by embracing a sentiment

so honorable to God, so worthy of Christ, as that embraced in the final salvation of a lapsed world! Let none entertain views of God so low and wicked, as to imagine he will visit evil upon any being for believing the plain declarations of his word, and attributing to him the best and holiest work that an Infinite Deity can accomplish! No where can intelligent creatures be in a position so safe, as to plant themselves on the Truth! That truth we have found. Behold and accept it, O man!

Philanthropists, would you have an assurance of the final good of all our race? Christians, would you enjoy a hope, that at last, all enmity, bitterness and strife, shall cease; that disobedience, evil and sin, shall be destroyed, and holiness and happiness fill the entire Universe? Parents, children, relatives, friends, do you yearn for a confident faith that you shall hereafter meet all the the objects of your hearts' dearest affections? Here alone, in the belief of Universal Salvation, can such assurances, such hopes, such a faith be found! Embrace it as the beacon-light God hath kindly sent, to lead you to peace and joy! None will say I exhort you to adopt a doctrine of a painful or repulsive nature. The very thought of the final repentance and salvation of all intelligent beings, fills the soul of the good man, the humble christian, with the highest rapture. All christians, all pious followers of Christ, all holy and pure men, love this doctrine. This entire audience love it. You, Gentlemen Moderators, love it. My brother opposite, although contending against it, with all his might, and strength, and soul, still LOVES it with all his Might, and Strength, and Soul! He has not denied this love, but will freely acknowledge it. And he will yet BELIEVE the doctrine he now so ardently loves!! Yes, my brother, I anticipate with the highest satisfaction, meeting you in a world where there will be the most perfect unanimity of feeling and opinion between us! No longer will you raise your hand, or lift up your voice, in opposition to God's glorious purpose of reconciling the world to himself. In the midst of the countless throngs of the great race of man, all made holy and happy, you will see, and feel, and rejoice, in the truth of that doctrine, against which you now exert those talents which God gave you for a better purpose. You will acknowledge your fault in combatting a truth so evident and so glorious. That will be a happy day! Hand in hand we will walk the streets of the New Jerusalem, recounting the scenes of past existence, beholding the displays of infinite wisdom, goodness and power, which will blaze around wherever we direct our admiring eyes, and rejoicing at the movements of that wonderworking Providence, which from imperfection, darkness and sin, will have educed universal perfection, light, and holiness!!

In conclusion, I beg the Moderators to receive the expression of my sincere thanks, for the dignified, patient and impartial manner in which they have presided, during this protracted dis

cussion. I pray God to reward them for this labor of love, and to bless them with all spiritual and temporal good, and at last to grant them an abundant entrance into his endless kingdom of grace and peace.

In taking leave of my brother opposite, I tender to him my regard and friendship. If in the ardour of debate, and the excitement of the moment, I have uttered anything that has wounded his feelings, or the feelings of any who sympathize with the sentiments he has advocated, I can but express my sincere regret, and beg them to attribute it to an error of the head and not of the heart. If I know myself, my feelings towards those who differ from me, are characterized by friendship and good will. Although my opponent has said many things ungenerous and ungentlemanly during this debate, yet I feel I ought to charge these things more to his false, blinding, and pernicious doctrines, than to any confirmed depravity in his principles of action. I design to pay him the highest compliment, when I assure him I have a much greater estimation of the qualities of his heart, than of his head! His affections are right-his thecry is wrong. The best prayer I can utter in his behalf is, that he may speedily be converted to the WHOLE truth, as it is in Christ Jesus, and become highly instrumental in proclaiming far and wide, that heaven-born Gospel ofUniversal Grace and Salvation, which he has on this occasion, labored so assiduously to overthrow. May Heaven's choicest blessings rest upon him and his, through life, and through eternity!

To the audience I return thanks for the respectful attention they have given during this debate. I exhort them to weigh candidly, whatever they have heard from either party. Let them imitate the conduct of the Bereans, of whom St. Paul speaks, who "were more noble than the people of Thessalonica, in that they received the word in all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so." May we all be led to love God supremely, and our neighbors as ourselves-to discharge faithfully, our every duty in all the relationships of life! May we enjoy his light and truth while we live, and when we die, may we hear his voice whispering peace and trust to our departing souls, saying, Fear no evil; I am with thee; my rod and my staff shall comfort thee." Amen and Amen!-[Time expired.

[ocr errors]

ERRATA.

As several of the forms were allowed to go to press without aeeurate revision, the reader is requested to make the following corrections.

On the 3d page, the name of the second Moderator, should be G. CHAMBERS, Esq., McLean.

Page 5, 21st line from top, for "rhetoric," read experience. Page 9, 11th line from top, for "oppressive," read oppressedSame page, 25th line from top, for "animosity," read amnesty. Page 10, about half way down, substitute Is for "It."

Page 15, at the beginning of Mr. Holmes' first speech, for "and it is often what I have expressed," read it is what I have often expressed. A little farther down, leave out the word “and,” and punctuate with a dash after the word "question."

Page 16, top, for " very few here," read few in attendance.— 15th line, same page, introduce the before propitiation. Two lines below, introduce the word so before important, that it may read, as so important.

Page 20, top line, for " on," read in, and for "for," read from.
Page 33, 4th line from top, for "Hence," read Here.

Page 39, Mr. Holmes' 4th speech, first line, for "worthy," read wordy.

Page 41, 13th line, for "retribation,” read retribution.
Page 42, 2d line from bottom, for "Thence," read Hence.

In the running title at top of each page in discussion on the first
question, for "Atonement," substitute Forgiveness of Punishment.
Page 522, 5th line from top, for "apolea," read apoleo.
Page 525, middle of page, for "sure," read seen.

Page 528, 18th line, for "Suavitu in modo," read Suaviter. Page 558, 7th line from bottom, for "dokisnazo," read dokimazo. Page 621, 11th line from bottom, for "melldo," read mello. The same correction should be made in the bottom line.

Page 694, 16th line from bottom, for "apoles," read apoleo. There are some other slight inaccuracies, which the good sense of the reader will enable him to correct.

« PreviousContinue »