Hence the gospel announces "whosoever will, let him come and partake of the waters of life freely." But that Christ hath come to save" all men unconditionally, is, in our view of the subject, palpably contrary to the scriptures. Some we are told, (2 Peter ii. 1.) would "bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." So far was the inspired writer from supposing that Christ having bought them' world shield them from destruction' while they should reject him and his salvation.

The whole merit of this question appears to us to turn upon this point, is the salvation which Christ has provided, for those who have passed the line of accountability, conditional, or is it not? Here we join issue with our op ponents, and appeal to the law and to the testimony. To this infallible standard of truth we invite them to bring this question for a fi al decision.

This writer finally attempts to support his theory by scripture. We shall now briefly enquire into the meaning of the passages which he has brought forward and see whether they afford him any support.

"The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, Isa. xl. 5." This passage is a prediction of the glorious display of the divine perfections in the person and offices of Christ, and the success of the gospel among the gentiles. But it no more implies that all men will finally be saved than the words of Peter (Ac. ii. 16, 17.) "I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh" proves that all men, were actually saved on the day of pentecost, when he represents this prophecy as being ful❤ filled.

of the way, but their own personal unholiness; and when all foreign objections are removed, God places their salvation or destruction upon their own temper and choice. Before the provision of a Saviour, there was a necessary opposition between the best good of the universe and the forgiveness of any sinner. The wisdom of God in the gospel hath provided such means as reconcile the forgiveness of every penitent, with the best good of his kingdom and the glory of his own name; and no eause but the sinner's own perverse heart can frustrate the application." (Strong's strictures upon Dr. Huntington's Book entitled Calvinism Improved-See Eternal Misery reconciled with the infinite benevolence of God. P. P. 224 225.)

Again, he produces," All flesh shall come to worship before me, Isa. Ixvi, 23.' This must be considered as an interesting prediction of the general return of the heathen nations from idolatry to the worship of the true God: but that it does not prove universal salvation is evident from the next verse, Aud they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhoring unto all flesh." Our Lord refers to this passage (Mark ix. 43. 48.) and three times in succession applies the words, "where their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched," to the punishment of hell." From the whole it appears that at the time of the fulfilment of the words of the prophet, upon which the universalists so much rely, some will not be saved: unless indeed, they can be saved and "be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched," at one and the same time!

Again he quotes, "All flesh shall see the salvation of God, Luke iii. 6. These words are a quotation of Isa, xl. 5. and the same explanation which we have given that passage should be given this.

He finally gives us two passages from the psalms as follow: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord," Ps. xxii, 27. “All nations whom thou hast made shall come & worship before thee, O Lord, Ps. 86, 9." Upon these passages we observe as upon the former, that they have already in some degree had their accomplishment in the calling of the gentiles. And upon the whole of them we may remark that they shall more eminently be fulfilled in the general conversion of the nations, which is yet to take place.

But the general terms All flesh-All nations" &c. are not to be taken in an absolute sense, for every particular person of all the nations of the earth. Such phrases are often to be taken in a limited sense in the scriptures.Thus (Luke ii, 1.)" there went out a decree that all the world should be taxed," means the Roman empire. And in (Mat. iii. 5, 6.) Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about," means great multitudes of all classes, And the pharisees said the world is gone after him,” (John xii. 19.) but they could only mean a great multitude. These universal terms, we see are often so limit D

ed by their connections, (and this is often the case with those passages on which the universalists principally rely,) that to take them strictly would lead to the most gla ring absurdities, and make the scriptures contradict themselves!

We have passed through the article which we took upon us to review, and are not conscious to have done the writer the least injustice. We have endeavored to bring to light the fallacy of his reasoning, and his erroneous applications of scripture. And what we have said, if it is not sufficient to cause doubts, with respect to the truth of the theory here opposed, in the minds of those who are open to conviction, will at least suggest the necessity of a thorough examination of the subject. We are aware that this article contains but a small part of what is alleged in support of the doctrine of Universal salvation. But it appears to contain a fair specimen of the whole; and as much as could be urged in so small a compass. candid reader will now consent to follow us (and it is for his benefit that we write) we will in our next, give him a specimen of the scriptural arguments by which our views are supported. We do sincerely believe in the future punishment of the finally impenitent, and that, that punishment will be endless; and we will most freely give our reasons for this belief.

If the

No. IV.Direct Evidence in favor of Eternal Punishment,

We shall proceed as was proposed in our last to adduce proof in favor of the doctrine of the final misery of the wicked; and we allege in support of this doctrine.*

"1. All those passages of scripture which describe the future states of men in contrast.

Men of the world who have their portion in this life; I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness.-The

*In our arrangement we follow Mr. Fuller in his 5th letter to Mr. Vidler-we also retain most of his arguments, omiting such as do not appear to us entirely conclusive, and adding others which we consider important. (See Fuller's Works, Vol. 1, pp. 265, 375.)

bope of the righteous shall be gladness; but the expectations of the wicked shall perish.-The wicked is driven away in his wickedness; but the righteous hath hope in his death. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.-He will gather his wheat into the garner; and will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.-Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be who go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.-Not every one that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father who is in heaven.-Many shall come from the east and from the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.-. Gather ye first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.-The son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their father.--And gathered the good into vessels but cast the bad away. So shall it be in the end of the world; The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.--Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. But cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.-Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you for the son of man's sake, rejoice ye in that day, and leap

for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.But wo unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.--God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should pot perish, but have everlasting life.--All that are in their graves shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.--Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.-For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. That which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned: But beloved we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation. To them, who, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."*

"I consider these passages as designed to express the final states of men, and if they be, it is the same thing, as their being designed to express the doctrine of endless punishment; for if the descriptions here given of the portion of the wicked, denote their final state, there is no possibility of another state succeeding it," and if their final state be a miserable one, their misery must be endless! "That the above passages do express the final states of men, may appear from the following considerations.

1. The state of the righteous, (which is all along opposed to that of the wicked,) is allowed to be final; and if

*Ps. xvii. 14, 15. Prov. x, 28. xiv, 32. Dan. xii, 2. Mat. iii, 12. vii, 13, 14, 21. viii, 11, 12. xiii, 30, 40-43. 47-50 xxiv. 46-51. xxv, 23, 30, 34, 41, 46. Mark xvi. 16. Luke vi. 23, 24, John iii. 16. v. 29 Gal. vi, 7, 8. Heb. vi. 8, 9. Rom. ii. 6-10. 2. Cor. v. 10.