love upholds, governs, and directs all things, redeeming all the souls he has created.” (20)

UNIVERSALISM THE TRUE FAITH.

"I have no desire to exchange Universalism for any other system of faith. Indeed, I know of no other doctrine that has so much evidence in its favor. There is no other

faith which we can pray for, no other view of man's ultimate destiny that can satisfy the deep yearnings of the benevolent soul.

“Everything in nature confirms us in the belief that good must finally triumph over evil. All God's works issue in love. If we look abroad upon the fair face of creation we see evidences everywhere of God's infinite goodness. The sun travelling in the greatness of his strength, dispensing light and heat upon all; the moon, shining in her silver brightness, and the stars which garnish the broad canopy of heaven, all speak to us in language too plain to be misunderstood, that they were made by a God of love.

"And if you will ascend some lofty mountain and cast your eyes over the diversified scenery that presents itself to your view, the hills that rise in grandeur, the vales that stretch in 'pensive quietness,' the venerable woods,' with their majestic oaks, and even the loneliest flower that blooms by the wayside, you will see displayed the goodness and wisdom of Him who made them all. And then when you look at MAN, the most sublime workmanship of the Deity; when you consider his powers of body and faculties of mind; when you reflect on what he has done and what he is capable of doing; when you take into view his repeated prayers and desires for ultimate harmony, his heartfelt

yearnings for the triumph of good, and his Gospel efforts to bring about so desirable a consummation, -you will endorse that isolated truth found in the old creed, that the 'chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.'

"If there be a hope more grand, beautiful, or sublime than this, it has never been read to me in history, sung to me in poetry, nor whispered by angels in my sweetest dreams! He who sincerely believes this doctrine can die as peacefully, as one who wraps the drapery of his couch around him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.'" (134)

6

PART VI.

UNITARIANISM AND UNIVERSALISM.

THE TWO DOCTRINES.

THE Compiler has thought that this work would not be complete unless some part of it was devoted to the subject now before the reader. The selections are made from a large amount of matter on hand, and that only, which, in his judgment, is the best adapted to these pages.

A man may be a Unitarian, and not a Universalist; or, a Universalist, and not a Unitarian. The Universalist denomination, however, is Unitarian in its belief of the Divine Unity. It has for more than fifty years taken this position, and maintained it with argument. The Unitarian denomination, however, has not taken the same decided stand in relation to the distinctive feature of Universalism. But the signs of the present time are encouraging, that they will be more definite hereafter, and that, keeping the unity of the spirit, they will come into the unity of the faith. (c)

"The difference between Universalists and Unitarians is chiefly one of taste; it is not, to any great extent, a difference in the matter of principles. We agree so far as we affirm principles; we differ somewhat in the developing of these principles into dogmatic form; we differ very much in taste, — in taste, that is, as regards the way of preaching

these principles.

And this matter of taste is a serious one It cannot be willed out of sight. It will always assert itself, all the more vehemently, too, if any attempt be made to suppress it. And it is for this reason that Unitarians as such, and Universalists as such, cannot unite. They may think they can do so, and make the trial; but experience will soon convince them that there is in this matter of taste an irremovable difficulty in the way of 'fusion.' "(30)

"There is a difference between Unitarianism and Universalism; and there is a difference in the mental peculiarities of men which fits them for the reception, some of the one system, some of the other. It may not be easy to define the difference either in doctrines or men; but it is a fact of almost every day's observation that persons not attracted by the one system, often are by the other, and vice versa. These differences, which determine the choice in the first place, are, for the most part, sufficient to perpetuate it, and to prevent any hearty amalgamation, even where mutual interests would seem. to dictate it. So, probably, the best that can be done is for each to work in its own way and under its own banners. If Unitarians chose to move in the matter of establishing public worship in a new place, let it be done under their proper denominational name, without concession to, or compromise with, Universalists. If Universalists are disposed to help, as they will in many instances, and as they should, let their help be accorded as to Unitarians and Unitarianism, without expectation of anything in their own behalf, beyond what is common to both." (28)

UNITARIAN OR UNIVERSALIST.

"Whenever an attempt is made to settle a Unitarian over a Universalist parish, or to get a parish to change its denominational relations, the assertion is made that the Unitarian and Universalist bodies are essentially the same; that they are one in doctrine, one in spirit, and one in purpose. This statement we contend is not true; and our position, we believe, the history and present tendencies of the two denominations will sustain.

"The central idea of Unitarianism refers to the method of God's existence; that of Universalism, to human destiny. One began its existence as a protest against the received opinions of the church in regard to God and the nature of Christ; the other, as a protest against the terrible doctrines of the church in regard to the penalties of sin, the nature of man, and the final destination of the race.

"In regard to the unity of God, and what logically follows, the Unitarian body has been united; upon all other points of doctrine there has been the greatest diversity of opinions. In regard to theories of human destiny, however, the theological utterances of this body have been marked more by their indefiniteness than their variety. Until within the last twenty-five years the great majority of Unitarian preachers have preached the doctrine of endless suffering, or have been altogether silent upon the subject. The doctrines of annihilation, endless suffering, restoration, and what Unitarians sometimes call 'the extreme form of Universalism,' have all found advocates in this body; and today, despite the advance to a more positive and better faith which the majority has made, the Unitarian church cannot