as one speaks of that home of the spirit, and the company that dwell therein.

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Moreover, it is one of the peculiar characteristics of the ministry of Universalism that it comforts all who mourn. Formerly I was wont to marvel, and I have heard others do likewise, and ask why is it, that when one who has been connected with no religious society, and who perchance has led a sinful and dissolute life, is taken from us, one professing the faith of a world's redemption is almost always called to officiate at the funeral solemnities? It is simply because they, and I say it with no feelings of egotism, but with the firmest conviction of its truthfulness, because they, and they only, can obey the Gospel injunction, and comfort all that mourn.” (48)

UNIVERSALISM THE CONSOLER.

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If we

"Universalism is adapted to man's wants as the creature of sorrow. We are all mourners. Our friends sleep beneath the clods of the valley, and from their quiet restingplaces no voice of assurance and of hope can come. turn to all the forms that men devise,' we are pained with the thought of the emptiness and poverty that everywhere mock our groans. They have no sympathy for us. They so 'pervert the right ways of the Lord' as to make some mad and others melancholy,' and under this blighting influence this fair world becomes a gloomy prison, and life itself a cruel bitter.'

"But Universalism is 'the one thing needful.' It is affirmed, I know, that it will not do to die by; yet no man ever died by it, that did not die in peace. Are they who abandon it for something else, or who are robbed of its

consolations for sectarian gain, qualified to judge of its capacity, where they have not tried it? Can we with impunity insult our reason by affirming that a belief in the triumph of good over evil is not calculated to comfort and sustain the dying? The truth is, here is our only hope.

"So men flee to Universalism, at least to its spirit, and lay hold upon the hope set before them. And think you, my brethren, that such a faith can die? Shall the last refuge of the afflicted be taken from them? Will you withhold the only restorative from the dying, and torture the struggling spirit as it sighs for peace? Nay, this faith will not forsake the world. There is a great work for it to do here, a work which no other faith can perform, and its power to comfort the mourner demands for it a home among the children of sorrow. It will remain there as the bright image of the Eternal; pleading with the sinners to be reconciled to God; guiding the wanderer to virtue and peace, and, standing by the portals of the tomb, it will unfold the mysteries of a bright future, and fill the soul with unutterable joy." (104)

"We need such consolations, for our afflictions and bereavements are great. Death and misfortune sweep in amidst our most precious treasures, and desolation is around us. We need something strong on which we can lean, and something that is certain. We find it only in the truth revealed in the paternal character of God. Any doctrine, or dream of doctrine, that shadows that truth, makes the consolations of God small to the bleeding heart. The wrung spirit doubts everything when it doubts that. The foundations of all hope are broken up, and fear - terrible and awful fear - is the whole of life. But when the great truth of the divine paternity is kept clearly before the

mind, we have hope for the world. We dare not separate one child from its Father's love.

"We dare not commit the irreverence of declaring that one soul is given over to sin, and will suffer eternally. No! death is not only a destroyer, but also a redeemer; not simply in itself, as an agency to dissolve the earthly tenement, but as it is ordained of God to bring the spirit into other and holier influences, by striking off the chains that bound it to materiality. If death here is awful, it shall be seen in eternity in its true light. It shall there be classed with those universal laws that are acknowledged to be good, and stamped with the perfections of the Deity. 'Are the consolations of God small with thee?”” (20) ~

UNIVERSALISM IN SICKNESS.

"What unspeakable consolations Universalism affords in sickness! How far superior to anything that can be derived from all other faiths in the world! And the reason is obvious. Ours is a faith of universal application. It embraces all men. It satisfies all good desires; it supplies all wants, and fills the whole mind with peace; it leaves no room for doubt or distrust; it banishes fear and begets confidence; it melts the obdurate heart in penitence, and pours into it forgiving love; it brings Christ to the bosom ; unfolds our destiny in his glorified state, and makes known the will and purpose of our Father. It enfolds us, with all intelligences, in the arms of infinite love; and bids us move onward and upward in the ways of wisdom' and goodness, during endless ages of bliss.

"What more could we, ask? Nay, how far short of the reality are our best conceptions of the divine economy! It

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is not surprising, then, that Universalists should cling to their faith at all times and under all circumstances; that they should rejoice in its strength and beauty when in health and prosperity, and gather consolation and support from it in sickness and adversity. And could those of an opposite faith those whose minds are filled with doubts and fears and awful forebodings of ill for themselves or their fellow-beings - but know what are the reasons of the hope within us,' they would cease to wonder at the tenacity with which we hold to the doctrine that God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.' Could they but experience the solace of our faith under trials, and feel the peaceful influences it sheds around the death-bed, they would eagerly embrace it, exclaiming, 'The half has not been told us.' This they cannot do till more fully enlightened, and brought to greater visions of salvation. This is the work of the Gospel of Christ. As servants of our Lord, we may labor to bring men from darkness to light, from bondage to liberty. And, perhaps, no more effectual means can be brought into requisition for this purpose than the laying before men the actual experience of Universalists." (105)

"Universalism is a doctrine which sustains the soul in sickness. In our lucid moments, during our late confinement, we had abundant opportunity to reflect upon the nature and tendency of the doctrine we had preached. It appeared to the soul a glorious doctrine. Nothing can be so rich in sickness and death as a strong faith in the doctrine of Universalism. The fact which predominated in our mind was, that it is God's doctrine, the doctrine which went forth out of his mouth in olden time, the doctrine which is revealed in the Bible. It is clearly revealed

in that blessed book; and there is not a passage of that book, not even a threatening of punishment, which, when it is properly understood, does not fully, and in every respect, harmonize with Universalism. We repeat it, 'The Lord will NOT cast off forever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.' Lam. iii. 31-33. Glory to God for this assurance! This, then, is a certain fact, that Universalism is the doctrine of God's word. We could rejoice, while lying upon our sick-bed, that we had defended this doctrine. It seemed to us, at one time, that an angel spoke to us, and said, 'You have done well; you have done as much as one man could do in the same length of time; you have preached much in favor of the truth; you have defended it in the "Trumpet;" well done, good and faithful servant!' This was one of the happy illusions that came over the mind, while it was weakened by disease. Now that we are getting strong again, we shall return to our work. We have no new doctrine to propose. Our faith in Universalism is strong as ever. We say, with great fulness of feeling, 'Give us Universalism in health; Universalism in sickness; Universalism in life; and Universalism in death.'" (3)

IN SICKNESS AND DEATH.

"I remark, once more, that Universalism is more excellent than any other religion in sickness and death. What is it that makes sickness tolerable; that sickness especially which we are conscious will soon terminate our career through this sublunary state? And when death approaches to freeze the life-currents in our veins, to paralyze our