Lectures on universalism

Front matter

MiliiiiiiH^

OF THE

Theological Seminary,

Preface

The most successful method of overcoming error, is by the exhibition of truth. The student, that would be thoroughly furnished, and prepared to contend with all the Protean forms of false doctrine, must, it is true follow it 'per ambages, and understand all its hateful shapes. But, to attain the most important ends of popular instruction, the symmetrical form and luminous aspect of truth must be mainly exhibited. Error may be presented. But she should be seen only as a sly and ugly hag, peeping out from her lurking places, while Truth, the " daughter of the skies," should step boldly forth, and walk up and down before the eyes of the reader, displaying her golden robes, her lovely countenance, and all her winning attractions.

The following pages were, in great part, written about thirteen years since. They were first delivered

IV PREFACE.

to the Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester. Until their publication had been earnestly solicited by numerous friends, no such disposal of them had been anticipated. An edition of one thousand copies was very quickly exhausted, and a second edition of fifteen hundred was published in this city. The work has been out of print for several years. On revising it, the reflection very naturally arose, that the author is, even at a maturer age, responsible for leaving it in its then present condition, or for improving it. The preferred alternative was that of being responsible for the work, in a more complete form. In the revision, several of the Lectures have scarcely been changed at all, except by some slight improvements in the phraseology. The fifth Lecture has beeB recast, and a new shape has been given to the discussion, in order to meet, if possible, a feeling which extensively prevails in regard to the apparent inconsistency of eternal punishment -with the Divine justice. The sixth is entirely new, and is intended to accomplish the same end respecting the apparent inconsistency of eternal punishment with the Divine goodness.

If it bethought an objection to the book, as a system of Lectures on Universalism, that it has not entered

PREFACE. V

fully into the later view of Universalists, the reply is, our title may be ill advised, but the design with which the Lectures were written, has nevertheless been accomplished. It is believed, that men first become Universalists by means of the arguments and objections specified in this volume, and our object has been rather to deal with those minds, w^hich, as yet, only exhibit the premonitory symptoms. There is less encouragement to attempt anything, after the fatal collapse has palpably ensued.

A friend of Dr. Edwards, once said to him, when speaking of his work against Chauncy, " you have not only answered Dr. Chauncy, but all the Universalists that ever did write, or ever shall write." And thus it will be found. The work of Dr. Edwards is the great Thesaurus of instruction on the subject of future punishment. We gladly acknowledge our indebtedness to it for whatever is of most value in our second Lecture. We are also indebted to the general scope of that remarkable book, for the suggestion that the true method of encountering Universalism with the greatest success, is by building up a systematic and firm structure of truth, which shall stand as a barrier against Universalism in any and every form. There are forms of

VI PREFACE.

error mixed in with the writings of those who call themselves Universahsts, which are properly considered in treatises on Deism, and the grosser shapes of bald infidelity. Such views have been purposely left out of this course of Lectures for two reasons. They have been treated abundantly by writers on infidelity, and properly belong to that branch of Christian polemics. Then, again, since ' evil communications corrupt good manners,' it becomes a question w^hether the popular mind, is not more injured by the bare statement of views so shocking, than it is benefited by the most triumphant refutation of them. The best reason that I am able to give for offering this enlarged edition to the Christian public, is found in the frequent testimony of individuals, that they were saved from the maelstroom of Universalism by the perusal of a former edition.

That similar effects maybe multiplied, and that those disciples of Christ who may favor it with a perusal, may, by its means, find their faith confirmed in the great and solemn truths connected with a deliverance of the soul from eternal punishment, is the prayer of

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS,

LECTURE I.

DIRECT ARGUMENTS FROM THE SCRIPTURES.

Some portion of the human race will actually suffer

eternal punishment. 15

I. Argument founded upon the Promises of the Gospel. 18

II. Argument founded on those texts of Scripture which place in contrast the future destiny of the righteous and wicked. 2-5

III. Argument founded upon that class of citations from the Scriptures which represents men as in danger of eternal punishment. 28

IV. Argument founded upon a class of texts which represents the punishment of some men as remediless. . 31

Vlll CONTENTS.

LECTURE II.

EXAMINATION OF ARGUMENTS AGAINST ETERNAL PUNISH- MENT.

I. AllGU3IENTS FR03I THE JUSTICE OF GoD. . . 38

II. Arguments froji the goodness of God. . . .49

III. Arguments fro.m the atone3ient of Christ- . 51

IV. Alleged proofs from the sacred Scriptures. . 53

LECTURE III.

AN ARGUMENT FROM THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TOVv"AKDS THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED.

LECTURE IV.

ARGUMENT AGAINST UNR^ERSALISM DEDUCED FROM ITS MORAL INFLUENCE.

Universalism does not rnoDucE a religious life ; while the

SYSTEM OPPOSED TO IT DOES PRODUCE GENUINE PRACTICAL PIETY. 96

CONTENTS. IX

I. The system which contains the doctrine of eternal punishment, induces many persons to come out from the world, by an open and public profession of their faith in Christ ; but Universalism does not produce such results. 96

II. That system which contains the doctrine of punishment leads to a life of prayer, but Universalism does not. . 99

III. That system which contains the doctrine of eternal punishment leads men to active exertions to send the Gospel

to the destitute : but Universalism does not. , . 103

IV. That system which contains the doctrine of eternal punishment, often reclaims men from vicious habits and from a

life of sin ; but Universalism does not 106

v. That system wliich contains the doctrine of eternal punishment, never occasions distress to those who rely upon it in a dying hour ; but Universalism often leads to the most distressing apprehensions on a death-bed. . . . 110

LECTURE V.

ETERNAL PUNISHMENT NOT INCONSISTENT WITH DRIXF, JUSTICE.

The doctrine of eternal punishment has no apparent inconsistency WITH the principles OF Jl^STICE. 117

I. The analogies bet^veen our primary notions of justice

: CONTENTS.

and the idea of eternal punishment, go far to create the presumption that such a punishment implies nothing contrary to simple justice. . . : 118

II. There are good reasons for thinking that no other penalty to the Divine law could produce so much holiness and happiness in the universe as eternal punishment. . . 126

III. It is not unreasonable to suppose, that the guilt of sinners deserves eternal punishment, when we consider the nature ofsin 129

IV. The fact that sinners, when convinced of sin, feel that they deserve eternal punishment 132

LECTURE VI.

DIFFICULTY FROM THE DIVINE GOODNESS CONSIDERED. Under the government of God there is a general and

VAST preponderance OF GOOD OVER EVIL. 142

The remedy for sin greatly preponderates over the evil. . 143 The good influences introduced by the Gospel, greatly exceed those malign influences which tend to aggravate and perpetuate the power of sin 145

Happiness greatly preponderates over misery, under the Divine government . , 140

The number of the saved will greatly exceed the number o\ the lost. ^ . . 150

CONTENTS. XI

LECTURE VII.