Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-03-04

his atonement was an infinite one; then
it is as easy for it to be efficacious for
millions Of beings in millions OF worlds,
as for one individual and ii i, was short
OF infinite, it would not do for one.
Our Savior, in the bible, is fgurative-
ly called "the Sun OF Righteousness;
and, in my opinion, it would be less alb
surd TO suppose the sun was made Tor
the exclusive benefit OF A. b. and Z. and
a few others, Z . suppose the atone
ment of Christ en,y sufficient Tor the
sins of fen Of the inhabitants OF this
earth, TO the exclusion of all others
The natural sun gives light and heat, not
only to all the inhabitants OF this earth,
but also to the planets: and it the SINH
lie be good one, the influences OF the
&" Sun of Righteousness" will be not less
extended.
But shall rely principally on scrip
ture to prove my proposition.
Although the bible was not given to
tell US the manner and mode of the ex-
lstence of other beings, nor even to gra-
tify our curiosity enough TO inform us
whether there be other beings or not,
Except angels and deyils,) yet think
VIC may find the subject glanced at. 1t
it were a subject in which our happiness
was involved, no doubt it would have
been explicitly stated: yet as it is nor
necessary to our happiness, us no, be-
ing explicitly stated does not prove it
untrue. 1t was true that the Gentiles
as we'll as the Jews should be shar-
ers in salvation; yet so few intima-
tions were given Of it in the Old Tesla
ment, and SO different was it from the
whole economy of The Mosaic dispense
ton, that the Jews had no idea of such a
thing and even the Apostles were SO
imbued with the prejudices Of their coun-
tr, men, that they called Peter TO account
for preaching TO the Gentlles and eating
with them. We, who have The benefit
oil St. PauFs writings, who has made
this matter plain and perspicuous, can
see that various passages in the Old
Testament had allusion 10 it; and that
some plainly predicted it. Now, as ii is
Of less importance that sue should know
that other beings besides the human ia
mily may be saved through the Media
tor, than it was that the Jews should
know that other nations might be sharers
in this salvation; we may reasonably
suppose that there will be less intima-
ions of this, in the New Testament,
even if 1t be a facD than there was OF
The other in the Old Yet if we look
with this viez, think we may find some
which have reference 10 this subject,
perhaps not directly, but indirectly, and
by implication.
The Scriptures inform US, that /" there
is none other name given under heaven
among men whereby we must be saved
but the name of Jesus; neither is there
salvation in any other" Acts Nv. IL.
Tbs last assertion is indefinite; it
cannot be confined to this earth but
must prove that no sinner, be he where
he may, can be saved but in the name
OF Jesus; for there is DO salvation in
any other" Therefore my proposition
is proved, negatiuely: that is, that, il
sinners, they can have no other Saviour.
But let US see what the scriptures say
on the subject Positively:
Eph. i. 9, 10. Having made known unto us
the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself
That in the dispensatlon of the fullness OF
times he might gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
which are on earth.
Heaven in scripture frequently means
the stars. "In the beginning God ere
ated the heaven and the EARTH" "Thus
the heapens and the earth were finished,
and all the host OF thcm. II heaven IN
the above text has this meaning, then
the text proves my proposition. And,
that it does not mean the heaven that is
the abode of the angels, | think is evil
dent Tor as the inhabitants oil that place
never went astray, they needed moi such
a shepherd to gather them.
Colossians i. 10, 20. For it pleased the Fa-
Their that in him should all fulness dwell; and
having made peace through the blood of his
cross, by him to reconcile all things unto him.
self; by him, whether they be things on earth,
or things in hearen.
Heaven here cannot mean the abode of
angels, Tor as they never sinned, were
never hostile, they needed no reconeilla-
ton. Then what else can 1t mean but
the visible heaven, or stars.
Philippians ii. Gil. Wherefore God hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name: That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth and that every tongue should con-
tess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.