Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-02-08


more that il is probation for eternity.
further ask an instance where God ever COW
enanted with any man that be should hare
the length Of his life, be it ever SO short, TO
prepare for judgment.
Il will be admitted by all, it is presumed,
that men become the subjects of the govern
ment Of God as soon as capable Of under.
standing moral principles. And let that man
adduce scripture testimony for its support,
who holds the doctrine, that passing the
time OF death, affects the relation that men
stand in TO that government or 10 Color
that the principles Of that government tow
ard its subjects, change even in eternity
That God is not as just to forgive the peni-
tent and as sure 10 punish the obdurate, in
one age of the world or period Of time as
another, and beyond the grave as this side.
Instances Of probation, to the writer knouOn
to have been given to man, for these six
thousand years, are few and far between !;
but such in his recollection, as have not
escaped his eye or eluded his understands.
ing, be will now present to The reader for
critical canvassing; first offer in proof Of
the design and nature Of probation the
WORD. 'Igare her a space to repent
and she repented not.'- Rev. ii. 81.
Does this look like probation for eternity :?
Examine the connection in which il is found
%. My spirit shall cot always strive
with man, yet his days shall be 100 years.
Gen. vi: 3. That is, the time that the spiri,
OF God would strive with men on all The
face Of the whole earth, should be one hun
dred and twenty years. 1.-THE expiration
Of this time the ark was shut and the food
came.
Was not this a case of probation? But
was the present life, as such, a probation !?
II may be seen, even by the unlearned-(D
That this period did not commence nor end
with this life: for whilst some died within
the first year, hence escaped that punish
ment, others would not become subjects o.
probation till the last year. And infants
who knew not their Masters WILL would
not receive il as punishment, Of course to
them, dro1oning would be no more than
natural death. (2) That this probation
did not extend TO the end Of life with any
on whom the judgment came. For would
they not ascend the tops of houses, trees
and mountains, and hence live days and
days, after the ark was shut2
Is not this the first probation granted ?
Remains there record Of probation oil
greater length And is not this fac smile
Of all probation recorded in scripture2 An
swer, we who hold and teach the common
view.
81. Yet forty days and Ninereh shall
/ be orerthTopn.'-Jonahi iii: a.
In this case also, probation would have
ended before or at the commencement Of
that which would end in their overthrow
had Nineveh not re?enled. Hence il doe;
not prove true that, Whilst the lamp hold,
out TO burn The viest sinner may return
4th. No certain length Of time is named
by Amos; but is not probation implied
iv: II: Prepare TO meet thy God, o Israel.
Notice the verse preceding, hare over
thrown some OF you, as God overtbrev
Sodom and Gomorrah, and We were as FIRE
brands pIucked out of the burning, yet VI
have not returned unto me, saith the Lord
! Therefore, thus will do unto thee, o Is
rael, ii. e. as God did 10 Sodom and &c
morrah, and as he had already done I
some' ofIhem,) and because will do thi
unto ihee-Prepare to meet thy God,
Israeli See also verse OF ch. 81" See
the Lord and ye shall live, lest be brea
out like fire in the house Of Joseph and d,
your il aud there be none to quench it
Bethel
This space or probation, as may be seer
began in mid life, and, TO prepare FOL juds
:, ment before death.
5rh. Some forty years were finally give
TO Israel -as days to Nineveh-t TO prepa
for his overthrow. This call disclosed
John and confirmed by Christ, Repent y
2 for the kingdom Of heaven is at hand,' i
: Iroduced the most important probation ar
> era, ever made the subject Of history, sacr,
= or profane.
re No text OF fewer words, bespeaks Il
= space for repentance and the judgmen
le more fully, perhaps, than the Savior's wor
10 -Matf wi 27 g. For The Son If nm,
W shall come in the glory Of the Father wi
~ his angels, and then be shall reward eve
man according TO his works. But how 500
Va Hear his next words Verify | say IN
Or, you, there be some standing here viii
ad shall no; taste Of death I'LL tLey see the S