The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1846-07-09

LETTER on IsITERSILISH

DEAR BRoTHER: In compliance with
your request. viii now Offer some rea-
sons why | think The doctrine q Uniser-
sallsm an erTur but IL must not be ey-
peeled that in one letter can n0siee The
numerous windings Of lhe advocates ol
that system, or present their arguments
that may relnie them; consequently
shall moi have al lhe opportunity Of ex.
posing the weakness and sophisuy Of Uni-
yersalist arguments, that WAS afforded IN
the discussion 10 which you sllude, and
in which You think the = whole scheme
was demolished must here content
myself with giving few objections 10 The
system, that will strike Al The foundation,
and bear upon the entire subject. This
Is no difficult task, yet IL IS sull easier 10
answer the various arguments Of lie sup
porters, when presented by themselves.
and thus lop OF the branches one by onei
and then, with &" blow n the Fool," de.
siroy the fruiiless tree. Indeed. a liuIe
experience has taught them that coniFo.
versy is dangerous and, so far as am
acquainted. instead Of seeking discussion
rs formerly, they often shun il as dead.
ly Zoe. .a-e s. a~ - 3a $3.50 II
In proceeding with my objections to
Uniyersalism, | shall notice A
!. The term anireraai SalraiioR. This
is used by Universalists without the least
proprieiy. While they use the term very
freely, as expressive Of their dociiine, they
unequivocally deny al salvation from sin
or its consequences. They deny tina. asy
man is or can be saved from committing
sin, and teach that all men are and must he
sinners. They reject the idea that man
can be saved from past sins, or their con-
sequences. and teach that a man cannot,
by faith and repentance, escape the pun
ishment to which sin has exposed him.
They oppose the doctrine of salvation
in q future state, and contend that man
never was exposed to danger beyond the
present life. or to any thing from which
no needed To be saved. Hence, while
they boast so much Of their doctrine Of sal
walton, they deny its possibility in this
world, and all cause for il in the next. YET
il is common for uniyersalisls 10 talk Of
" everlasting salvation" oil being saved in
the q" world TO come" &c. without appear.
ing to realize the import OF their language.
The terms imply danger which they
wholly deny. They are used for effect,
but cover no such sentiment. They raih-
or deny all salvation, and teach tina. none
was ever needed. We might as well de-
sire to be saved from drowning on dry land,
or burning in cold water, as 10 desire 10 be
saved in the world to come, if there is no
possibility Of danger beyond the present
life.
2. Universalism, as has been candidly
admitted, presents nothing connected with
the resurrection as an inducemeni TO RICH
teousness. This is certainly fair repre-.
senlation; for if the blessings OF heaven are
10 DO equally received by all, regardless oil
character, they cannot be gained or lost by
any course we can pursue; hence cannot
excite hope or fear. or prompt single &C
ton. Then Universalism contains moth
ing beyond this life, that can lead To vlrtu
Gus action; and all its inducements III i
has any, are in this world, and no more
than iniidelity presents, or than can b'
found in the writings OF heather philoso
pliers, or the moral reasoning of inidels
According 10 Universalism, the Gospel, al
though it has opened brighter prospec
before man, has not presented the leas
thing to deter man from wickedness, or tC
encourage him to righteousness, not iound
in other systems; consequently ii can pos
sess no superior moral power.
3. The influence Of the doctrine is di
rectly opposite to that Of the Word ant
Spirit OF God. The gospel, as preached
by the Apostles, used to cause wicked
men TO fear and tremble; but Universalisn
auiels the fears of wicked men, and thl'
is the boast of its supporters. The Cos
pei causes men anxiously to inquire wha
they must do TO be saved; but Universal
ism teaches that such an inquiry is unne
ccssary, for it processes to assure them tina
they will be saved let them do as they
may; while on The other hand il directly
teaches that they do not need salvation
The Spirit of God was sent into the worl'
to comfort the children of God, and TO are
prove the world of sin, and Of righteous
ness, and of Judgment" but Universallsm
if its preachers correctly exhibit the sys
tenn, comforts no man more than the pro
fame swearer, the bloated drunkard, and tn
common gambler, and reproves men NOR
for devotion to God, and belief in "th'
Judgment" than for all the sin condemn
ed in the Bible.
4. The principle on which Universal
lists claim the blessing Of Everlasting life
is dishonest, II is true they do not CLAIM
it on the ground of their own merit, but &C
knowledge it as free gift; yet they d.
claim that wicked men are as much emit
tied to that gift as the righteous. Nov