Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-03
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MIR. EDIFoB: q. s.. ...
Having understood that Mr.. r.
intended 10 deliver a course of lectures on The
subject of future endless punishment, conmenc.
ing ON sabbath last, at eleven o'clock, my Gu
riosity prompted me to attend his first, which
opened with sharp fire at universalism; but il
only proved random shot, as we will endeav-
or TO show, and we commence with Mr. RS
positive statement in regard TO the origin of uni
versalism. He urged as one great objection 10
the doctrine, that its origin was TOO modern
lie stated positively that this doctrine was new
er promulgated previous 10 l76S. - Here il be.
comes our duty TO undeceive the minds Of MANY
q his hearers occasion, IA reference Z,
the origin Of uuiversalisIh. Do not understand,
MIR. Editor, that we believe Mr.. X. practiced q
wiHul deception on his congregation, but we
think it the result Of not being well posted in
the ages of orthodoxy and ,iniversalism. BY
Orthodoxy" we mean Calvimstic congregation
alistn, for this claims TO be the orthodoxy of
New England. BY "universalism" we mean
the doctrine Of the final reconciliation of all
l'hhhS9 " NfOus fFiiSu vi lnGSG Two doctrines is
the oldest?--as amatter of church history
Calvinism, which is the orthodoxy of conereea.
tionalism is older than congregatlonalism itself.
John Calvin, HIMSELF was not congregational.
list that we know of. He was the father of that
system Of doctrines in the church known as
Calvinism. OF course Calvinism is not older
than Calvin himself. Well, when was Calvin
ism bornp When did John Calvin construct
that theology Answer--not until after the
christian church had been in existence over ff-
teen hundred years. From the time Of the A
postles, more than fifteen centuries had rolled
away before modern orthodoxy was born. This
was in the year l536-so that Calxipism itself,
even at the present day, is butadittle over 800
years old And then there's one fact in rela-
ton TO i, that is worthy Of notice in passing
that in the very place where it was born Calvin
ism has long since been dead and defunct. Call
win lived and died in Geneva, but there is no
Calvinism now in that theatre of his power and
triumph. Congregationalism arose in England
in about 1915. 1t was many years, however,
before it arrested much attention or respect. II
adopted the Calvinstic faith, and hence became
orthodox. Orthodox Congregut ionalisln, there
fore, is but about 229 years old--not very
great age to boast of, one would think. AZ
least, it hardly becomes modern orthodox TO
taunt nniversalists or any other sect with not
having age enough for their doctrines TO entitle
them to the claims Of truth.
But how old is uniyersalisn?--as matter of
historical existence in the Christian church. Is
It younger, or older than Calyinism? Answer
-uniyersalsm was an undisputel doctrine in
the primitive Christian church for the first three
hundred yearS-longer than orthodoxy has existed
since its birth to the present day. Traces of
ihis doctrine (uniyersalism) are found in the
writings of the earliest Christian fathers. Glenn
ems Aiexandrinus believedit. He was personally
pupil of 81. John the Evangelist; received his
doctrines fromhis lips, and lived under the in
fuence of his teachings. He was universalist.
The celebrated Origen, who nourished in about
the year 230, the most honored and distinguish
ed Of all the early fathers, was universalist
and has left evidence of this in his writings,
still oxiant. Titus, Bishop of Boston, who
ilourished in 347, was miycrsalist. Gregory
was ouniversalist. He lived in $40. St. Je-
rome was a unversaiist. He wrote in $780,
John, Bishop of Jerusalem, also believed in uni
versal salvation. Indeed this doctrine was I'M
questioned in The church, for nearly Eve hun
dred years. AT length, after. heatllenism had
corrupted the church, and it began 90 lose its
primitAe cliaraeter, and descend into the d.ttk