National Republican., 1873-09-12

that moro than any other man, Mr.. Ballou
left his impress ON tho mind Of tho American
community.
In one particular most OF tho latest genera
tlon OF uniyersallsts regret the work Of Mr..
Ballou. In his day Il was the almost uni
versal belief that the souls destiny Is hxed at
death. The doctrine of probation, held by all
the orthodox sects, Ia based on the principle
that mans immortal destiny is determined at
the moment Of death-that the question is
then and there forever settled whether the
soul gocs to lts immortal veal or its immor-
tai doom. The idea Of q state OF discipline
after death can hardly be said to have oc-
Cured to anybody. Mr.. Ballou found no
such doctrine. He certainly did not origi-
nate II. The conception OF Il did not enter
his mind. Agreeing with everybody around
him that every souls destiny Ia fixed at
death, when he affirmed that every souls
destiny Is salvation, he, Of course, made that
salvation in every case begin at death. Ii
thus happened that Univcrsalism suffered
great odlum from the objection that II taught
the doctrine that even murdcrers would
swing from the gallows 10 glory True, II
would retort that orthodoxy hardly ever
failed to prepare the murderer for heaven,
and SO swing, him =" from the gallows tc
tglory.' But, from the first, many Univer.
sallsts have regretted that Mr.. Ballou did moi
think, Of the alternative Of disciplinary
| state after death. Had II occurred TO him
they are confident he would have seen III
reasonableness, and so have spared Uni
yersallsm the particular prejudice TO which
| II has been obnoxious.
But the rebound from Mr.. Bailous theory
naturally caused yet further development
or advance step In the Univorsalist doctrine
Al this date nearly all the clergy accep
the doctrine Of future state OF discipline
looking upon salvation, not a. thing pu
into the soul, but as character Into which 7
gradually grotcs. And this conviction Il
probably held by tho great majority OF tn,
younger laity. II Is now very generally
preached iu UnivsrsalIst pulpits.
In the brief space at command we canno
give the details Of the growth Of Universal
lat doctrine from the early ''rudlments." Go,
loves all souls, and therefore at last mus
bless all souls. But from that simple germ
has been developed system, the essential
Of which may be embraced in tho following
l. God is the Father Of all men; therefor
his government 10 Paternal, and must nnd IL
comparisons not In courts and jails, but Il
the homes and nurseries OF good fathers an
mothers.
.. Mans nature Is essentially good, hi
evil character being not Q total corruption
but rather partial pcrversion Of sha
8, The great evil from which nan need
dellyerance is not q place called hell but
condition Of sin; NOT from the vengeance @
God, but from its sin-bruised state; nor fror
punishment, but from sin.
4. Retribution Is no expression OF God
aversion to the sinner; but y, on the COT
trary, method Of his love. It's purpose In
cludes the sinners good. .r.
5. Sinners are saved by the grace Of God
not by punishment, (Which Is merely an inc
. dent and aid 10 the work Of graceD not b
what Christ has done for the sinner, but
what he does in and through the sinner.
Q. As the practical signiacance Of oil
We are 70 be good not In the hope OF rewar
1 or 10 fear Of punishmcnt, but for the sake
, goodness; we are to obey God not because I
what He will do 10 us II we disobey, but b.
cause In obedience 10 the great reward.