The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-18

| training, by varied ministries, this great
world family for His own perfect ends, and
whose far-reaching plans shall at last issue
in the perfection and happiness of all; and
cheered and sustained by this inspiring truth,
we can abide under the shadow of the AL
mighty in perfect peace.-Reu. III. r. Nye, in
"Universalism."
That man is a child of GoD is the neces-
sary sequence of the doctrine of the Divine
Paternity. "Have we not all one FatherP'
| (Malachi ii. 10Y. zone ia your Father, even
He who is in heaven" Matthew xiii. 81.
Man is child of GoD by nature in his orig
inal constitution, having been made in His
image Genesis i. 27). He may become spec
tally and Enthusiastically child of GoD by
obedience and holiness. Gas many are led
by the Spirit of Con, these are the Sons of
COP" (Romans viii. 14). The children of
COP, we ought to live like children, and rem
der unto Him the love, gratitude and obedi-
ence of our hearts and lives. 1t is the duty
of children to love, serve and obey their pa
rents. We ought to learn to love and obey
| the will Tlawl of our Father in heaven, and
enjoy His divine favor. What is our duty is
also our interest. Supreme duties and in
terest are always identical. What we ought
| to do and be is always best for us. The duty,
interest and final destiny of mankind is to
become holy and consequently happy. Holt
ness and true happiness are i7,separdbly con-
nected. Universal salvation means univer-
| sal holiness, and universal holiness insures
the eternal blessedness of all mankind. Man
| as the child of GoD is an immortal spirit.
He is destined to live forever. His relation
to GoD, duty and interest are as eternally
| existent as his being. This brief life cannot,
in the nature of things, determine his final
destiny nor end his opportunity. GoD twill
have all men to be saved" forever. 1t will
forever remain the duty and interest of every
soul to become holy and happy. The will of
COP, in the final destiny of mankind, must
be accomplished.
JESUS CHRIST.
The restoration of all mankind to holiness
and happiness shall be accomplished through
the revelation of JESUS CHRIST. He, as the
Son of COP, revealed the Father to humanity
His children in the earth. As the son of
man, he revealed in humanity what it is to
become truly son of GOD. The revelation
of his truth and life is ''the light that ighteth
every man that oometh into the world" He
came forth from COP, lived and taught in the
earth-GoD dwelling in him perpetually,-
died and rose again from the dead, that he
might be Lord Master, Teacherl of both
those who live and those who have died. He
will draw all men unto himself (John xi. 32).
To "Come to JESUS is to accept bis truth,
live his life, and have communion with Him
and Con who dwells in him. He is Lord of
all souls, and must rule in all worlds till all
are brought to obedience and to experience
the Divine indwelling Il Corinthians XIV. 25-
2S).
UNIVERSAL SALVATION.
COP is in CHRIST reconciling the world of
mankind to Himself. When all souls shall
become reconciled to the will and providence
of COP, then will Gin be finished, transgres-
sion ended, and everlasting righteousness
brought in. Universal salvation implies the
redemption of ali mankind from the domin-
ion and love of sin unto the service and favor
of GoD-"the deliverance of the whole hu-
man creation from the bondage of corrup
ton into the glorious liberty of the children
of GoD." The triumph of good over all evil,
and the supremacy of COP and goodness in
the moral universe is involved in the distin-
gushing doctrine of our Church. Faith in
the glorious contamination has been pro-
fessed in all ages of the Church. Several of
the most eminent Christian Fathers, includ-
ing Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and
Eusebius, the father of church history, are
known to have professed and taught it. 1t
was taught in four of the six theological
schools in existence before the sixth century.
1t appears to have been the prevailing doc
trine of last things before the Dark Ages. 1t
has extensively and increasingly prevailed,
since the Reformation, in England, Ger
many and the United States, the most en-
lightened Christian nations. In the United
States it is represented by separatelysor-
ganized church, though that by no means
includes all who hold or profess it.
The UNIvERsALIsr CHURCH.
The first distinctive Uniyersalist church
was organized Jan. l, 1873, at Gloucester,
Mass, by John Murray, the father of Uni
versalism In America. The first Association
of Universalst societies was held, and Con-
vention organized at Oxford, Mass, Septem-
Der IA, 1885. In 1903, Profession of Belief
was adopted at Winchester, N. II. The Gen.
eral Convention was reorgsnized at Middle
town, Conn.,, in 1865, and received charter
as legal ecclesiastical body. At the great
centenary Convention of 1870, the Universal
list Church was organized as at present oper-
ated by a reorganization of all parishes and
conventions into one representative body
called The Universalist General Convention.
This comprises % State conventions, 800
parishes, $50 ministers, 38, 800 families, 3d.
200 church members, $50 Sunday
having 81, 800 members; and represents ST.
100000 in church property, 100000 of in
vested funds, II schools and colleges, with
g., Zoo, 900 worth of property, publishing
house issuing 6 periodicals and over 15O
books; besides many other agencies of de-
nominational activity. All who believe the
doctrine of universal salvation ought to be-
long to the Universalist Church, and help to
carry forward its great work of enlightening
the world and blessing mankind.
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