The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-07
Specta1 Contributors.
REV. NEIL DOUGLAS.-II.
THE EARLY PREACHER OF UNIVER'
SALISM IN GLASGOW.

BY REV. r. S. BOWIE, OF SCOTLAND.
Mr.. Douglass address to his people,
of which part was given in our last,
continued as follows: ''He, who is de-
termined to prove all things so far as
hehas opportunity, and to hold fast only
that which isgOCd, must lay his account
to be for time at least, opposed, mis-
represented and reproached. But let him
not therefore, be discouraged, for so per
secuted the scribes and Pharisees of old
the blessed Jesus, the greatest friend
to truth and to mankind that ever ap-
peared in the world. The doctrine of
the restitution, we are informed by the
Apostle Peter, had been spoken of by
the prophets since the world began and
we also know that it was believed and
taught by the early Christian Fathers
of whom 1 need only mention one
namely, Origen, and although during
what has been termed the dark ages
this glorious doctrine may have been
obscured, still there can be no reason
able doubt that the light still burned
in many bosoms.
In our own day it appears from the
writings of some of our most famous
authors that they saw some grounds in
Scripture to expect restoration of all
things, though some of them seem to
I, hO int N
millennium.
1.-THE late worthy and pious, Mr.. Cow
per, of the Inner Temple, whose poet
tical works are deservedly held in great
estimation, has the following lines in
his winter Walks at Noon E"
"Thus heavenward all things tend
For all were once perfect, :
And all must be restored
So God has greatly purposed, who would else
In his dishonored works himself endure
Dishonor, and be wronged without redress"
The late DR.. Blair, in his sermon on
the death of Christ has the following re-
marks among others of the same i'm
port, which plainly show that he re-
viewed the event as productive of con-
sequences which are not recognized by
the bulk of Christians:
'''Let us not imagine that our present
discourses unfold the whole influence
of the death of Christ. 1t is connected
with causes which we cannot penetrate;
it produces consequences too extern
sive for us to explore. Gods thoughts
are not as our thoughts and here, if
anywhere, we see through glass dark
ly.' That the doctrine of the restora-
tion has had many of the most piOus
and intelligent Christians in every age
for its friends and advocates there is rea-
son to believe. In looking over Mr.. Mid
dlet0n's Life of the early Teformer,
Wyckliff, who was called the English
Lollard, l find that very many Chris
tians in Germany at an early period,
held this doctrine among others, on
account of which they were accused by
the church of Rome, and probably
learned it from that great man, whose
tenets they had espoused. Dupin is
referred to for his authority, whose vera
city as writer has never been called
in question. His words are as follows:
"'The sect of the Lollards spread
throughout Germany about the year
1915. He acknowledged not the inter-
cession of the saints and believed that
the damned in hell and even the evil
angels should one day be saved"
These people had the honor to make
noble stand against the corruptions and
encroachments Of the papal power, for
which many of them suffered to the
death. In reading the lives of the piOus
reformers Douglas learned that many of
them had not the same contracted views
of the extent of the atOnement as many
of their modern brethren entertain.
That great and good man, George
Wishart, on the morning of his martyr
dom, partoOk of the Lords Supper with
the Captain of the Castle and some
friends-when dispensing it he exhorted
them to remember that Christ died for
them and that his blood was shed for
them. But how he could assure them
of this, if a strict Calvinist, he was at
loss to see because it was impossible
he could be certain that all in any com
pany, let them be many or few, are
elected from all eternity. He was also