Year: 1864

LETTER I.
DEAR SR The questions we propose to dis


cuss, are among the most important which can


ever engage the attention of the human mind.


The interests and destines of men, the failure,


or success of the mission of Christ, and the hon


or benevolencc and justice of God are all involv-


ed in these points. And you will readily agree


with me, that in discussion of these grave and


momentus themes--it should be our constant


aim to elicit truth, and to impress truth upon the


minds and hearts of such persons as may peruse


the correspondence between us. 1t is my earn


est wish that our discussion may be conducted


in q spirit honorable to both parties, and in q


manner every way calculated to do good
| Two propositions are open in this discussion
two only,


Wenow enter upon the first. And the ques-


ton is---what?


| 1t is not whether God will punish, and adc-


quately punish every sin. For Universalism af-
firms and insists that without respect of persons


God "will render unto every man according to
| his deeds"


1t is not whether the punishment of sin is lin
| tied to this world, or extends into the coming


life


1t is not whether tho salvation is conditional,


depending on the will, or agency of men, as


certainly as upon the will or agency of God.


The question looks forward to the ultimate


results of the divine government and the final


spiritual condition of mankind. Will salvation
be universal viii God work, in the hearts of
bis creatures, until sin is destroyed and the
whole race of man, is perfected in holiness and


love?


The appeal is to the Bible. Univelsalsts af-
firm the authority and inspiration of the Scrip,
lures.


Our belief in the final an ,ihiation of evil,
and the holiness and happiness of all souls is
not matter OF infenence or n philosophical spec
ulation, or an enrapturing hope. Our faith is
built upon the revealed character and promises
of God. To our mind, the Bible distinctly an
nounces the utter destruction of sin, the univer-
sal destruction of sin, the universal and glorious
triumph Of Christ, and the final perfection and
blessedness of all men. And surely no man
upon earth, or angel in heaven can conceive of
a consumation more sublime, or glorious than
this. All men baptized into the spirit of Christ
must fervently pray for that result, and behold
ing now, in the vision of faith, the work com
plete and perfect believers can "rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory"


Salvation, negatively, is deliverance from evil.
Positively, the spiritual renovation of man, and
the complete ascendency of love and holiness in
the soul. Universal Salvation, thus, implies
universal repentance and holiness. And, in
defending my propositions, am to prove from
the Bible, that all men will finally be brought
into state of complete reconciliation to the law
and the love of God.


l. In the moral uorld all things are manifest.
ly tending to some ,fnal result. Evil exists, and
fills the heart with sadness and tears. Men have
seeded from God, and are all involved in dis
loyalty and sin But God has undertaken to
put the rebellion down.


He has sent forth his Amounted Son, clothed
with power, to finish sin and subdue all
things unto himself. Now there isl conflict in
the spiritual realm, good and evil, truth and er,
ror, holiness and sin; Christ and Satan are
for the suhiugation of the world. On
which side will victory finally turn


Is the battle the Lords Will God conquer
Has He the ability to finish the work upon which
he has entered ? Or will Cod fail, and finally
divide with the devil, the ownership and gov
ernment of our race


How will this contest end? Different theories
prevail as to the ultimate result.


(a) 1t is said the contest will go on forever
The next world will vary but little from this
There good men may become evil, and evil men
become good. Sin and Righteousness as oppo-
sing forces, will always exist. Logically, the
position implies that good and evil are cocks
.ent and co-equal implies an eternal devil as
we'll as an eternal God.


(b) 1t is held that God will annihlate wick
ID men, as well as sin, and that Righteousness
md righteous men only will be immortal And
many earnest and thoughtful men are accept
ng this view as some reliof from the terrible
dea of the absolute eternity of fire and hell.


(c) 1t is believed that God will put the rebel
ion down by omnipotent force. He will com.
pei the wicked to acknowledge his authority
md power, while their hearts are full Of hatred
md sin, and then eonfne them. by an irrevo.
able decree, in the great prison home Of hell
orevcr. And thus the conflict will be ct an