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believed, that through your mercy, they also may obtain mercy." And as has been before noticed, he says "All Israel shall be saved."

It surely would be very contrary to the prospects of the christian hope, to suppose that St. Paul, or any other Saint would spend an eternity in the maimed condition that he was in, in consequence of leaving his brethren in darkness and unbelief.

Many professed Christians in our times, and indeed many professed preachers of the gospel, feel or affect to feel great concern for fear the souls of their fellow creatures will be finally sentenced to everlasting tortures in the eternal world. This is a maimedness, which St. Paul has informed us nothing of. But those who now believe the truth as it is in Jesus and yield obedience to its requirements, enter into life maimed. They are called to part with dear connexions, which are near to them as the members of their bodies.

The false religion of anti-christ, like the doctrines of the Pharisees and the Sadducees of old, has so established itself by the power of tradition, is guarded and supported by so many means, which in the eyes of the world are honorable, that to call it in question, to presume to bring it into the light for examination excites great alarm among its friends. One who has been brought up and educated according to the orthodox creed, joined a church, and formed an extensive connexion in religious society, has kind and affectionate parents, brothers and sisters, who are respectable members of the same communion, by some means which heaven has appointed is called to reflect on some of the doctrines of the church, by way of query. Such questions as the following arise in the mind. How is it that a wise, kind, and merciful Creator has predestinated, from eternity, millions of human beings to endless and unspeakable torments? In his providence, he is universally kind; he openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing; why should he not be as universally kind in the economy of his spiritual grace? We read in the scriptures, that "God commended this love toward us, in that while we were

yet sinness, Christ died for us," We furthermore read that Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. Why should the scriptures speak in such terms if a few only of the hu man family are subjects of the divine favor? These thoughts and many others revolve in the mind of the supposed individual. The person thus exercised feels a strong desire to speak with some one on the subject; but fears arise that it may give offence! The matter is suffered to rest for the present; the person goes to the house of worship with a determination to learn something, if possible, that may assist in solving these queries. The minister prays; and in his prayer he fervently entreats the Father of mercies to send forth the light and power of the gospel even to the ends of the earth, that all may be brought to a saving knowledge of God. This prayer awakens the attention of our querist, who now says; why does my minister pray for all the world if he has no faith for the whole? The minister preaches; and his sermon is designed to prove the divine sovereignty in electing some to everlasting life, and predestinating others to endless destruction. This contradiction between the prayer and the sermon tries the mind exceedingly. The person goes home, finally feels such powerful exercises of mind, that a determination is formed to talk with others on the subject.

No sooner are these queries made known to the dearest connexions in life, than surprise is manifested; and the person asked whether he is disposed to call in question the mysterious doctrines of the gospel, doubt the creed, and pretend to be wiser than the minister? But all does not satisfy the mind, into which a few scattering beams of divine light have found their way. Says the supposed person, I will go for once and hear a preacher who holds up Jesus a universal Saviour. Yes, this I must do, and if I am despised for it I must bear it. It is accordingly so done, and God blesses the word to the satisfaction of the heavy ladened soul, and Jesus now appears Lord of all, Lord of the dead and the living; and the enraptured soul says, I have

seen and must testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. With the heart the person believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. What is next? The church disowns this member and casts it out; family connexions grow cold and alienated in their affections, and this lonely individual enters into life. maimed.

What a loss is here! Perhaps father, mother, brothers, sisters, are parted with. Yea, perhaps a husband or a wife, as the case may be.

Joys arise on the one hand, peace is found in believing, and a free universal gospel is life to the soul. On the other hand heaviness of heart, that those dear connexions, which are left in gloomy darkness, and are exercised with the awful terrors of everlasting misery, cannot now see and rejoice in this heavenly, glorious truth, that "God is the Saviour of all men."

But, my brethren and sisters, though many of you have entered into life maimed; though you have left fathers, mothers, companions, brethren and sisters, sons and daughters, you are satisfied that it is better to enter into life thus maimed, than to be cast into that ceaseless fire of erroneous creeds, and to be gnawed with that restless worm of continual fear.

There is likewise one consolation that more than repays all the losses you sustain; your faith and hope enter within the vail where Jesus entered, in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; " and ye are complete in him." When you contemplate the fulness of him who filleth all things, you perceive that God has purposed to "gather together in one all things in Christ." You know that the head of every man is Christ," and that not a bone of him shall be broken. You therefore anticipate the time, when you shall enter into immortality and eternal life, not maimed, but being complete in Christ the head of every man, all those dear connexions who oppose you here, will join you there. Those who could not commune with you here, will have no partial creeds there. All will be illuminated with the radiant sun of righteousness, tears

will there be wiped from off all faces, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there he any more pain. But he that sitteth upon the throne shall make all things new according to the pattern shown unto the disciples, in the mount where Jesus was transfigured.

That the hearer may have a clear and distinct understanding of the general subject to which we have attended, a comparison should be carefully made between the state of the disciples of Jesus, in this present world, where, though spiritual life, and the fruits of the spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith, are enjoyed, yet there are many sufferings; such as persecutions for the sake of the word, sorrows of heart for those who oppose the truth, and all the maimedness signified in our text, and of which mention has been made, with that perfect, glorious, and immortal state, of which Jesus spake when treating on the subject of the resurrection, and of which St. Paul, speaks in his 1st epistle to the Corinthians.

The opposer will now say, if you are right, why is it not just as well for us to remain ignorant of these truths as to know them? What difference can it make?

In reply, we will ask the following questions :-Suppose some deceived person should be led to believe, that the coming spring will be so widely different from the vernal seasons which are past, that in room of a warmer sun than winter affords, and in room of the usual zephyrs and flowers of May, the sun will run still lower than in winter, and the winds be more chilling, the frost more intense, and not a flower will be seen, nor a bird heard to sing; further, suppose this gloomy soul should persuade thousands to believe his errors, and should spread a gloom over half the inhabitants of our country, how would those, who remained confident in the goodness and faithfulness of God, feel for their deceived friends? Would they not endeavor to persuade them away from their fears? And would it be just as well for those who should be thus deceived,

to remain in their error, as to live by faith, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, which is hastening on as fast as time moves?

Would it not be very proper to say to the people, who in consequence of this gloomy unbelief, were making no preparations to improve the lovely season of seed time, repent of your errors, see to your concerns, be ready with all your means, for the spring is at hand, the days grow longer, it will be but a short time before the flowers shall appear and the time of the singing of birds will come?

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