which bounds all the information we have of their darkness or their chains. Should we admit the latter part of the 25th chapter of Matthew as an account of the general judg ment, it is observable, it says nothing of the closing of the judgment at the time of the separate sentence of the righteous and the wicked, unless it be implied in the use of the ambiguous terms everlasting and eternal. Many able writers have abundantly shown that these terms do not represent duration definitely but indefinitely. They would, therefore, be far from proving an irrevocable sentence. One very important reason why I do not believe any sentence to condemnation irrevocable or endless is because I read of the destruction of all sin, and the justification of life upon all men. See Rom. v. 18 to the end. "Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord." Many scriptures might be produced, as most of my hearers are undoubtedly very sensible, to substantiate the doctrine of the passage already rehearsed in your hearing. These all go to prove the universal destruction of sin, universal reconciliation, and universal salvation, which must be the end of all death, pain, misery, and woe. ""The heathen are given unto Christ for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." Will he endlessly reject his own property? "All that the Father giveth me," he says, "shall come to me, and him that cometh he will in no wise cast out." Will there be - a judgment of condemnation after this? I find no such account, nor have I reason to believe it. I have now finished what I contemplated in the present discourse according to what the scriptures appear plainly to teach. This labor I submit to the candor and impartiality of my hearers, under the directing spirit of the Lord, hoping it will not be altogether in vain. 1 ATTEND, ye sons of men, give ear; The Lord has told you whom to fear, Not those who can the body kill, Where bounds the utmost of their skill; 2 But fear the Sovereign in whose hands 3 Slight not the threat'nings of his word, 4 Fear God with reverential awe, And well regard his righteous law; 3 Fear God, ye rash, ye fools be wise; Restrain your tongues, and guard your hands, Lest when before his judgment seat, Lo! see the light of heav'n extend ; 8 Tremble, ye sons of vengeance, now; Delivered June 26. ON THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, AND CHRIST'S PREACHING TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON. So God created man in his own image: in the image of God created he him. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? |