is any truth in the declaration of the apostle in these texts, the most important change which will ever be experienced by man will take place after death. Man, therefore, in the resurrection world, will be a very different being from what he is here. All reasoning, then, upon the subject of what man will be there from what he is here, is entirely out of the question. 23. He taught that out of God, as the great author, origin, source, and fountain, all things have proceeded; and that into him, as the great centre to which they are tending, shall all things return. Rom. 11: 36, "For of him (God), and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen." And who cannot respond, Amen? 24. Finally, he teaches the subjection of all intelligent beings to Christ; and, finally, their and Christ's subjection to God; that God may become the all and in all of his creatures. 1 Cor. 15: 24-28, “Then cometh the end, when he (Christ) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that did put all things under him, that God may be all in all." This testimony very plainly asserts the following facts. 1. All things, that is, all beings, are to be brought into subjection to Christ. This work is now going on. It is a progressive work, but will eventually be consummated. In Heb. 2: 8, 9, Paul says, "Thou (God) hast put all things in subjection under his (Christ's) feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.' 2. There is but one exception to this universal subjection, and that exception is God. 3. Christ is to put down all rule, and all authority and power. Of course, when this is accomplished, the devil will have no rule, nor authority, nor power. 4. Christ and all mankind are finally to become subject to the power, the authority and the government of God As we have shown that mankind are not only to become subject to God, but are to be reconciled to him, of course there will then be no rebels against God in the universe; either in will, wish, desire, or action; but the spirit of God, who is love, will pervade the hearts and minds of all his creatures, and he himself become all in all. Then God's will and purpose respecting the final destiny of his creatures will be accomplished. His promises will be fulfilled, his oath performed, and his counsel established. Christ will see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied; and the highest and holiest wishes and desires of the hearts of all God's rational creatures will be gratified. 8th. We argue the truth of Universalism from the negative testimony of the Bible. The Bible not only teaches the doctrine of universal salvation in positive terms, but it gives the lie direct to the opposite doctrine. 1. It teaches that the anger of God, so far from enduring endlessly, endures but for a moment. Ps. 30: 5, "For his anger endureth but a moment." Isa. 54: 8, "In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." 2. It expressly declares that God will not be always wroth, and that he will not retain his anger endlessly. Isa. 57: 16, “For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth." The reason assigned is, "For the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made." Ps. 103: 8, 9, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; he will not always chide, neither will he retain his anger forever." Mic. 7: 18, "He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy." Ps. 89: 30-32, "If his (David's) children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes; but my loving kindness will I not utterly take from them nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.” Lam. 3: 31-33, "For the Lord will not cast off forever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his tender mercies." 9th. We argue the truth of this doctrine from inferences, which are plainly deducible from several facts, which are explicitly stated in the BIBLE. We infer the truth of this doctrine, 1. From the fact that God is the Creator of all men. Acts 17: 26, 'He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Rev. 4: 11, "Thou (God) hast created all things." If God is the Creator of all men, he created them for wise and benevolent purposes. He has conferred on us an unasked existence, and he will see to it that that existence does not result in a curse. 66 2. God is the Father of all men. In Num. 16: 22 and Heb. 12: 9, he is called the "God and. Father of the spirits of all flesh." In Matt. 6:9, we are instructed to call him "our Father." In Mal. 2: 6, the prophet asks, Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us?" In Matt. 23: 9, our Father, which is in heaven." In Acts idolatrous heathen "the offspring of God." says, "There is one God and Father of all." never make the existence of his children a curse. If, therefore, God is the Father of all mankind, he will never make any portion of them miserable, any further than is for their ultimate good. Jesus says that, " one is 3. God is good, and his goodness is universal. Ps. 145: 9, "The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." Ps. 119: 68, "Thou art good, and doest good." If God is good to all now, he always will be; and, hence, he will do good to all now, and in all coming time. Consequently, he will never inflict any positive evil upon any. 4. God is wise. Ps. 104: 24, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works; in wisdom thou hast made them all." Rom. 16: 27, "To God only wise be glory." If God is wise, he can devise the best possible plans; but to devise a system of moral government, which would result in the endless sin, rebellion and misery, of the subjects of that government, would not be the best possible plan; therefore, God has devised no such plan. 5. God is holy. Lev. 19: 2, "For I the Lord your God am holy." Rev. 4: 8, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." If God is holy he must be opposed to evil any further than that evil can be made subservient to the production of good. But endless evil could result in no good; therefore, God will not permit endless evil to exist. 6. God is just. Isa. 45: 21, “A just God, and a Saviour." If God is just, he will punish and reward all moral agents according to their works. But endless punishment would not be according te the works of men. Therefore, God will not inflict such punishment upon any. 7. God is merciful. Ps. 62: 12, "Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy for thou renderest to every man according to his works." Ps. 107: 1, "His mercy endureth forever." In the 136th Psalm David asserts no less than twenty-six times that the mercy of God "endureth forever." The same thing is asserted more than fifty times in the Bible. For God to inflict endless pain upon any of his creatures, would leave no room for the exercise of mercy. Therefore, as he is merciful, and always will remain so, he will inflict no such pain on any. His 8. God is omnipotent. Rev. 19: 6, "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." If God is omnipotent, there is no power in the universe which can be arrayed against him which he cannot overcome. plans and purposes, therefore, cannot be defeated. plans are wise, benevolent and good, hence good must be the final result to all his creatures. And as all his and only good 9. God is love. 1 John 4: 8, "God is love." Love prompts its possessor to do all that lays in his power to promote the good of the objects of love. God has an abundance of power to promote the good of his creatures, for he is omnipotent. He has the disposition to do so, for he is love. Hence, good to all must be the final result. 10. God is impartial. Ps. 145: 9, "The Lord is good to all." In James 3: 17, it is said of the wisdom which cometh down from above, that it is" without partiality." If God is impartial, he has never purposed the endless happiness of some of his children, and the endless unhappiness of the rest. 11. God is unchangeable. Mal. 3: 6, "I am the Lord, I change not." James 1: 17, " With whom (God) is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." If God is unchangeable, he will endlessly remain what he has been in all time past, and is now. And as he always has, and does now, seek the good of his creatures, therefore he always will. 12. We infer this doctrine from the representation which is given of the Gospel by the inspired writers. The term Gospel signifies good news. The angels who announced the birth of the Saviour, said, Luke 2: 10, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people." The Gospel is called "the ever lasting gospel," Rev. 14: 6. The "gospel of the grace of God," Acts 20: 24. The "gospel of peace," Eph. 6: 15. The “ gos pel of God," Rom. 1: 1. The "glorious gospel," 1 Tim. 1: 11. And, the "gospel of our salvation," Eph. 1: 13. It is called the new covenant," Heb. 8: 8. Said to be "better than the old,' Heb. 8 6. To be founded on better promises, Heb. 8: 6. Said to be "the ministration, not of condemnation and death, but of life and peace," 2 Cor. 3: 6-11. If this is a correct representation of the Gospel, certainly such a glorious system could not reveal nor contain the doctrine of unmerciful wrath and never-ending cruelty. 13. From the character, conduct and teachings, of Jesus Christ. He was the great founder of the Christian religion. He was benevolent, and even mindful of the physical wants of man, Mark 8: 1-9. He was tender-hearted and sympathizing. He wept at the grave of Lazarus, John 11: 35; raised the widow's son, Luke 7. 12-15; healed the physical maladies of men, Matt. 12: 10—13; and mourned and wept over Jerusalem, Matt. 23: 37-39, and Luke 19: 41. He was mild, forgiving and forbearing to Peter, — who denied him, Luke 22: 61, 62; to Thomas, who would not believe him, John 20: 24-29; to the woman taken in adultery, John 8: 3-11. He taught that we must love and forgive our enemies, Matt. 5: 44, and 6: 14, 15. He taught that we must forgive, not seven times only, but seventy times seven, Matt. 18: 21, 22. He prayed for his enemies and murderers, Luke 23: 34. And, at last, he freely offered up his life as a sacrifice on the altar of humanity. The whole conduct, and character, and disposition, and teachings, of Jesus was in accordance with the spirit of universal love and benevolence. He was actuated by none of the spirit of revenge, wrath or cruelty. How, then, can it be supposed that he believed and taught the cruel and unmerciful doctrine of endless hell torments? 14. From the influence which the Gospel exerts upon the character, conduct and feelings, of its recipients. What a mighty and an astonishing change it wrought in Paul! His partial and exclusive sentiments and feelings were exchanged for the utmost liberality of opinion and feeling. The Gospel changed his enmity to love, his bigotry to charity, and his Partialism to Universalism. It wrought the same happy change in all who received its truths into |