view to pacify his wrath. It represent him as full of vengeance towards all who do not render him faithful service, and supposes that he will punish them unmercifully, if they do not yield to his requirements. This religion says, take away the fear of eternal damnation, and I would never worship God again, I would pay no regard to his ordinances.

This religion is in fact a stream of fire and brimstone, fire, because it is full of zeal, and brimstone, because it destroys the reason of its votaries. There is nothing which more suddenly destroys the regular action of the brain, than sulphur Fear is of this nature, it sets reason at defiance. So has the religion of the church. It says, reason has nothing to do with religion. What St. John says of fear and love seem very appropriate in this place. He says "Fear hath torment," and again;

"Perfect love casteth out fear."

The unbelieving is the second character mentioned. But who are unbelievers? They are those whose creeds contradict the faith of Abraham. God promised Abraham, that in him, and in his seed, all the nations of the earth should be blessed. And it is said, that Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Abraham was therefore called the friend of God, and the father of the faithful. Now those who believe in that Babylonish creed which excludes a great part of mankind from the blessings of Jesus and his grace, are the unbelieving mentioned in our text. These unbelievers suppose that they are the only true believers on earth, and their belief is like fire and brimstone, and the more firinly they believe, the more intensely they are burnt. They have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

How much is a man's part in this torment? Just so much as will correspond with the perversness of his abominable belief. In the same ratio as

they believe, they are tormented, and as far as they doubt they find relief.

The abominable is the third character mentioned. There are many sinful practices which are called abominable in scripture; one may be mentioned, of which Israel was guilty, and by which the christian church has become contaminated. In his 16th chapter, Ezekiel charges Jerusalem of having committed inore abominations than were committed by Sodom and her daughters; and among those the following is stated; "Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast born unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them (idols) to be devoured." This has been done in the antichristian church, by that doctrine which consigns little children to everlasting torment for the glory of that idol God, who delights in such cruelty. Every soul that believes this doctrine is tormented day and night. If they have children how are their souls tormented with the fearful apprehension of their everlasting destruction?

Murderers are the fourth class. "He that loveth not his brother is a murderer." And that antichristian doctrine which teaches that God hates his creatures has caused men to hate one another, and to put thousands to death. This murderous, persecuting spirit is a perpetual fire, and torments every soul that possesses it.

Whoremongers are the 5th class. These are those who get their living by means of spiritual adultery under the direction of the mother of harlots. These are unclean birds. Isaiah calls them Owls, Satirs, Ravens, &c. He says; "There shall the great Owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow." This is an unclean bird that is afraid of the light.

These are

Sorcerers are the sixth character. famous for their wisdom, and very deep understanding in dark mysterious matters. They know every thing about another world; and in their own conceit, or pretensions can inform people concerning

what they call heaven and hell. These are a torment to themselves.

Idolaters form the seventh class. These are all who worship the false God, who sits in the temple of God, shewing himself to be God.

Liars are mentioned last. The author of our text, has given a description of a liar. He says; "Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the christ; he is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son."

These worshippers of the beast are the dead, small and great, which John saw stand before God; who were judged out of those things which were written in the books, which are the doctrines of men, according to their works. They had received the mark and name of the beast, therefore their names were not in the Lamb's book, or doctrine, of life. These were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

The hearer is requested to observe that the arguments to which we have attended, go to prove that the false doctrines of antichrist constitute the second death, and the lake of fire and brimstone, and that these doctrines perpetually torment them who believe them. Our reasoning disallows the continuance of this torment after these doctrines of antichrist shall be discontinued. The worshippers of the beast will be tormented as long as they worship him; but he had power given him to continue only forty and two months. The hearer is likewise requested to observe, what has already been noticed, that in order to extend the second death or lake of fire and brimstone into another state of existence, we must also carry the time of the church in the wilderness, the time of the prophecying of the two witnesses, in sackcloth, and the forty and two months of the reign of the beast into a future state. All which is palpably absurd.

My brethren, this discourse will close with the following divine injuction; "Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

1

No. 17.

LECTURE SERMON,

DELIVERED AT THE

SECOND UNIVERSALIST MEETING, IN BOSTON,

MARCH 14, 1819.

BY HOSEA BALLOU, PASTOR.

Published Semi-Monthly by Henry Bowen, Devonshire-street.

2 TIMOTHY i. 9, 10.

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began :—But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

OUR first inquiry will be directed to ascertain what the Apostle means by the word saved. With a view to bring this subject to the understanding of the hearer, in as plain and as profitable a manner as possible, we shall attempt in the first place to examine the common doctrine of the church respecting salvation, and in the second place bring the scripture testimony on the subject into view, that the difference between the common doctrine and the divine testimony may distinctly appear.

What we propose to examine in the first place is found in the following statement, which is here quoted from the shorter catechism; "All mankind by the fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever." This is the miserable state into which man fell, according to the sentiment under

examination; and from which God provided means to save some, accordingly as is expressed thus ; "God having out of his mere good pleasure from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer."

It is evident that the learned divines, who composed this creed, designed to apply the doctrine of salvation in a way to save the elect from the everlasting pains of hell, more specially than to save them from the miseries of this life and from death; for it is a fact well known to all, that whoever these elected ones may be, they are subject to death as well as others, and it is generally thought that they have a larger share of the miseries of this life.

This common doctrine of salvation may therefore be stated thus; All mankind, the elect and non elect, by the fall are under God's wrath and curse, which curse is the pains of hell after the death of the body and forever; but in conformity to a decree of God, made from all eternity, there is a Redeemer provided to save the elect from this everlasting curse.

Having now before us the doctrine of salvation as it has been held in the christian church for a long time, and as it is now held and taught to old and young, let us attempt to examine its propriety. And let this be done with all that candor which is due to all subjects of moment, and especially to this which evidently involves the character of the divine Being. Let it be done too with that charity towards the framers of this creed, and towards those who now believe in it, which holds the highest rank among the christian virtues; for certain it is that this candor and charity are necessary to be kept in constant exercise, among such shortsighted, benighted creatures.