BEING AN EXPOSITION OF ITS DOCTRINES AND TEACHINGS, IN THEIR LOGICAL AND MORAL RELATIONS; INCLUDING a Criticism of the Texts, CITED IN PROOF OF THE TRINITY, VICARIOUS ATONEMENT, BY THOMAS BALDWIN THAYER. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY TOMPKINS AND COMPANY, No. 25 Cornhill. 1865. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by TOMPKINS AND COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. PREFACE. THE title page and table of contents sufficiently indicate the general character and object of this work. It is only necessary to mention two or three special features. First: It embodies in one volume the views of the denomination on all the leading doctrines of Christian Theology, and an exposition of the more important words and phrases supposed to conflict with these views. It thus furnishes a comprehensive answer, within reach of all, to the question-What is Universalism? And it is to be hoped that the answer to it is in such form as to meet the wants of all classes of readers, and to command respectful attention from the Theologian and the Scholar. Second: It aims to show that Universalism is not a confused collection of doctrinal fragments, without continuity or relation of parts; but a system of divinity, a tree of life rooted in the character and perfections of Deity, and growing up naturally into trunk and branches, putting forth leaves, and buds, and blossoms, and finally producing the ripe fruit of a Christian life. And as the Divine character and perfections constitute the foundation of the entire argument, and the basis of all theological reasoning, a correspondingly large space has been devoted to this theme. Third: There will be found introduced into the text and notes, liberal quotations from Fathers of the early Church; the object being to call attention to the fact, so little recognized, that the doctrines of the Church immediately subsequent to the time of Christ and his apostles, are largely identical with the Universalism of to-day-and that, therefore, it is not a new thing, but certainly as old as the Christian Church and the New Testament. Fourth: Citations are also occasionally given from the popular authors of the day, and from teachers of all Christian communions; wherein they have expressed their rejection of the doctrine of endless punishment, or their faith in the final restoration This is done for the purpose of showing that this faith alone feede the great hunger of the human heart; or, as Olshausen says, that "the feeling is deeply rooted in noble minds, and is the expression of a heartfelt desire for a perfect harmony of the creation." The testimonies reveal the fact that belief in this final harmony of the moral universe, or a tendency to belief, is the natural fruitage of large and liberal study, of a generous literary and scientific culture. It is only justice to the author to add, that it is not pretended that the volume is a thorough treatise on the various subjects discussed; but an attempt only to indicate the way, and to show their natural and dogmatic relations. And though it is not all that was wished or sought, he sends it forth with a prayer for the divine approval and blessing; and with an humble hope that it may be useful in promoting among men the knowledge, and love, and practice of the truth. Boston, Nov., 1862. |