PREFACE. IF the Writer of the following Pages had not believed that the interefts of Morality are materially involved in this controversy, he would not have recommended his thoughts upon it to the notice of the public. The immoral tendency of the Restoration-Syftem is fhewn in the course of this work. One of the most important doctrines of Christianity, the doctrine of Atonement, has no place in the Univerfalift's creed, if confiftency be regarded. It cannot be reconciled with his doctrine of corrective punishment. Mr. Weaver obferves, "Divine justice is that perfection in God, by "which he endeavours continually to make all "intelligences juft."+ According to this reprefentation, juftice does not look backward, and punish according to the deeds done in the body;' but forward, and difpofes of her ftripes in the way beft calculated to correct the moral pravity of the mind. In this system, therefore, the doctrine of guilt has no place: no man need apply for redemption through the blood of Chrift, the forgiveness of fins,' Eph. i. 7, but merely for the renewing of the Holy Ghoft,' Titus iii. 5; fince the recovery. of the mind to virtue is the great point to which the exercise of divine juftice is directed. If the Blood of Atonement be not counted, + Endless Mifery overthrown, p. 9. counted, upon this fcheme, an "unholy thing," it must be confidered, at least, as an "unneceffary "thing." The most intelligent of the Univerfalifts are fully aware of this, and have therefore, very prudently, taken fanctuary in Socinianifm. The author has endeavoured to leave the immoral no alternative betwixt converfion and a "fearful looking for of judgment and fiery in"dignation.". He feriously wishes such to weigh well what is advanced, and, perhaps, they will fee that even the infinite love and mercy of God is not to be called into queftion, fhould they, by rejecting the grace offered in the gospel, render themselves eternally wretched. It is hoped that fuch a view of things may have a happy influence upon their minds, and lead them to improve the prefent day of their vifitation, so as to infure preTent and eternal happiness. Should this be the cafe in a fingle inftance, he will think himself amply compenfated for the time and labour which he has devoted to this fubject. He is, however, too well acquainted with the prejudices of mankind, in favour of fchemes which are not very rigid in their exactions on the fcore of morality, to expect that many will be reclaimed who have given their affent to the fyftem here oppofed. His great aim has been to preferve the serious chriftian from falling into, what he confiders, a very dangerous error. The arguments which prove the endless duration of future punishment are here brought forward fparingly, as that fubject is nearly exhaufted by Meffrs. Taylor, Fuller, and Jerram; whose valuable writings merit the most serious and attentive perufal. There There is not a clafs of writers who talk more about candour, charity, and liberality, or who difcover lefs of thefe Chriftian graces, than the Univerfalifts. Mr. Weaver, after expreffing his difapprobation of Mr. Huntington's afperity, proceeds to call him, "The furgeon,--the butcher,the raving finner."* He is not lefs ceremonious with his other adverfaries. One is called "a fnarling cynic," and another "a flippant fop." Without prefuming to justify Mr H., it is very natural to enquire, whether he has not as much right to deal in hard words as Mr. W. ? Will an Univerfalift pretend, that other denominations of Chriftians have not an equal right with himself to think freely upon religious fubjects, and to embrace thofe fentiments which appear to them to be most conformable to divine truth? If he will not, he ought not to blame them for believing that the Doctrine of Univerfal Restoration is an erroneous, and dangerous fyftem. It feems that the candour and liberality of the Univerfalifts confifts in attaching little or no importance to articles of faith and modes of worship. All who come up to this standard, receive the fraternal embrace; but fuch as think differently, are ftigmatized as bigots. There is certainly fuch a thing as being bigoted against thofe who are confidered as bigots. And are those who indulge this fpirit more to be commended than the bigots whom they condemn? No, in no wife. "that Mr. Wright" prefumes," he tells us, the Editor of the Theological Magazine is one of those mistaken good men who rejoice in the ungodlike doctrine of endless mifery." Muft a man rejoice in every doctrine which he believes to be true? *Free Thoughts, preface, p. 17. † Examination of Pyland's Sermon, p. 6. true? Then Mr. Wright rejoices in the doctrine, that many millions of his fellow-creatures will be tormented in hell for an age. But Mr. Wright calls him one of the good men! and then afcribes to him difpofitions, which, for malignity, can only just be equalled by thofe of devils! Mr. Vidler too affirms, that "the leading men both among Calvinifts and Arminians, are doing every thing which intereft, connexion, favour, or frowns can do, to prevent the threatening evil,to stop the progrefs of the Univerfal Doctrine."* It must be remarked that this charge is altogether unfupported by evidence. The leading men, are felected out of these two bodies of Chriftians for Mr. V. to fpit his venom at. It is but language does not furnish a name for fo vile a calumny. Let Mr. V. go and learn what that Scripture meaneth, "Thou shalt not bear falfe witness against thy neighbour." Mr. Samuel Bradburn is charged with faying that "the Univerfalifts' put hell-fire in the place of the blood of Chrift." This produced a letter from Mr. V., addreffed to Mr. S. Bradburn, and all the Methodift Preachers in England. As none of them honoured it with their notice, Mr. V. makes an oftentatious triumph in the advertisement of his reply to Mr. Fifher. The contents of Mr. V.'s letter are unknown to the Author of this work. He did not fo much as know that fuch a letter had been written, till he faw Mr. V. exulting in victory, and he then understood from an Univerfalift Bookfeller, that it was out of print. Should Mr. V. publifh a new edition of his letter, he is defired to take notice of the following proof of Mr. Bradburn's affertion : Mr. Winchester when speaking on the effects produced by different degrees *Winchester's Dialogues, Editor's preface, p. 11. 4th edition. |