REMARKS.

1. We see, in view of our subject, why it is that many of the Universalists of the city refuse to attend this discussion. They know that one hundred reasons against their system, is just one hundred too many for their quietude. Their famous champion, the Rev. Abel C. Thomas, has said, so I have been informed by the Rev. S. W. Fuller, that the reason why he has not more uniformly attended these discussions, is, "that our congregation is so small, that it is no object, no inducement to him, to come out here." But I thought it was truth, eternal truth, which the Rev. Abel C. Thomas was seeking after, and not converts to his system. I thought this was the reason why he challenged the Rev. Drs. Tyng, Brantly, Ely, and Barnes. Have we, then, been mistaken? And was it indeed the reason why he challenged those Rev. gentlemen, because their congregations were so large, and their names stood so high for learning and piety in the community? We confess, that for a man like the Rev. Abel C. Thomas to come out with a challenge against such men, produces an effect upon a certain part of the community. If a fox were to challenge a lion, and the lion should refuse to fight, the fox might run off, and exclaim to the other foxes, "See, I have challenged the lion, and he is afraid to meet me!" Then the other foxes would exclaim-Ah! what a fox he is! what strength and cunning he must possess, to challenge

the king of the forest. We are astonished that any man should decline to hear one hundred reasons showing that his system is false-and then give as a reason, that our congregation is so small that it is no object for him to come out here! Is not truth as important in Fairmount as in the centre of the city? Is not a soul as priceless here as in any other part of the world? Are not one hundred reasons, urged from this pulpit against Universal Salvation, as important here as any where else? If it is popularity which the Rev. Abel C. Thomas is seeking after, then let him remain in the city, and challenge the lions of the day. But if it is God's eternal truth which he wishes to know, then let him not refuse to hear one hundred reasons against that fatal system which he advocates. What! is there a minister preaching a system of doctrines upon which he professes to venture his everlasting all, and yet refuse to hear one hundred reasons against that system-and give as a reason, that our congregation is too small? What! is there a minister, who is preaching a system of faith, and inviting the multitude to rest their immortal souls upon it, and yet refuses to hear one hundred reasons against it, because our congregation is so small? If it were the salvation of the soul that the Rev, Abel C. Thomas was desirous of securing, then he would come! For a soul here is worth just as much as a soul in Walnut street, or Chesnut street, or any other place. There is not a soul in this place, over whose repentance the mighty angels would not rejoice. The harps of heaven would

sound sweeter to-day, if a soul should repent in Fairmount, than they ever have before. All the ministers of the city might well come out here, if they could rescue one precious soul from the mazes of error and infidelity! Nay, all the angels round about the throne would be adequately employed, if they should break through the skies today, and come rushing down into our midst, to rescue one soul from impending wrath! And yet, the Rev. Abel C. Thomas, says that our congregation is so small, that it is no object for him to come out here! Amazing insensibility! Boundless ambition! Transparent cunning!

2. The forty reasons against Universal Salvation, which we have already presented, should awaken solicitude in the mind of every one who has embraced that system, or who is trying to embrace it. We may shut our minds and our hearts, and lock them for ever against the truth-but in the end we shall be the losers! You will be the greatest loser, dying hearer, if you refuse to be convinced, and refuse to yield to your convictions! You will suffer a loss which no power can repair! It may wound your pride of opinion to acknowledge your error. You may think that you now stand committed before the public as a Universalist, and that you cannot retrace your steps without mortification and ridicule-but will it not be better to suffer mortification now, among dying worms of the dust, than to suffer mortification in the presence of your final Judge? Which will be the most sufferable-to have your pride wounded now, by the laugh

and sneer of the infidel, or to have it wounded by and by, by the fangs of that worm which never dies? Will you venture on to your final account, believing in a system against which there is one substantial reason? Can you consent to die, clinging to a system, against the truth of which there are forty reasons? Can you pass the awful and decisive hour of death, with the least uncertainty brooding over your endless destiny? Oh, will not a doubt on that day, respecting your condition in another world, be like a barbed arrow transfixing your soul? Who will care then for thee? Where will be the vain and thoughtless throng who now encourage you on? Where will be that minister, who now cries in your ear, peace, peace? He will not come to see how it fares with your departing spirit! If he should stand by your bed sidehe will stand there speechless. He will stand there to witness writhings, and groanings, and wailings, which he cannot relieve! He will stand there to witness the ravings of a lost soul! And on the day of judgment, while his doom shall be a heavy one, you shall not conceal yourself under his skirtsfor you consented to die, while there was one reason showing you to be in fatal error-nay, you consented to die, while there were forty reasons forewarning you of your doom.