shadow of death, into the lowest parts of the earth, that he might lay deep the basis of that edifice which was to rise as high as the throne of God! This is a view of the Lamb of God which you must take or perish. You must see him where he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, or you are undone. Any other view of the Lamb of God than this is a spectre-nothing-shadowsand who of you will rest his soul on a spectre, on nothing, on shadows! O! if there be any other door of hope, enter it without delay. If there is any other name given under heaven whereby you can be saved, then trust in that name. But if there is no other door of hope, if there is no other name given under heaven whereby you can be saved, then behold the Lamb of God! In the land of Israel there were several cities of refuge, and the criminal might flee to that which was nearest; but there exists only one for us; one hope set before us to which we must flee for refuge; one "man who is a covert from the storm, a shadow from the heat." In the Lamb of God you may obtain present peace: beholding Him you may die with tranquillity and joy, and rise through Him to mansions of eternal glory. Behold, therefore, ye sinners ready to perish, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Now is the time to behold him. This very day you may see him by faith. the Lamb, inviting you to come. the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Judge of the quick and the dead. behold him, but it may be from

Now he is

But he is also He is also the

Then you will the left hand.

Then you will behold him, but it may be to meet the glances of his withering, scorching eye! Then you will behold him, but it may be to hear him say, as he will say to many, Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Then, as you behold slighted, abused, rejected, infinite love turned to wrath, you will never wish to see the sight again. You will plead for the lightning's wing that you may rush far away from his presence, and bury your soul in unquenchable flames!

LECTURE III.

But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

Acts, xxviii. 22.*

PAUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans by the Jews. Through the influence of his persecuting brethren, the Jews, his condemnation was procured before Felix. But Paul, understanding his rights as a Roman citizen, appealed from the judgment of Felix to Cæsar. He had arrived at Rome, and while in custody awaiting his trial, he called the chief of the Jews together, that he might lay before them an account of his sufferings, and secure from them that sympathy and interest which it might be in their power to bestow. When these Jews had assembled, they

* The Rev. A. C. Thomas, a Universalist minister, of Philadelphia, (Pa.) preached from the above text; and the author being shocked at the sentiment that the "sect" alluded to were Universalists, and that it was them who were "every where spoken against," with permission gave notice that he would preach from the same text, on the next Sabbath, in his own church.

said to Paul, in the language of our text, "We desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against."

The main points of inquiry in our text are these, viz:

I. What sect was it which was so much spoken against in the Roman empire?

For as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

II. What were their religious doctrines?

III. What were the reasons which induced ungodly men then, and which induce ungodly men now, to speak against them?

"For as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against."

I. What sect was it which was so much spoken against throughout the Roman empire?

Was it the sect which are now denominated Universalists? Will any man stand up before an enlightened audience, and make such a declaration as this! Will any man so far presume upon the gullibility of his hearers, as to tell them that Paul was a Universalist preacher, and that the rest of the Apostles were Universalist preachers, and that "this sect," who were their converts, were their Universalist friends?

Yet he who maintains the doctrine of Universal

1

Salvation must maintain such sentiments. For if the thirteen apostles, who had spread Christianity through the nations, were not Universalist ministers-if the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and those who were subsequently converted under the preaching of his apostles, were not Universalists -then God have compassion on every Universalist and every Universalist minister who has appeared on the earth since!

If they did not broach the doctrine of Universal Salvation-if they did not believe it-then who in modern times will have the temerity to preach such a doctrine, or to venture the interests of his soul upon it!

II. That we may know who "this sect" was, let us search the Scriptures, and find out what were the doctrines which they preached, and in which they believed. In the Gospel we have a full account of "this sect," of their origin, of their progress, and of their faith.

Let us conduct the inquiry with special reference to the query, "Whether this sect were Universalists?"

We lay down the position, which no one will deny, that Jesus Christ was the founder of “this sect."

What then was one of the doctrines which Jesus Christ preached. He said to his hearers, "Fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to de

stroy both soul and body in hell. But I will fore