STRICTURES ON THE DOCTRINE OF UNIVERSAL SALVATION; WHEREIN THE DOCTRINE IS DISPROVED ON THE MORAL GOVERNMENT OF GOD: OR Proved to be incompatible with the commands, promises, BY SETH CROWELL, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.-DANIEL. New-York: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY HOYT & BOLMORE, No. 70 Bowery. ADVERTISEMENT. I HAVE not the vanity to think that I have written more learnedly than others, who have written on this subject. But äs different writers have various ways of conveying their thoughts, there is no less variety in the mode of thinking among our readers. The little knowledge I have acquired of mankind, has instructed me that far the greatest part are below a mediocrity, if not in intellect, at least in knowledge. As it often happens in our preaching, we go beyond their depth, and hence we only beat the air, our labour is futile and vain, so are the writings of most men. Instead of profiting the generality of readers, they soar so far beyond their reach, or, in the profundity of their wisdom they excite astonishment rather than conviction. iv ADVERTISEMENT. My aim has been to adapt a mode of reasoning and argument suited to common capacities, and agreeing with common sense, that the truth may be perceived on the first view of the subject, without subjecting the reader to a tedious train of metaphysical deduction. Believing, as I do, that the doctrine which I oppose in these sheets is a most destructive heresy, and that it is making many proselytes in this city, I think it necessary to raise the standard of truth against this increasing error, in the hope, (however feeble the effort) that some unwary soul may be saved from the dreadful delusion. THE AUTHOR, S. C. STRICTURES, &c. IF MAN is a free moral agent, and responsible for his actions to the Moral Governor of the world, I cannot conceive it compatible with the divine economy, to reward with eternal glory incorrigible sinners. That all mankind are subjects of a moral government is a truth so obvious, that all attempts to controvert it, have proved futile and vain. It is equally true that many of those on whom God has imposed the restraints of moral law, do continue to the last, hostile to every moral restriction. Hence, it follows that the Universalians are reduced to one of two alternatives, either the governor of the world, does dispense with a compliance (on the part of the sinner) with his own requisitions, and the obligations to obey his own law; or secondly, he has a method of reconciling his justice with the salvation of impenitent |