Now then, say the Universalists, this is the sentence from which Christ was to save the world-And is there one word in the law, the penalty, or the sentence, which can possibly be construed to mean everlasting or endless death, or punishment? Is there a syllable which implies any such thing? No, my brethren, in the Old Testament there is not the most distant hint or implication of the kind. God forbid there should be; for if there were, not all the works of nature, nor all that is contained in the revealed word of the Almighty, could possibly persuade me that that word was truth; for our Creator in that same word of truth, has assured us, that before this sentence was executed or passed, before the law was given, before Adam was created, he had himself determined that this death should not be endless, but that he would recreate man to immortality and glory. If therefore, there is one syllable under the dispensation of the law, which implies that the punishment of sin shall be endless, it impugns the truth of the Almighty. But, let it be remembered, that the sentence of death is, to the comprehension of the creature, necessarily à sentence of endless punishment, unless there is some known cause which can and will again restore him→→→ which can and will recreate him. To Adam, therefore, and his posterity, who knew not of any power or causé which could or would hereafter recreate them; to whom the dispensation of mercy, and the pre-determination of Almighty goodness, was not then revealed, this sentence of death was apparently a sentence of endless punishment; because they never could restore themselves, and they knew not of any power in the universe which ever could or would hereafter do so. But if the Almighty had stated in the revelation of his will, any thing which could imply that this sentence was intended by him to be endless, he would have contradicted himself; for he did know, and in his boundless goodness had pre-determined, that it should not be so. I admit, therefore, that it is not stated in the Old Testament, that those who sinned under the law, were sentenced to endless punishment. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son to redeem them that were under the law; and had included all under sin, that he might have mercy upon all. But, say the Universalists, of whom is it declared in the New Testament, that they shall be saved through Christ are there not many general expressions which seem to imply the whole? Is it not said that he came to seek and to save that which was lost; and that as in Adam all died, even so in Christ, shall all be made alive? These, I confess, are the statements of the word of truth; and undoubtedly Christ will save that which he came to save. But, who are those which were lost? Those on whom the sentence of death had been passed; those in short who were already dead; those alone who had sinned under the law: they all were lost; all had sinned alike, and all had alike been condemned to death; and it would indeed be an imputation on the wisdom and justice of the Creator, if we were to suppose that those who were all alike deemed worthy of the same punishment, should not equally be considered objects of the same mercy; for in such case, either that mercy must have been partially distributed, or the sentence of some must have been unjust.And we are therefore assured, my brethren, that this mercy shall be equally accorded to all-" that as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Who then shall be made alive? All who died in Adam-all who have died under the law. But can this apply to those who never lived till that law was fulfilled and abrogated; to those who were never subject to it; to those who even yet have never had existence? No, my brethren. But it is said, that all who have died in Adam, shall be made alive in Christ. I readily admit, therefore, that there are many passages in the New Testament, in some of which it is expressly stated, and in many others implied, that all those who have died in Adam, or under the law, shall again be made alive in Christ; and that there is nothing contained in the Holy Scriptures, which implies that the sentence executed upon them, should be endless; but on the contrary, that the Almighty had pre-determined that he would recreate them; that he had concluded all under sin, that he might have mercy upon all; and in the fullness of time, sent forth his Son to redeem them that were under the law. We, however, my brethren, are not under the law, nor ever were, unless it can be proved that our souls have existed previous to the death and resurrection of Christ, and have sinned under the law. But they were not in being, till a full expiation had been made; till that law had been satisfied and done away, and until a new dispensation of mercy had been substituted in its stead; and we were therefore, born not under the law, but under the dispensation of grace. Now then, let us THE NEW YORK 170483 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1900 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, ss. *********** L. S. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-seventh day of June, in the fifty-second year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1828, Messrs MORSE & WILLSON, **of the said district, have deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "A Series of Sermons, on the doctrine of Everlasting Punishment, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. By Rev. John Sellon, Minister of St. John's Church, Canandaigua." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietor of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also, to the act entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching historical and other prints." R. R. LANSING, Clerk of the Northern District of New York. |