A Series of Letters, in Defence of Divine Revelation Part 20

_Rev. Sir_,--Having taken into serious consideration the whole correspondence which has pa.s.sed between us, I have felt very deep impressions on my mind arising from the following coosiderations.

1st. You and I are accountable beings, and must undoubtedly, sooner or later, be called to account for the propriety, or impropriety of our labours with each other.

2d. Our professional character must, without doubt, be a high consideration in our accountability.

3d. The eyes of society are ever watchful, and G.o.d has made us accountable, not only to himself, but to our fellow creatures, who have a just demand upon us.

While these important considerations were revolving in my mind, I felt a sense of my youth, compared with your age, my inexperience, the p.r.o.neness of the human heart to the vanity of self confidence, the blindness of prejudice to which old and young are more or less subject, and also, the friends.h.i.+p which has. .h.i.therto happily subsisted between us since our first acquaintance.

These circ.u.mstances and those considerations, led my mind to the conclusion that I ought to lay the whole matter before G.o.d, and to ask of him suitable wisdom to guide me in relation to so weighty a subject.

The result of my devotional supplications is a forcible application of the divine direction, given by St. Paul 1 Tim. v. 1, "Rebuke not an elder but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren."

How far your communications to me are consistent, or inconsistent with the apostle's direction, in the above test, I do not conceive it my duty to judge, any farther than a discharge of my own duty, pursuant to the apostle's direction, may require. On the most deliberate recapitulation of all which I have written, I cannot now say, that I could wish to recall a single idea, argument, application of scripture, or sentiment; though I will not even suggest that better information might not produce a different conclusion. I trust I have hitherto treated you, sir, and the subjects of your communications with all the propriety of which my understanding is master; and my fervent desire is, that I may complete the labours enjoined on me by the above text, in strict conformity to that most holy spirit which inspired such excellent counsel. Therefore, Rev. Sir, I _entreat you_ as a _father_ to consider,

1st. Whether you entreated your humble servant as a _brother_ when you admonished him for important particulars which you wholly refuse to substantiate either as facts or wrongs?

2d. Whether you entreated me as a brother in refusing to decide, as to your meaning, in the first subject of your admonition, and in not giving me to understand whether I had rightly apprehended you or not?

3d. Whether you entreated me as a brother in not acknowledging an agreement of sentiment on the subject of _repentance_ after I had given _you_ the fullest a.s.surance possible, that I believed in its necessity and importance?

4th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in admonis.h.i.+ng me as an apostate from the true faith of the gospel, while I profess to believe in Christ the Son of G.o.d, as the Saviour of the world; and stand in society, in my various relation by the blessing of G.o.d, unimpeached as to morality?

5th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in admonis.h.i.+ng me against a doctrine which commends the love and mercy of G.o.d in the final reconciliation and everlasting happiness of all unreconciled beings; and in opposing said doctrine with no other argument than saying, in effect, that if the scriptures which prove the doctrine are allowed to mean as they naturally read, other scriptures contradict them! Thus furnis.h.i.+ng the infidel with his darling weapon against the divinity of the scriptures?

6th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in stating those heavy charges against me, in which you _accuse me_ of a _designed mistake_, and of _wilful misapplications_ of scriptures where neither _mistake_ or _misapplications_ of scriptures can be made to appear?

7th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in misrepresenting my preaching when you never heard me perform in the particular capacity of a preacher?

8th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in taking your leave of this correspondence without supporting one single particular of your admonition, or one single charge against me. And also, without acknowledging the incorrectness of your admonition, or the impropriety of your charges.

I entreat you, sir, as a father, to consider whether the spirit which you manifested, in bring such _unreasonable_ charges against me, be consistent with the directions given by St. Paul to Timothy, and also with the example and precept of him who loved his enemies and commanded his disciples to do likewise?

I entreat you seriously to consider what the conduct of the Saviour would have been, if he had been disposed to _judge, denounce, reject_ and _disfellows.h.i.+p_ all those who sincerely believe in him and strove to honour him with becoming obedience to his commands, on account of their not understanding every thing as well as he did?

I entreat you to call in question your treatment of me because I do not believe in every thing as you do; and carefully examine if it correspond with the conduct of him, who, out of pity to human weakness, submitted himself to the scorn and hatred of those who considered themselves more righteous than others?

In relation to the doctrine, to which you appear so violently opposed, I entreat you, as a father, to take into consideration, 1st. The promises of G.o.d to Abraham by which the doctrine is supported. 2dly.

The corroborating testimonies in the New Testament by which we are to understand those promises. 3dly. The consistency of the doctrine with the character of _infinite goodness_. And, 4thly. The consistency of the doctrine with every benevolent and G.o.dlike desire of the human heart.

If G.o.d promised to bless all the families, nations and kindreds of the earth in the seed of Abraham, who is Christ, and if St. Paul has informed us that this blessing is _justification through faith_, I entreat you to consider by what authority you condemn the doctrine of _Universal Justification_.

If the apostle has also argued that G.o.d has made peace through the blood of the cross of Jesus, by him to reconcile _all things_ to himself, I entreat you to consider by what authority you condemn the doctrine of _Universal Reconciliation_.

If in perfect conformity to the promises of G.o.d, the prophet has given his testimony that _all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our G.o.d_, I entreat you to consider by what authority you condemn the doctrine of _Universal Salvation_.

If you make use of scripture to contradict such plain and positive declarations, by explaining _parables_ and _doubtful sayings_ for that purpose, I entreat you candidly to consider whether you can do any thing more to the dishonour of the sacred word, or more pleasing to those who wish to bring the scriptures into disrepute.

If you feel determined to maintain and inculcate the idea of G.o.d's punis.h.i.+ng his rational offspring eternally without mercy, love, or pity towards them, I entreat you, as a father, to consider whether you can invent any idea which, applied to G.o.d, would make his character appear more contrary to the spirit of him who loved his enemies and died for them.

I entreat you to examine carefully and see if it be possible to reconcile the doctrine of endless misery with the benevolent desires of the true spiritual children of G.o.d; and consider seriously whether it be proper to pray for the salvation of all men, and then condemn the belief of it as a heresy.

I entreat you, as a father, to call into serious consideration the real cause of all the persecutions and abominable cruelties which have been practiced in Christendom, on account of religion, and see if you can find a foundation for these things except in the blasphemous notion that G.o.d is unmerciful towards the impenitent.

Endeavour, sir, to satisfy yourself how the foolish prejudices of ignorant zealots could ever have succeeded in establis.h.i.+ng so many middle walls of part.i.tion, and in making so many pernicious distinctions in the Christian world, if the blasphemous notion of partiality in G.o.d had not been the rage of an apostatised church.

Find out, if you can, I entreat you, sir, the cause of all the madness and folly, which appear in the habitual coldness and bitterness exercised by the clergy, of different denominations towards each other, if it be not the blasphemous notion that their foolish prejudices are sanctioned by G.o.d!

Adieu, I write no more. I feel that I have done my duty. I have entreated you as a father in love and faithfuness. I leave the effects with G.o.d; humbly praying and joyfully believing, that when we are purged from our hay, wood and stubble, with the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, we shall see eye to eye and be admitted to a humble seat at the feet of our blessed Saviour, for whose sake I remain, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant.

HOSEA BALLOU

Rev. JOSEPH WALTON.