a rod of iron in the hand of Christ, it will in the latter days, rule all nations, make them all see eye to eye. It is written that Christ shall break them with a rod of iron; yet he is to have the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. See Psalm 2:8, 9.

The church who had the promise of being kept in the hour of temptation, doubtless kept the faith once delivered to the saints, through the dark ages of christianity, and were the seed whom God promised Christ he should have to serve him. "A seed shall serve him." And methinks she is coming up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved; and that ere long she will look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible (to all opposition) as an army with banners. Read Sol. Song 6: 10; and 8: 5.

In returning to my subject, I would say, that during the dark ages, the common people were taught that it was not safe for them to read the bible, but must receive such portions of it as their spiritual guides thought best. Look at the 2 Chap. 2 Thes., to see what power they arrogated to themselves, and there it can be accounted for why the greatest part of the christian world have, for so many ages, embraced the doctrine of endless punishment, when universal restoration is plainly taught in the bible. Although the Lord made known to a few individuals, his purpose to save all men before he sent his Son to perform it; yet when he made it known to the Apostles. that he would gather together in one all in Christ, they called it the mystery of his will; and during the dark ages, we can account for its again becoming a mystery; for the main part could not get a bible in which to read God's will;-but were required to assent to what their teachers told them. Yet the faith in God's universal grace has never been extinet, from the time he first revealed it to faithful Abraham, up to this date.

Whenever Church and State has been united, and the dragon

has persecuted the woman, she has been helped by wings to flee into the wilderness, or preserved in some other way, and been nourished from the face of the serpent. And whenever a dragon is produced by kingly power undertaking to support religion, he is wroth with the woman, and seeks to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. See Rev. 12: 13-17.

The faith of universal salvation is an ancient doctrine; neither is it a miracle that so many have believed in endless punishment, because, when religion has been supported by the power of kings, hypocrites become priests, and make use of the faith of endless misery to frighten people, and make them subservient to their wishes. They cannot support priestcraft with the faith of universal salvation. Those who made a profession of christianity because it was both creditable and profit. able, were suited to have the common people prohibited the use of learning, and of the bible. Therefore honest people, unless ignorant, cannot state as a fact that the bible, for eighteen hundred years, has led the main body of christians to believe there is a never-ending hell. The popes for twelve hundred years taught that doctrine; but for the three hundred years before the reign of popery christians were believing in univer. sal salvation as fast as could be expected, and they have for the three hundred years since.

Let us examine the character of the popes in succession before we admit that the Lord and they taught the same doctrine History gives information. But we will look at what the Apos tle foretold of them in the following words: "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they

should believe a lle; That they all might be damned who be. lieved not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. — 2 Thes. 2:9- 12.

Hence, we judge that the main part of christians believing in never-ending misery during the dark ages, if it proves anything proves it to be a lie; for their teachers did not receive the love of the truth, but had strong delusions to believe a lie ; and deceived them by making use of lying wonders.

The people at the time of the reformation from popery, were very ignorant, and had been accustomed to look solely to the priests for instruction. Priests who dissented from the Roman Catholic faith, brought therefrom superstitious notions, telling their hearers not to use reason on matters of faith because it was carnal. Therefore both priest and people have been blinded by prejudice, that they could not discern truth when revealed in the plainest manner. Yet the shackles which encumber the mind are fast falling off; and they begin to see that all who have been condemned in Adam, will be justified in Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. -Rom. 5: 18. The italic words in this text do not alter the sense.

The reasons why the greater part of christians have for so many ages believed in future endless punishment, may be seen from plain facts. Therefore, their rejecting universalism does not prove, demonstrably, that the plain obvious meaning of the bible is against it. If it does, on the same ground of reasoning, we must admit that the main body of the Jews rejecting Jesus Christ, proves that the plain obvious meaning of the prophecies are against his being the true Messiah; and also that they are correct in looking for one yet to come; seeing that for many ages before he came; they had the prophecies respecting the Saviour, and have had access to them ever since.

The Limitarian's remark, that the faith of the ultimate hap

piness of all is every way adapted to gratify the desires of the natural heart, shall be granted. Yet, let it be remembered that the natural heart is that which is constituted by nature. It is not that "carnal mind which is enmity against God." Children, if they can be happy, like to have others happy ; they manifest a tender feeling for the distressed, and try to relieve them.

His remark that future punishment (implying endless) is ungrateful to the natural heart, shall likewise be granted; for one must have a monstrous unnatural heart to be grateful for it. If the doctrine is pleasing to any, it must be those who are so self righteous as to believe they shall escape it, and yet so carnal as to wish to be better off than others.

L. The natural heart will not hate an earthly father because he punishes him, if he believes he does it in love as a discipline to make him better. Neither would he hate his heavenly Father could he believe he inflicted the punishment in the like disposition. It is unnatural to hate one who gives us existence. Chil. dren can be traditioned to hate their heavenly Father; and the natural mind can be changed to carnal by sinning against God and man. If Christ and his Apostles believed and taught the salvation of all men, it seems impossible to account for the fact, that their preaching so much alarmed the fear and awakened the enmity of wicked men. The fact is unquestionable.Christ rarely preached a sermon which did not excite uneasiness in the minds of sinners, and send them away dissatisfied and murmuring against the preacher.

The same is true of the Apostles. Under their preaching sinners were pricked in their hearts, and in deep anxiety, asked what they should do to be saved. Acts 2: 37. Notice the case of the three thousand on the day of Pentecost; of the jailer at Philippi; of Felix trembling before Paul; and many others that might be mentioned. How will you account for this? If Christ and his Apostles believed and taught that all will be

saved, how was it that their preaching caused their hearers to fear and tremble, and in anguish of spirit to ask what they should do to be saved? Were such effects ever known to be produced by the preaching of universalists? Are sinners ever pricked in the heart under their ministration, or do they, under a sense of guilt and danger, ever come to the teachers of this delusive doctrine, with the question, What must I do to be saved? - Acts 16: 30. This question was often proposed to the primitive preachers of the gospel; and it is now often proposed to those ministers, who like Paul, reason of righteous. ness, temperance, and judgment to come. -Acts 24: 25. But it is probable this question was never proposed to those who deny a future judgment, and cry peace, peace, to the wicked. Jer. 6: 14.

R. Those whose fears were alarmed by the preaching of Christ, had also their enmity awakened, they were the religious of that day, and feared, saying "What do we, for this man doeth many miricles ?" The religious of this day have had their fears awakened by the spread of universalism. Christ rarely preached a sermon which did not excite uneasiness in the minds of the self righteous, and cause them to go away murmuring against the preacher, while "the common people heard him gladly," and were esteemed by the religious to be sinners, just as people now are who go to hear universalists. Those who were dissatisfied with the doctrines of Christ, believed in an endless hell, if those who now believe in one tell the truth. Therefore, if he preached universalism, their hatred to him is easily accounted for; because he preached down their faith. The subsequent texts will shew that the sinners spoken of, who were excited with uneasiness at hearing Christ, were the professors of religion. And, behold certain of the scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemeth. Mat. 9: 3. But the Pharisees said, he casteth out the devils through the prince of the devils. Verse 34. Then the Pharisees went out and