PRE FACE No subject that has been agitated since man was created, can be said to have engaged the attention of all people, as that of religion, whether among Pagan or Christian nations. That it is thus, is, however, perfectly natural ; because it claims to involve the interests of man, relative to both time and eternity, as universally allowed. In all ages, and under all circumstances, religion, whether handed down from father to son by tradition, or from God by inspiration, as in the case of the Holy Scriptures, has ever presented to notice two beings, who are shown as opposed to each other in their natures and pursuits. These two beings are known, or spoken of, by the terms JEHOVAH, and Satan; the good and the evil boing, in Jewish and Christian countries; while in other parts of the earth, are equally acknowledged, if not thus named—differing only as languages differ, but conveying the same ideas. Jehovah is represented as being infinitely good, and as having innumerable hosts of spiritual beings, or angels of a supernatural character, who act in his universal providence, among the works of his hands; not only in this, but in all worlds, as agents, exerting a benign and protecting influence : --while the other, nendly, Satan, is also shown as having under his supervision hosts of spirils, or angels, of a supernatural character, but of malevolont natures, who act in the way of both moral and physicul ruin, so far as in their power in opposition to God. These two beings are acknowledged by all religions, in all countries, and in all ages, under various names, ideas and attributes ; and were likely to have thus remained in opposition to cach other, a while longer-even to the end of the world—had not the Universalist scct of religion arisen, who it seems are determined that one of these beings shall exist no longer-putting their veto upon the judgment of all past ages, and inspiration to boot. This most important of all subjects, namely, religion, has both by tradition from remotest antiquity, and from the Bible, ever preunted its sanctions, as existing or taking place in another world, or after death; and has qualified those sanctions, in dooming the bad, who pass out of this lise having that character, to a state of unutterable wo: while on the contrary, the good, sustaining that character when they change worlds, enter into a state of rapturous and ceaseless happiness-a trait of jurisprudence in the government of God, seemingly well suited to restrain over acts and injurious behaviour among his subjects, so far as threatened coercion can have such an effect; and likewise to encourage the practice of virtue. But there has arisen, out of the great sea of religious opinions, in these latter days, a sect, namely, the Universalists, who deny not only the being of this one Satan, and his coadjutors or associate evil spirits ; but the whole of the penal sanctions of this great subject, religion, as being inflicted, or as existing after this life, notwithstanding the Scriptures seem to be against them--the text of which they acknowledge--whose influence we will not deny is very great, and pervades all ranks of people, all communions of Christians, far more than is commonly supposed, and is exerted against the doctrines of the orthodox sects, and as we believe the Bible itself. The object of this work therefore is to examine the Bible in relation to the claims of either side to the truth. We have from childhood heard of the existence of a devil, or Satan, from books, the Bible, in prayers, sermons, and conversation on the subject of religion, as if there could be no doubt of it—and also of evil spirits, and yet we have never met with any attempt to examine this trait of theology, as we have the rest, the being of a God, the existence of a hell, a day of judgment, &c. : we have therefore undertaken to give our opinion of this belief te being of Satan and evil spirits, In traversing the subject, we of necessity have been compelled to dip into many curious.things: connected with our main one, yet we have aimed.so, io manage it as not to debate disputed topics with any of the orthodox odersi.chdeavoring to maintain all the great and leading features of their faith ; while we combat only with the doctrines of Universalists; who, in our opinion, pervert the whole design of the Scriptures by their dogmas. The course we have pursued in this work has been to avoid prolixity, aiming to furnish ready and short arguments against Universalist sentiments, for the use of the rising generation, and such as scarcely know what to believe, having not much considered the matter ; believing we have done what we can in this work to counteract the influence of those principles, we hope for support and patronage, therefore a We do not hesitate to express a belief that we have advanced much curious matter on many curious subjects, worthy the reader's attention, which are doubtless calculated to induce thought and elicit conversation, and lead men to read the Bible, which, in reality, contains more useful and wonderful information, than all the books of mankind put together. The nature of the subjects, upon which we have treated in this work, are of necessity, such as are denominted the terrible; but on this account, we hope it will not be rejected, while we remember that it is written by St. Paul: (2d Cor. v. 11,)“ Knowing the TERROR of the Lord, we persuade men.” With this view, therefore, namely, to persuade men to read the Bible, and the more earnestly to examine it, to arouse the attention of men to the subjects we have treated upon, and to check-according to our ability, Universalist opinions, in their overflow of the land, -we set it afloat on the sea of public opinion, asking the favor of a wide dispersion of the work, and of its being thoroughly read and compared with the Scriptures—having with respect to these objects, the good wishes, at least, of THE AUTHOR. INDEX TO PART FIRST. 81 Genesis, third chapter, cxamined in relation to the original meaning of the word Serpent; and inquiry as to what kind of animal it was which Satan made uso of to beguile the first woman-ivas it u Snako, or was it the Orang outang? with a full account of the latter Arguments and traditions, which, in the estimation of many, go to support tho ideathat a Snake was the animal of the test of Moscs, by which Eve was deceived ; with a full account of several specimens of this kind of animal, a reptile, as known to the ancients..... The manner in which serpents moved over the ground Lofcre the curse, according to a certain ancient author; with a full account of of the largest description, by the Egyptians...... any animal whatever, as used by Satan, in the beguiling of the first Strictures on Mr. Balfour's opinions, respecting orthodox Christians having dorived many opinions from the ancient Persians, or the writings of Zoroaster; with other subjects...... Origin of Satan, and cause of sin ; with many other curious matters : as of the first creative acts of God; whether matter is eleinal or not; with proofs of the necessary and unbeginning existence of Gud; whether mind is produced from organization; whether God was active precious to his first creative act; and whether mind or matter was first created ; the heaven of the angels ; its location ; where, &c.; have any other worlds of the universe sinned besides this on which we dwell? a quory of the author of the Age of Reason, aguinst Christianity, an. Condition of the first spirits; proofs that they were made in a great variety of orders ; cause of the being of Satan, &c. ........ Further examinations of the same subjects; with cnquiries whether the angels of the Scriptures were men or spirits; the later of which, by some l'niverealists, is denied, Supposed voyages of the angels, or spirits, out from their heaven into the ocean of space, before anything else was created; nature of mind; of free agency; strictures on Universalists' opinions 124 188 144 Proofs of the fall of the angels; refutation of soveral propo sitions of Balfour, which accuses the orthodox sects of deriving their there was which misled Eve was her lusts; with other curious matters, examined; God revealed to the angels; his reasons for creating freo agents, though he foreknew that some roould sin,... world was inade; and an account of those who fell in that trial; tho of creation, &c..... was, as spoken of by Isaiah the prophet; whether the king of Babylon or Satan the fallen angel,.. spoken of in the New Testamont; with other curious matters,...... that the worst hell there is in existence is in this life, examined ; and is found Psalms, lxxxvi. 13 ; with other interesting subjocts,..... in ages past, by fire, as this is to be; with proofs of such occurronces, 167 171 205 218 INDEX TO PART SECOND. Account of the operation of Satan, with the heads of our race-Adam and Eve; with further evidence of tbe real oxistence of Satan and evil spirits, with strictures on the Universalist belief, that are all the devils there are in existence; with other curious matters, aboat the fall of our first parents ..... broken the law about the torbidden tree, and offered its fruit to Adain, 227 246 |
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