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and educate the soul. But while negatives have not power
to sanctify, their influence must be well nigh equal to any
system which is wanting in completeness. We need the
whole truth, not a part of it; and when the whole is not
preached, the mind will be left in a state of indecision, and
no entire control can be gained over it. For instance: It
must be true, that some will be endlessly punished, or that
some will be annihilated, or that all will be saved. Now, if
we say the first position is true, we can appeal to the fear of
endless Wo;
if we say the second is true, we can appeal
to the dread of annihilation; and if we say the third is
true, we can urge the righteous retribution of God, and
his infinite goodness. In each system, there is a com-
pleteness which gives it character, and brings the mind to
a decision. Each system gives a basis on which to stand,
and reveals the worst and the best in human fate, and thus
makes itself bear with all its powers upon human motives.
An awful uncertainty cannot answer the end of a perfect
system; for it does not, and cannot, fix positively the char-
acter of God or his government, and thus can neither have
the
power of fear, nor of love. Thus, that preaching which
does not indoctrinate in some form of faith, can never pro-
duce any marked effect. He that would build his people
up in the truth, must preach the truth.

In closing, we will say, that in presenting a likeness of each preacher, we think that we have given a great attraction to the volume. The engravings are well executed, and the likenesses are pronounced good by the best judges.

CONTENTS.

SERMON I

OUR PURPOSE, (Occasional), by Rev. T. P. ABELI, of Middle-

town, Ct., - Delivered in Metropolitan Hall, Wednesday after-

noon, September 15,

SERMON II.

TRUTH AND ITS SANCTIFYING POWER, by Rev. O. A.

SKINNER, of Boston, - Delivered in Orchard Street Church, Wed-

nesday evening, September 15,

-

SERMON III.

CHRIST THE HEIR OF THE WORLD, by Rev. A. A. MINER,

of Boston, Delivered in Bleecker Street Church, Wednesday

evening, September 15,

SERMON IV.

UNIVERSALISM NOT A DOGMA BUT A SYSTEM, by Rev.

W. H. RYDER, of Roxbury, Mass., - Delivered in Murray Street

Church, Wednesday evening, September 15,

SERMON V.

13

41

79

- 105

REPROACH OF UNIVERSALISM, by Rev. H. BALLOU 2d, of

Medford, Mass., - Delivered in the Hall of the Medical College,

Wednesday evening, September 15,

SERMON VI.

- 127

HOPE, by Rev. E. FISHER, of Salem, Mass., - Delivered in Wil-

liamsburg, Wednesday evening, September 15,

- 151

SERMON VII.

THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE GOSPEL, by Rev. I. D. WIL-

LIAMSON, of Louisville, Ky., —Delivered in Orchard Street Church,

Thursday evening, September 16,]

- 163

SERMON VIII.

COMING TO GOD, by Rev. A. G. LAURIE, of Buffalo, N. Y.,-

Delivered in Bleecker Street Church, Thursday evening, Septem-

ber 16,

- 185

SERMON IX.

INCENTIVES TO EFFORT, by Rev. S. P. SKINNER, of Chicago,

Ill., Delivered in Murray Street Church, Thursday evening,

September 16,

SERMON X.

201

€215

SHALL I SMITE, by Rev. G. W. MONTGOMERY, of Rochester, N. Y.,

- Delivered in the Hall of the Medical College, Thursday eve-

ning, September 16,

SERMON XI.

THE EXCELLENCE OF CHARITY, by Rev. THOMAS WHIT-

TEMORE, of Cambridge, Mass., - Delivered in Brooklyn, N. Y.,

Thursday evening, September 16,

SERMON XII.

233

CHRIST'S SACRIFICE, by Rev. MOSES BALLOU, of Bridgeport,

Ct., Delivered in Williamsburg, Thursday evening, September 16, 26

"For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."— ISAIAH lxii. 1.

WHATEVER room there may be for the exercise of critical skill in determining the authorship of the text, it will be regarded as sufficient for the present to say, that the language is clearly expressive of the feelings and desires of the one who employed it. It announces the settled resolution to labor for the enlargement and the prosperity of Zion-to pursue this great object without rest or cessation, "until the righteousness thereof shall go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."

We believe, my brethren, that we may say with safety, that our desires and aims are not wholly dissimilar to those indicated in the text. We