ADDRESS TO CHRISTIANS

IN RELATION TO

UNIVERSALISTS AND UNIVERSALISM.

GAL vi. 7.

BE NOT DECEIVED.

RESPECTED FRIENDS:

If you have prayerfully considered the examination of Universalism, and the exhibition of its moral tendency, which have been laid before you in these lectures, you need no additional proof to convince you that it is a most pernicious error. You will admit that its claims, as a religious system, are unfounded; that it is supported only by assumption, by sophistry, and by a violent wresting and palpable perversion of the Word of God. It is a delusion of the most dangerous kind; and he who trusts it is in danger of doing an irreparable injury to his own soul.

Universalism is in the midst of you; and you must meet it. Your sons and your daughters are exposed to its seductions; and you must protect them. What, then, is your duty in respect to this delusion? Will you indulge me in a few suggestions on this subject? I offer them from the conviction that, if heeded, they will guide you in the path of duty.

1. BE NOT Deceived in rESPECT TO THE DOCTRINES OF UNIVERSALISM.

You are in danger from this source. Many intelligent persons are not aware that modern Universalism, in any respect, differs from the system of Murray. And it is one of the great efforts of Universalist teachers to deceive in this respect. They will talk of "father Murray" and "father Mitchell," as though they held to the opinions of those men. Humanitarians as they are, they will talk of the divinity of the Savior. Revilers of experimental religion, they will talk about the new birth. And the terms faith, repentance, and holiness, they use without attaching any meaning to them. An acquaintance with the peculiar doctrines of Universalism as they now are, is essential to an enlightened opposition to this error.

2. BE NOT DECEIVED WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT UNIVERSALISTS ARE BECOMING MORE RELIGIOUS. Within a few months, the practice of these men seems to have undergone a change. They have, all at once, in words, become friends of religion, of revivals, and of prayer meetings. In some places, it is said, they have anxious seats, and invite persons to come forward for prayers. In some of our secular papers I have seen it stated that several persons were baptized by a Universalist minister, and joined a Universalist church. We have already seen what a profession of Universalism amounts to. It involves no moral change. None is required as a condition of church membership; none is expected. Should all the members of a Universalist congregation join the

church, it would not increase the strength of the body. And as to baptism, Universalists having no principle in the matter, they will immerse, or sprinkle, or do neither, as the case may demand.

Do you ask how I explain this change in the practice of Universalists, and the adoption of customs which they have so long and so violently opposed? I reply that the history of Sanballat the Horonite answers the question.

When Nehemiah visited Jerusalem, to repair the city, and thus take away its reproach, the enemies of Israel were "grieved exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel." A large and imposing force of enemies to the rebuilding of the city came upon this servant of God, to prevent the work. Sanballat, their leader, denied the right of Nehemiah to rebuild, and accused him of a design to rebel against the king. Nehemiah produced the authority of the king. Sanballat next tried to check the work by ridicule; but in vain. He next attempted to attain the desired end by violence, and gathered his forces together for battle. But the prophet was prepared even for this. Nor was the work delayed one hour. As a last resort, stratagem was employed. Sanballat professed to take a great interest in the work in which Nehemiah was engaged. The prophet had mistaken his movements entirely. He was not opposed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He was very glad the good work was going on, and most earnestly wished to take part in the holy enterprise. He invited Nehemiah to leave his work for a short time, and come down to hold with him a friend

ly interview. But the prophet knew the man.

"I

am doing a great work, and cannot come down," was the conclusive reply. (Neh. iv.—vi.)

At the commencement of their organized career, Universalists opposed the doctrines and customs of Christians, on the ground that they were not sanctioned by God. Little notice was taken of their statements, and it was found convenient to change the mode of attack. Ridicule was next tried. Their pulpits and papers abounded with caricatures of religion, with low jests about the habits of ministers, with ridicule of the convictions of the sinner, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the conference and prayer meetings. But still the work went on. came opposition. This has been the almost incessant work of the Universalist ministry for the past twenty years. No one who has glanced at their periodicals need be told of this. They challenge every body to a discussion, and if a minister preaches a sermon to his own people upon judgment, or eternity, he will probably have inflicted upon him a letter from some Universalist teacher, calling him to an account.

Then

But all has done little towards checking the increase of Orthodoxy. Denying the truth of its doctrines, ridiculing its customs and its labors, assailing its sacred truths by scoffing and misrepresentation, -all have failed to answer the end in view. "What do we?" is the language of these men. "One thing remains to be done. Let us be like the Orthodox. We will have revivals, prayer meetings, and baptisms. We will avouch that our opposition was misunderstood. We will invite Christians to help us, to come down

and meet us, assuring them that Christian union is a most delightful thing." Christians, be not deceived. Remember Sanballat and his craft. Remember also the words of Paul, "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth." (2 Tim. iii. 8.)

3. BE NOT DECEIVED BY ATTEMPTS TO GET YOU INTO A UNIVERSALIST MEETING.

Great efforts are made to get religious persons into a Universalist congregation. It gives a sort of respectability to the thing. The presence of such a person, in such a place, is at once known, and told of with great satisfaction. It is an inducement for others to do likewise.

A Christian cannot attend a Universalist meeting without violating the positive commands of God. We read, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." (Ps. i. 1.) If such a one is blessed, the man who does sit in the seat of the scornful is cursed. The beloved disciple says, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 10, 11.) Enter a Universalist meeting, and you do receive the preacher. You do, in fact, bid him God speed, and become a partaker of his evil deeds. You owe it to yourselves, to your race, and to the truth, that you keep from every place in which Universalism is advocated. Avoid them as the seats of the scornful, as the way that leads to hell.