me by their own confessions? Why may not my own opinions change as well as theirs? My ideas in this book are original, as I have never read much against universalism. How far my views now accord with those of any body of people, I scarcely know, having never read their systems much; but I have given my own views; and no body is responsible for the ideas but myself. On the other hand, I am responsible for no opinions but such as I voluntarily lay before the publick. Let no man accuse me of holding doctrines, or saying things that I have never written. Chapter IV. was written and published by the author in the latter part of the "Genius of Liberty." I have given it here, because many conceived it capable of doing much good, as it is a clear and brief vindication of revealed religion; though about one-third of it as originally published, is now omitted for want of room, The Renunciation has already produced much effect in the region where it appeared. And this book will do much in improving universalists, while it will convince many that their doctrine is but a pleasing visiou, unsupported by reason and Scripture, and never to be realized. And when the author shall sleep, cold and unconscious in the silent grave, where the storms of sectarian malice will fall in vain, he believes this book will be doing good--that it will be some instrumental in restraining the young, the giddy, and the passionate, from vice and ruin-will sometimes shake a criminal purpose-sometimes palsy the daring hand ere it strike a fatal blow; and blast the embryos of blood and horrour, ere they wring the soul with unavailing anguish.Lord grant it. Erie, Pa. Feb. 17, 1834. CONTENTS. Page. Notices and aspersions of universalist editors and preachers, ex- I. Notice of the Renunciation in the " Mag. & Advocate," of. CHAPTER I. RENUNCIATION OF UNIVERSALISM. HAVING become sufficiently established in my doubts of the truth and utility of the universalian doctrine, as a system, I now think it my duty to lay my dissent before the publick. That this important change in my sentiments and feelings may be the better understood, I shall give a partial or brief history of the operations of my mind. Passing over the reflections of early life, suffice it to say, that I became a preacher of universal salvation; and was ordained as such in Fairfield, Herkimer co. N. Y. about eight years ago,* I believed the doctrine true, and though, that in proportion as it was propagated, mankind would become good and happy. I preached in different parts far and near; and itinerated over an extensive region of country, suffering the excesses of heat and cold, and the pitiless peltings of stormy skies, and muddy roads. No danger or effort did I consider too great that was possible; for I believe, for a number of years, I should often have rejoiced in the martyr's privilege of attesting my faith. Some years since, however, I occasionally reflected that, although the doctrine *The universalist paper of New-York, as well as Rev. S. R. Smith, universalist preacher of Clinton, (N. Y.) interpret this to mean, that I commenced preaching only eight years ago, when in fact, I commenced preaching in the very region where the Renunciation was made, more than twelve years ago. For years, I preached universal salvation, without asking for any ecclesiastical connexion with universalists; but my meaning was as I said in the Renunciation, that I became a preacher of the doctrine; (but I conceived it of no importance when) and was ordained as such about eight years ago. Mr. Smith was at the ordination; and I should have supposed he might have understood me as I said, ordained, and not commenced preaching. The little hungry Fish, which tried to nibble something from the Renunciation at Jamestown, immediately after its appearance, did not so much as bite at that point, although it knew that I had preached in that place more than twelve years ago. had spread much faster than I had anticipated, it did not seem to produce the effects I had expected. This gradually cooled my ardour and diminished my zeal, so that for some years I cared but little whether I preached or not. In this state of mind, believing universalism to be the true sense of the Bible when rightly construed; and being unable to see any considerable good resulting from the system, I was much inclined to doubt divine revelation.* I could not go entirely into infidelity, nor feel much confidence in revelation. At length I heard of the bewitching fascinations of the infidelity of New-York; and read most of the eloquent effusions of that woman, who prostituted the splendid gifts, which heaven gave to honour and adorn her sex, to the execrable business of sapping the foundations of social order, and overturning the fair fabrick of female honour and happiness, and pouring corruption deep and boundless over all the sacred demarcations that distinguish mankind from brutes. At first, my mind was awfully contaminated with her sweeping and ruinous principles. But upon more deliberate reflection, I saw the vortex into which such principles must inevitably draw mankind. I saw it would be in the moral world like putting out the sun and moon and every star in the natural, barely because men had eyes of their own to see with. Such was my state of mind two years ago. I saw the necessity of religion, but still had only a cold, * Editors, &c. thought they had a great advantage of me, because I was honest enough to own, that I had been, at times, inclined to doubt divine revelation. Such inclination to doubt was not willingly cherished and entertained Now if the editors will risk their reputation with their brethren, and their interest with their subscribers, by declaring, upon their honour, that they were never inclined to doubt divine revelation in the common acceptation of the phrase; and if they will take as much pains in their papers, and devote as much room, to expose the faults of infidels, to impeach their motives, vilify and burlesque their actions, &c. as they have those of professed friends of christianity, for one year, I shall doubt not "the evident change in the moral complexion of their paper;" but more than three-fourths of their subscribers would discontinue! |