THE MISSION OF UNIVERSALISM. BY JOHN S. LEE. 66 WHEN James and John entreated the Saviour to command fire to come down from heaven and consume those Samaritans who refused to receive them, Jesus turned and rebuked them, saying, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." How little then did his disciples realize of the nature of that religion which he came to set up in the earth! And even after his resurrection and ascension, when their conceptions had become somewhat enlarged, and the designs of their Master better understood, they had still very vague and limited views of that system which embraced in its farreaching grasp all the kingdoms of the earth, and had for its object the overthrow of all error and the raising of universal man to that state of excellence for which his Creator designed him. With their vision blurred by Jewish bigotry and prejudice, Peter and his associates looked not beyond the pale of the synagogue, and did not even suspect that the Gentiles, despised and down-trodden of men, forsaken of God, were to be admitted upon equal terms, with the special favorites of heaven, to that covenant of mercy which was now bursting in all its glory upon the dark world. And it was not till the persecuting Paul had been subdued by the power of truth, and Peter had received a special message from "the Father of lights," that the apostles and their brethren were able to comprehend the full measure of that love which "had granted unto the Gentiles also repentance unto life." And even at the present day, when this system of impartial grace is making such bold and wide-spread conquests, and its regenerating power is beginning to be felt in every department of life, how little is its spirit realized ! How many, like the ancient Jews, affect to ridicule its pretensions, and predict its speedy dissolution! But vain are all their hopes! "They know not what manner of spirit they are of." The light of God's all-subduing love will shine on until it reach even their darkened souls. "The world," which has so long opposed this system and expected its overthrow, has not yet learned our character and position. They still retain their narrow views and prejudices. Believing themselves the special favorites of the Most High, they limit his grace and understand not his designs, being ignorant of the great truth that God hath opened the doors of salvation to the Gentiles also. And we fear they will not be able to realize this truth till a second Paul from their number shall be converted by the interposition of our divine Master, and a second Peter shall be enlightened by a "special illumination" from the Spirit of all truth. The Mission of Universalism,-this is a great, a glorious theme! We have already seen its magic power triumphing over much that is inconsistent with its spirit. But when with the eye of faith we look forward to its more extensive victories, our minds become lost in the grandeur of the prospect! But much remains to be done before we shall be permitted to witness the full measure of its power. How desolating the inroads of sin, sorrow, and death in our midst ! yet these shall all be swept away. Christ shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possessions. 1. All error shall disappear. Universalism is built upon the broad foundation of God's illimitable and undying love. It is interwoven into the very elements of his being, and flows necessarily from his character. It is a system, too, in harmony with all the holiest desires of every humane heart. It commends itself to the enlightened reason of every reflecting mind. Such a scheme, then, emanating from the God of all truth, in harmony with the holiest feelings of every soul, must finally prevail. God, angels, and men are coworkers in its advancement. Who can successfully oppose its progress against such a combined power? We now, indeed, see much error in the world, enslaving the minds of men, and shutting out that light which is struggling to gain admittance there. But our Saviour has said to such, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This is the legitimate effect of truth when received into the mind;-it frees it from everything that can enslave its powers or disturb its peace. How many are now writhing in the chains of error,-how many have imbibed false views of God,-limited his goodness and enrobed his character in habiliments of gloom! But the veil shall be removed from their eyes, and they shall be permitted to see their heavenly Father in his true character. Pagan darkness and superstition shall disappear before the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Pigotry shall no more be known. All systems at variance with the scheme of impartial love shall be destroyed, for the Lord hath spoken it. He hath declared that "he will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations." 3. All sin shall be taken away. The mere worldling, whose narrow vision reaches not beyond earth's gloomy abode, looks on the vices and follies of man, so deep, and so universal, that he pronounces them eternal, ever destined to cling to the heart, and sport with the few, fleeting intervals of happiness which fate has allotted us. But not so does he whose faith enables him to look beyond the present and scan the mysteries of God's designs, regard these things. Hope bids him not despair, for noble scenes shall yet greet his wondering eyes. He now sees anarchy reigning in the moral world,-passion, envy, hatred, strife, crime, in all their forms, ruling there. 'The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." But this shakes not his faith. Even in the midst of apparent death, the moral world exhibits signs of returning health. Mankind are better now than in the Saviour's day. Notwithstanding the cries of those fanatics who assert that "the world is waxing worse and worse," the moral element is much more powerful than at any previous period. Reform in everything that tends to ennoble the mind or sanctify the heart, is the watchword of the day. The notes of war are dying away, never more to alarm our fears ;--revenge is disappearing before the march of a nobler principle,-atrocious crimes are less known, the great principles of kindness and love are every day gaining a stronger hold upon society. And to what shall this be ascribed? Surely not to the influence of those doctrines which encourage men in those very practices from which their advocates would fain dissuade them. The system of cruelty and revenge never can expel these principles from the minds of men. Opposites only neutralize and destroy opposites. How, then, can sin be banished from the world? By the introduction of love,-by teaching the sinner that God loves him, even while rebelling against him, that peace can be found only in wisdom's ways. Let men be taught that the violation of the laws which regulate their moral being, is the cause of all the moral evil in the universe, that happiness can be secured only by ceasing to infringe upon these laws, and sin and its dreadful consequences would soon disappear. Let the sinner be made to realize that the love of a compassionate Father is falling in all its melting tenderness upon his disobedient soul,—that God loves him even when his heart is polluted with sin, and how can he resist its all subduing power? Le love be infused into his inmost soul, and sin will have no further charms for him; "for how shall he that is dead to sin live any longer therein ?" "Love is the strongest principle in the universe, and will prevail." Nothing can resist its power. Christ shall conquer,-"his blood cleanseth from all sin." He shall finish transgression,-make an end of sin,make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousness. Dan. ix, 24. 3. All suffering and sorrow shall die away. Much of the sorrow which falls to the lot of humanity arises from sin, and, consequently, must disappear with it. But much exists which does not seem to be directly produced by a wilful violation of the laws which govern our moral being. And how universal is the prevalence of this enemy of our peace! How does it enter into all the scenes of life, poisoning all our blessings, chilling all our hopes! Disappointment lurks in the fairest paths,-grief darkens the soul's sunniest hours, --death rudely sunders the strongest ties,-the eternal silence of the grave buries the dearest objects of our affection! How sudden and overwhelming are the inroads of sorrow ! "There is no darkness like the cloud of the mind, But grief shall not forever dwell with man. Joy shall spring up in the pathway of gloom. The light of love shall arise and shine upon the benighted world. From the lowest depths of the tomb shall come up the voice of gladness, bidding us despair not, for we shall live again. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." The scheme of universal grace looks forward to the time when all tears shall be wiped from off all faces, when death shall be conquered, when "the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; when they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Such are some of the objects which the mission of Universalism contemplates. And how glorious this mission,-how full of hope to him who is toiling for the good of his fellowmen, who is seeking to raise them from the depths of ignorance and moral degradation! Other schemes have been devised, but their spirit was partial, and their operations, consequently, limited. Their effect has been to dampen 30 VOL. III.-NO. VIII. the hopes of the philanthropist, and discourage him in his efforts for the reformation of the world. It is the spirit of Universalism only that can effect what he is laboring to accomplish. It was this which animated the hearts of the patriarchs and prophets, and gave them such implicit confidence in Him who had promised to bless all the nations and families of the earth in the seed of faithful Abraham. It was this which cheered the heart of our beloved Redeemer, while pursuing his lonely pilgrimage through this lower world, and enabled him to endure the agonies of Gethsemane and Calvary. It was this which induced the apostles to give up all earthly interests, and go forth to labor in the vineyard of their divine Master,-which emboldened them to attack the errors of the times, and thus prepare the way for the final ushering in of the latter day of glory. It was this which sustained the sainted Murray, when, amid strife and man's wrath, he sought to promulgate those glorious truths on our own shores, which have spread far and wide, and have done much already to banish error and bigotry from our midst. Let all, then, who are laboring in the cause of humanity be incited by the same heavenly truths, knowing that their labor is not in vain in the Lord. THE FOUNDATION OF MORAL VIRTUE. BY REV. L. C. TODD. AN article appeared in No. 3 of the present volume of the Miscellany, on the Nature, Constitution, and Claims of Virtue," by Rev. W. H. Fernald, which is worthy to be admired on account of its style, and the beautiful suggestions and quotations it contains. Its extracts from Combe present the variety of opinions that abounds about the foundation of morality. And its extract from Dr. Chalmers is a most vivid and beautiful concentration of all those views into one grand and cumulative argument in favor of the overwhelming superiority of virtue, and its high claims to universal and undeviating practice. But in giving an opinion as to the foundation of virtue, I think the writer also has erred. I may not understand his -meaning, but if I do, I am constrained to think him mis |