ings of all the general councils, or synods, from As me to lay before the readers of the Olive Branch, an abstract of the doings of all the Synods and general councils, for 400 years, from the date above mentioned (195): "all of which are faithfully collected, chiefly out of Eusebius, Socrates, and Evagrius, and where they are silent, out of other ancient writers: by Meredith Hanmer, Doctor in divinity ;" who translated out of the Greek tongue, the histories above mentioned. "The sixth edition corrected and revised, London, printed by Abraham Miller, 1663." It would be almost a waste of time, to read at large, the history of those councils: the result of their proceedings will be sufficient to show, that the time was spent very unprofitably; and my only object, in wishing them to be laid before the public, at this time, is, to lead the minds of men to things more important; namely, the duty of man to his fellow-beings, the only beings to whom we can be, in the least degree, profitable. For, "Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise, may be profitable unto himself?" Job, xxii. 2. Concerning the moral precepts of Jesus, there is generally no dispute. For although the language, in some places, may be rather over strained; yet, when all due allowance is made, for the style of writing in that day, it cannot be denied, but what Jesus taught the purest, and strictest morality. To love God with all the heart; and thy neighbor as thyself, implies all this, and nothing more. HONESTUS. ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILS. At Ephesus many of the Bishops of Asia (Minor) met, touching the celebration of the feast of Easter: where Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, was chief. In the six Synods, held more authority, than the other Bishops. He, in his city, and they in theirs, were chief. And whereas he went about to challange authority over the Eastern churches, Irenæus, Bishop of Lions, in France, reprehended him sharply for it. A. D. 205. There was a Synod held at Bostra where Origen confuted Berryllus, Origen was sent for to Arabia, where the Arabians were condemned, which denied the immortality of the soul. A. D. 218. There was a Synod held at Rome, in the time of Fabianus, where he, together with sixty other Bishops, removed the schism of Novatus, and others. A. D. 246. There was a Synod held at Rome, in the time of Cornelius where Novatus the heretic was condemned. Another Synod was held at Antioch, where Elenus B. of Tarsis, Firmilianus Bishop of Cappadocia, Theoctistus, Bishop of Palestine, and Dyonysius, Bishop of Alexandria, were, present to the condemnation of Novatus. Another at Iconium and Synaders, for receiving of hereticts, after repentance. A. D. 295. There was a Synod at Antioch, where Samosatenum was condemned. A. D. 271. A second Synod was held at Antioch, under Aurebianus, where Samosa was condemned and deprived the church. A. D. 273. There was a council of 300 Bishops called A council was held at Anegra, in Galatia, in There was a council held at Neocæsarea, A. council was called by Constantine at Rome, in the time of Miltiades, to reform the variance between Cæcilianus, Bishop of Carthage and his colleagues. A. D. 311. Constantine also called a council at Orleance, to remove the dissention risen between Bishops. Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, called there a council of many Bishops, where he condemned Arius, and accursed his heresy, writing unto the Bishops throughout Chrstendom, what opinions he held. [Arius held to the pre-existence of Christ, that he existed before all worlds that he was the creator of this world, though he, himself, was a created being. Some of the modern Unitarians, are Arians, though, it is believed, not many. EDS.] some erroneous doctrines in philosophy, refused to see the experiments by which they were confuted; and the observation of every day will give new proofs, with how much industry subterfuges are sought, to decline the pressure of resistless arguments; how often the state of the question is altered; the antagnist is wilfully misrepresented; and in how much perplexity the clearest positions are involved by those whom they oppose. "It is happy, when this temper discovers itself only in little things, which may be right or wrong without any influence on the virtue or happiness of mankind. We may, with very little inquietude, see a man persist in a project which he has found to be impracticable, or live in an inconvenient house because it was contrived by himself. These are, indeed, follies; but they are only follies; and however wild or ridiculous, they can very little affect others. fre "But such pride, once indulged, too qently operates upon more important objects, and inclines men to vindicate, not only their errors but their vices; to persist in practices which their own hearts condemn, only lest they should seem to feel reproaches, or be made wiser by the advice of others. Let every man, whose vanity betrays him into the least degree of corruption, consider what he is going to commit, by forcing his understanding to patronize those appetites which it is his chief business to hinder and reforın. "There is yet another danger in this practice; men who cannot deceive other, are very often successful in deceiving themselves; they weave their sophistry till their own reason is entangled, and repeat their potitions till they are credited by themselves. By often contend A general council was called at Nice, in Bithynion, of 818 Bishops, by Constantine Magnus, (Constantine the great,) the 20th year of Constantine Ann. Dom. 328. Some say, 326, some other 324, in the time of Sylvester, Bish-ing they grow sincere in the cause; and by long of Rome, where they condemned Arius, deba- wishing for demonstrative arguments, they at ted the controversy of Easter, laid down the last bring themselves to fancy that they have form of faith, commonly called the Nicene Creed, ratified the clause of One Substance, and wrote unto the Church of Alexandria, that they had deposed Arius. [The time of the Nicene Council is generally stated. A. D. 325. EDS.) There was at Rome, in the time of Silvester, a council of 277 Bishops, which ratified the Nicene Council, and condemned Arius, Photinus and Sabellius. A. D. 330. [The found them. They are then at the uttermost verge of wickedness, and may die without having that light rekindled in their minds, which their pride and contumacy have extinguished. Those men who can be charged with the fewest failings either with respect to abilities or virtue, are generally, most ready to allow them. So much,' says Celsus, 'does the open and artless confession of an error become a man conhis character!" heresy of Sabellius, consisted in saying, that, scious that he has enough remaining to support. "the Three persons in the Trinity were one." ED.] (To be continued.) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ERROR THE MARK OF A WISE AND GENEROUS MIND. "Though the fallibility of a man's reason, and the narrowness of his knowledge, are very liberally confessed, yet the conduct of those who so willingly admit the weakness of human nature, seems to discover, that this acknowledgement is not altogether sincere; and that with whatever cause they give up the claim of their neighbours, they are desirous of being thought exempt from faults in their own conduct and from errors in their own opinions. The obstinate opposition which we may observe made to confutation, however clear, to reproof, however tender, is an undoubted argument, that some natural prerogative is thought to be invaded, since it could not be considered as either shameful or wonderful to be mistaken, by those who thought themselves liable to err ; nor would they struggle with such earnestness "As all error is meanness, it is incumbent on. every man who consults his own dignity, to retract it as soon as he discovers it without fearing any censure so much as his own mind. As justice requires that all injustice should be repaired, it is the duty of him, who has seduced others by bad practice, or false notions, to endeavor that such as have adopted his errors should know his retraction, and that those who have learned vice, by his example, should by his example be taught amendment." DR. JOHNSON. The Rev. ABNER KNEELAND, by divine permission, will preach in the NewJerusalem Chapel, in Pearl near Chatham st. to-morrow, afternoon and evening. Services to commence at half past three, and at half past seven o'clock, P. М. The Rev. R. STREETER, from Portagainst an attack, that deprived them of noth. Tand, (Me.) is expected to preach in the Ist Universalist Church in Prince street, next May 24 ing to which they held themselves entitled. "I have heard of one, who, having advanced | Sabbath. 2. Resolutions. Resolved, That this meeting highly approves of the preaching, conduct, and moral deportment, both public and private, of the Rev. Abner Kneeland, since he has been in this city; also the liberality of his sentiments, and the candor and open frankness with which he handles all subjects of investigation. Resolved, That this meeting views with extreme regret, the causes that led to the separation of the Rev. Abner Kneeland, from the first Universalist Society in the City of New-York; and believe that those causes can be traced to a few restless individuals, Trustees of said society. James Polhemus, Wm. Ryer, jun. Jeremiah S. Ames, Abias Hall, Luke Gage, Charles T. Hutton, Andrew Z. McCarty, George W. Wardell, J. P. Brown, N. I. Derich, Charles Nichols.-70 TO SUBSCRIBERS. If any of our city Subscribers have not Resolved, That this meeting highly approves received the Olive Branch, they are requested of the bold and independent stand, taken by Mr. Kneeland, not to continue any longer the Pas- to leave their names, &c. at the office, or with tor of a church, under circumstances, in which WM. W. MORRIS, Secretary and Librarian, at low where he fell, and was found alive ne xt morning on the opposite bank of the stream, after having remained all night in the cold and rain. He has now recovered. On Tuesday last, a little boy fell into the Delaware. His sister, aged 16, jumped in and caught him, but both would have been drowned had it not been for the timely aid of Capt. Perroteau; to whom the father of the children, Thomas Megrau, has returned his thanks. Intemperance. The victims of intemperance in using ardent spirits appear to be increasing since the statistics on this subject were published-societies constituted, &c. &c. This vice is not to be written down or preached to destruction. It must be destroyed by good example and early. education. Let the fashionable or rich champaigne Nat. Adv. driukers begin at home. From the Liberalist. That God should have created any part of he had been placed by the acts of the majority the Library room, back of the Bowery Hotel, mankind for the purpose of inflicting upon of the Trustees; which acts, in the opinion of corner of Bowery and Pell-street, where also this meeting, may be traced to the individuals, Subscriptions are received. as moving causes above named. Resolved, That William Honay, Cornclius Harsen, Thos. P. Walworth, Wm. Durell and Abram Bogart, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Abner Kneeland, and present him with a copy of these Resolutions, signed by the Chair of man and Secretary of this ineeting; also a copy of the minutes of the last meeting; and to solicit him, in the name, and on the behalf this meeting, to remain in the city, until a new Society can be duly organized, and to give him - the assurance, that we will use all due diligence to effect the same. WILLIAM HONAY, Chairman. Items of News. them, an endless punishment, is utterly inconsistent with his nature. It does not comport with his justice; it does not comport with his mercy, neither doth it consist with his good had ordained the penalty of the punishment, Greece. The latest dates from Napoli ness. Justice, when it requires a penalty for are up to March 3d. Athens was delivered the breach of any moral, or civil law, insists from the Turks. Two Greeks had penetra- upon that penalty having been known by the ted through the besieging army during the person to whom it is adjudged, before he had night, and brought back a very encouraging committed the offence. But suppose God report from Karaiskai who had just gained a brilliant victory over Omer Pacha, and was well fortified at the Pirœus. They also concerted a combined plan of attack, which succeeded: the Pacha suffering an entire defeat, with the loss of much provision, &c. The following tokens of respect, have been han- which was taken into the citadel. ded in as volunteers. Notwithstanding the assertions contained in a supplement to the Telescope of May 12, 1827 -We the undersigned, think it due to ourselves and to candor, to state to the world, that we have an undiminished confidence in the integrity, intelligence, and purity of motives, of the Rev. Abner Kneeland, and regret that his motives in any respect should have been so perverted, as to hold him up to Society in any manner or shape, which would tend to lessen his usefulness as a divine, citizen. For ourselves we consider him deserving The battle gave opportunity to another Greek heroine to distinguish herself. The widow of Gouras charged the barbarians at the head of her husband's troops, and fell like him in the inundated defence of Athens. The Press in France. The liberal party in France have obtained another most signal triumph, in the failure of the bill to restrain the Press. There is every reason to expect that this victory will be the final one, and that no more vigorous attempts will be made for the commission of sins in this world.How could it be just? seeing that the penalty is not inflicted in the world where the sin is committed; but is carried into a state of being to which we are utterly strangers, not knowing the mode of existence, not knowing how the punishment is to be inflicted, nor how it is to affect us? In order to make a penalty of that nature just, it must be absolutely necessary to shew us (not as in a glass darkly) but openly, clearly, and extensively, our future state, the mode of our existence, the manner in which the punishment is imposed, in order that men may see the penalty in all its bearing, before they com mit the offence-this is what a just lawgiver would have propounded, in affixing the penalty of endless punishment for the commis of sin-and that been the case, to abridge in an important degree the free- should our Creator have unveiled to us the dom of writing, or to reduce the number of condition of our future existence, and impressed in awful characters on our understandings-the unextinguishable anguish, and unutterabie horror of an endless punishment, and that punishment as much more painful, as a spiritual being is more senitive than a corporal one-had our God done this we should then have known the full extent of the penalty, and have fallen down in his presence and requested him in mercy to have taken our lives into his own keeping, A son of Mr. Polhamis, of Marlborough, Ulster county, aged nine years, on the 22d of April, fell from the precipice of the falls at that place, a distance of two hundred and and save as the awful responsibility. But seven feet, among the rocks, into the creek, how is it according to the theory of orthoand was carried by the stream 200 feet be-doxy?-From this world some are taken 16 from the green sward of infancy, and trans- instrukt yun pèpl. Fèr it is to Let timbril herp ä òrgan jan, Old pepl He bosum swels, in glòin stràns: edge. What is this but the wrath of a Jug- er so avérç to évuré hin hat has Jéhova God, ur Savyur rans. gernaut, who requires the torment of some he apèranç ev inovan, hat to unguiltless victim, grinding to pieces beneath durtak to čanj ie praktiç ev fifté the weight of his iron car? This does not his mercy is over all his works, and a His plézúr, wil, ä púrpus wun, at all comport with the mercy of God; for milyuns ev pèpl, wil sem to bé suč being á Herkuléan task, ħat we expéxt To ras he suns ev men to hevn. of infinite mercy could not pour out the tem- but litl enkúrijment from ħem.pest of his wrath in a perpetual storm of fire Wé hav rèsn to bles or størs, if we Hen bé thỉ nàm, o God, adòrd ! and brimstone, throughout the endless craves do not mét wifi á décided oposisli. Let hévn ä erħ ħí praz rékòrd; of eternity, upon a poor worm that is crush ed before the moth, and whose every mo ment of existence is subjected to his control! But, perhaps, it is á hápé súr- Hro Krist, let bundles mércé slin. No; before a being possessed of the attri- kumstanç, on the hol, fiat mankind & mák el nàčúr hólé hìn. butes with which God is clothed, would kánot liv élwás. For elñò it is to Extend he nelej ov ħí luv; make himself the author of so much misery- bé dèplé régréted, ħat muč lérnin Mák év'ré hørt obėjéent prov; he would crush the whole frame of creation dis wih he den ev he lérned, yit it From sin ä vìç, he wurld réklàm, entity; and command the fair work which is sum konsolan to lern ħat méné As tréfés ev hí glòréus nàm. he once pronounced good, to vanish from ev hêr prėjúdices élso di with them. with all the creatures that inhabit it, into non before him. INSTALLATION. Μ. Wé fèl konfédent, ħat in a véré slèrt Hen dal hí nàm hav éndles pràs, tìm, wé slal mák yun pèpl, not onlé From év'ré sòl, in déħles làz; akwanted, but evn familyur wih Hen skal hí tròh ä luv bé sun, From év'ré hert, en év'ré tun. Duxbury, Mass. his sistem ov ritin; èvn béfòr há er Br. Calvin Gardner was installed, as Pastor of the Universalist Society in on Wednesday the 11th March. Religious Inquirer. awêr ev it, unlės ñá er détermind O tùn or herts for ħat blest dáto slut her is agenst it. Hòs hà In koncert wil wé jan he lá; er no yun, er inkrèsin in aj évuré O giv us lit, to sé ħat graç, tation to supply the Socicties in Charlton and da. Er suns a déturs, her no Hoid sanktéfis he human raç. Br. Massena B. Ballou has accepted an invi Brookfield. Ib. As ye would that others should do unto you; do ye the same unto others: and as ye would not that others should do unto you; do ye not unto others. Ye need no other law but this: it is the foundation and principle of all the rest. JUST PUBLISHED And for Sale, by the author, No, 80 Princestreet. Price $6 25 a hundred, $1 00 a dozen, but čildren, if ħa liv, wil son bé men ä wimen; a hoil fie formur Hoen slal she nans God haħ màd, and 12 1-2 cents single. A KEY TO THE N. B. The above work is designed as an introduction to the Pronouncing Spelling Book. expressly for that purpose. The five first verses contain all It contains between fifty and sixty cuts, of beasts, the characters except ê and ñ; the birds, etc. both amusing & instructive to youth. 6th and 7th verses were added to the page in the Spelling Book. Mr. NELAND, for his òn amus- fill up ment, as wel as to amus, at lèst, a The last verse has now been added cértin pòrñ ev his rèdurs, wil giv for the sake of introducing ê a îñ. A HIM OV PRAS. á dèrt pèç in èč númbur in his nù sistem ev erħegrafé. Hès wil Sin to ne Lòrd á nòbl sen, konsist ev anekdots, méral senté- Jan év'ré hørt ä év'ré tun, ments, ä uhur dert skėčes, pertik- In tùnfol nots, wih rapčúr pras; úlurlé désind to amus as wel as Exult ä slut in hévnlé làs. What would any one think of us, were we to say. in substance, "We admit that we did lie, but we lied for peace sake!!!" Should we be considered peaceSee the Telescope of this day. We kers, or not?!! shall add no more: for it is base to triumph over a fallez Books for Sale. Al No. 80 Prince-Street. Mr. Kneeland keeps a variety of Books for sale, on the doctrine of Universal Salvation: among which are the following, viz. Greek Testament, according to Griesbach, $250.-Greek and English do. with critical and explanatory Notes, $3 50.; Do. in boards, ss English do. with all the Notes of the Greek and English, $150.- Kneeland's Lectures, deliver Sermons, delivered in Philadelphia, 50 cents.Also the American Definition and PronounSing Spelling Books, each 25 cents. Keeland's mon, 12 1-2 cents. -Key to the New OrthoEaster Sermons, 18 cents.--Funeral Sergraphy, 12 1-2 cents. ed Philadelphia, 75 cents. Ballou's Eleven 12 1-2 cents. Three JOB and BOOK PRINTING, in all their variety, executed, at the Office of the Olive Branch, in the best manner, and on the most reasonable terms. OLIVE BRANCH. 1 T PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE NEW-YORK UNIVERSALIST BOOK SOCIETY. BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY." IF THE OLIVE BRUNEL Is Published every Saturday morning in the rear o the Bowery Hotel, corner of Bowery and Pell-street. TERMS.-City Subscribers, $250, payable in advance Mail Subscribers, $2 a year payable on the receipt of the first number. No subscription will be re ceived for less than a year, which includes one volume. C. NICHOLS, Printer. A SERMON, ON THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD. The following is one of the eight Lectures delivered by Mr. Kneeland, at Philadelphia, in the Autumn of 1818; called KNEELAND's LECTURES. (Continued from page 10.) LECTURE II. 4. I am to speak of the immutability of the purposes of JEHOVAH. NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1827. not alienated the affections of his Maker. That || No. 3. ing, we could not place unlimited confidence in "It of its being in their power to carry their good intentions into effect. according to strict justice. For all the punish- beings is only in proportion to the evidence we The selling of Joseph, by his wicked brethren, was wisely ordered by HIM who meant it unto good, and therefore necessary to keep much people alive. The keeping much people alive was the good done. And the destruction of that very people, who were thus kept alive, was the evil prevented. So the most afflictive dispensations in divine providence, we are often brought to see, are nothing more than bles led 10 This proposition is so self-evident, it is hardly susceptible of proof. Immutability seems to be a property essential to the Deity. Being infinite in all his attributes, nothing can be added to them or taken from thein; and therefore they are not liable to change: hence he is unchangeable in all his perfections. And, what is very comforting, he gives this as a reason why the objects of his love are not consumed. "I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Mal. iii. 6.) "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." (Isa. xlvi. 10.) "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations " (Ps xxxiii. 11.) The above passages, though few out of many that might be quoted to the same effect, are sufficient to prove that God is immutable in his nature, in his purposes, and in all his ways. Hence his love and affection towards his creatures cannot be weakened, much less destroyed, by sin; neither can it be strengthened, much less produced, by the sinner's forsaking his sin and turning unto the Lord. The only difference there is, is altogether in the creature, and not in the Creator. The sinner, while in a a state of sin, does not, nay, cannot, enjoy the love of God. Sin beclouds his understanding, and he sees his Maker through a false medium. He believes his God to be offened, yea, angry with him, when, at the same time, this supposed anger is nothing more than a disapprobation of sin, growing out of real love to the sinner. It is so with all good [earthly] parents. The displeasure which they manifest, on account of disobedience, grows out of real love and effec-oing against the best of Beings, or that they tion to their children. Now, if there be any of the human race, to whom God is not love, for whom he has no thoughts of mercy, and who are not included in the covenant or purposes of his grace, how is it possible, in the very nature of things, that we should place full and unlimited confidence in him, as being love, or possessing any thoughts of mercy towards us? If there be but individual of the human family, who is in this pridicament, I may be, for ought I can know to the contrary, that very individual. But perhaps it may be said, there is evidence by which the elect inay be assured that they belong to this happy number, and are appointed to obtain salvation. But I may be permitted to ask, in my turn, if there be such a contradiction in the character of God, on what evidence can I rely? I will suppose that you are under the dominion of a king, whose laws, you know that not only you, but all the rest of his subjects, have transgressed; and you also know, uotwithstanding there is much said about his sovereign and all-conquering grace, that he has predetermined to bestow that grace only on a very few, and such a case, be satisfied with any evidence, as coming from him, that he meant to do any better by you? I think not. sings in disguise. Good old Jacob was The objector may still say, as an apology for the character of this king, that he has promised to forgive all who repent and turn to perfect obedience: the subjects, therefore, have onl to repent, and return to their allegiance, and he will certainly forgive them; for the king is faithful to forgive all who shall faithfully repent. But here, in answer, the same difficulty again occurs; it is the goodness of the king, and nothing short of a manifestation of that goodness to the subject, which can lead him to repentance; short of this, he has no power to repent: and the king, inasmuch as he has preshould ever have performed acts so unworthy determined that some should not be forgiven, This will lead us to discover the nature of for- of him, or of them, as his children (for sinuing so he has determined to withhold that goodness giveness. Forgiveness, in imperfect and against the messenger of God, is sinning against from them, which alone can lead them to such changeable creatures, i. e. in man, may be a God himself;) and at the same time overwhelm- a repentance as he will accept. Here, again, real relinquishment of a punishment which was ed with joy and gratitude, to think that his wis- we are brought up! absolutely intended to have been inflicted: but hot so with the Deity. He changeth not. Therefore, forgiveness in him can be nothing pore than a manifestation of his unchangeabl jature to the sinner. When this is done, the sin ter discovers that his sins, however great, have dom, his goodness, and his gracious designs to- All our confidence in the Deity rests in our voice, or who shall hereafter read these lecorm belief in his immutability. Did we be-tures, that every scheme of divinity which lieve him changeable, or even capable of chang-limits the plan of divine grace to a part of man 18 kind, or admits into its system the idea that God pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, Q. Can the will of God be frustrated? A. No. For there is no power but of God: spirit of the gospel; turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; Acts xxvi. 18. Every one that loveth, is born of God. John iv. 7. Q. Will all mankind be blessed with this new birth? A. Yes: For in this mountain shall the the powers that be, are ordained of God. Rom. Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of they are pleased to call the finally impenitent. army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of begotten Son into the world? ers (as I must think them to be) sometimes have A. God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world; 1 John iv. 14; to destroy the works of the devil; 1 John iii. 8; and to save that which was lost; Matt. xviii. 11; to finish trans and to give eternal life to as many as the Fa- with themselves, and should realize for one mo-gression and make an end of sin; Dan. ix. 27; O, ye blinded Christians! Say not that I have misrepresented the character of the Being ye profess to worship. It is but the echo and counterpart of your own preachers; only put in different language. But I will dwell upon this horrible picture no longer i. e. at present; and if any thing has been said which is thought to savour of a want of friendship towards any class of people, I can assure them that no such thing has been intended. I do really believe that the creeds of men, still followed by a large majority of the Christian world, contain within themselves fundamental errors; and it is only for the sake of undeceiving those who have been deceived by them, that I use this great plainness of speech. I say, followed, rather than believed; for there are many who follow those creeds, and aid in supporting the abettors of them, because they are popular, or from some other cause, best known to themselves, of whose understandings I have too good an opinion to suppose they believe them. (Concluded in our next.) Serions and important questions, answered from the Scriptures, by Miss Lucy Barnes (deceased) of Poland, Maine. Question. What is the will of God with regard to mankind? Answer. That all men should be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. ii. 4. And having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good Q. How many hath the Father given him? Q. What is eternal life? Q. Will all mankind be blessed with the A. Yes: for they shall not teach every man Q. But Christ saith, Ye will not come unto A. Yes: For all that the Father hath given to me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out: for I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me; and this is the Father's will that hath sent me, that of alt he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day; John vi. 37-39. Q. Can any enjoy the kingdom of God ex- A. No: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, ex- fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees, well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain, the face of the covering cast over all people; and the veil that is spread over ali nations; Isa. xxv. 6, 7. And all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee; Psa. xxii. 27. Q. But will not some remain in a state of misery, to cry and groan to all eternity ? XXV. 8. A. No: For the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his earth, for the Lord hath spoken it; Isa. people shall he take away from off all the Q. When will this be accomplished ? A. When the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away; Isa. xxxv. 10. Q. Who are the ransomed of the Lord? A. All mankind: For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time; 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6. Q. But will not some be punished with endless or eternal death? A. No: For the Lord will swallow up death in victory; Isa. xxv. 8.--The last enemy shall be destroyed, death; 1 Cor. xv. 26. Q. When will death be swallowed up in victory? A. When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on Immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying, that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death! where is thy sting? 0 grave! where is thy victory? 1 Cor. 15, 54, and 57. Q. Will not some remain in a state of enmity against God, and in opposition to his will and government, and blaspheme his holy name to all eternity? A. No: For thus saith the Lord, I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of iny unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue mouth, righteousness, and shall not return, that shall swear, surely shall say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength; Isa. xlv. 23, 24. And thus saith St. John the divine, Every creasuch as are in the sea, and all that are in them, ture which is in heaven, and on the earth, and heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever; Rev. v. 13. Q. Will all the promises ever be fulfilled? A. Yes: For God is not a man, that he should lie, neither is he the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? hath he spoken and shall he not make it good? Num. xxiii. 19. Q. Will not the unbelief of some exclude them for ever from the enjoyment of these promises? A. No: For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God with A. Being born into the glorious liberty and I out effect? God forbid; yea, let God be true |