Pilgrims and sojourners on earth, we are hastening to an eternal world, and a few more fleeting years will place even the youngest of us before the tribunal of Heaven. Whether we can abide the awful scrutiny which shall be instituted at the last great day, "for which all other days were made," is a question of infinite importance, and intimately concerns rational and accountable creatures. Amidst the din of controversy, and the jarrings of adverse parties, the opinions of the head are often substituted for the virtues of the heart, and thus is practical religion deplorably neglected. Fleeing, therefore, those pernicious disputes, which damp our devotion, and contract our benevolence, let us cultivate the means by which our faith may be invigorated, our hope enlivened, our charity confirmed, and our affections elevated to the things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God! The veil now thrown over the preliminary state, and concealing from our view celestial objects, shall be speedily removed. Then bidding adieu to prejudices which darken the understanding, irritate the temper, and deform the spirit, we shall embrace each other with perfect love, and shall be astonished at ourselves for having been on earth so addicted to unprofitable disputations, and so backward to the exercise of brotherly kindness, and of christian charity. We shall, indeed, be ready to exclaim in the words of holy Mr. Baxter-"Where are now our different judgements, reproachful names, divided spirits, exasperated passions, strange looks, and uncharitable censures ? Now we are all of one judgement, of one name, of one heart, house, and glory! O sweet reconciliation! Happy union! Now the gospel shall no more be dishonored by our folly !" Almighty God! look down on thine erring creatures. Pity their darkness and imperfection. Direct them into the truth as it is in Jesus. Banish from their hearts the bitterness of censure. Cherish in their minds a spirit of moderation and love towards their fellow Christians. To their zeal add knowledge, and to their knowledge, charity. Make them humble under the difficulties which adhere to their faith, and patient under the perplexities which accompany their practice. Guide them by thy counsel, and, through the mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, receive them into thy kingdom and glory. CONVERSATION WITH A CALVINIST MINISTER. The Editor of this paper, and the Rev. Mr. Woods, of Warner, N. H. having accidentally met at a tavern to refresh themselves, the following brief conversation took place. Mr. W. accosted Mr. B. with this abrupt and severe language: "Why do you go about preaching, when you and all your party are nothing but Deists?" This caused all the strangers, at once, to gaze intently on Mr. B. After a moment's pause, and all was silent, Mr. B. replied, "Mr. W. why do you call me and the Universalists deists? Why cast such an opprobrium on a sect of Christians who are the most distant from deism of any in the known world ?. It can easily be proved, sir, that the Calvinists are much nearer the deistical sentiment than the Universalists." "The Calvinist," says Mr. W. "much nearer deism than the Universalist? What do you mean? Proceed to prove it." "Well sir," says Mr. B. "that is easily done. You will admit, sir, it is presumed, that a deist does not believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth will save any one." "Yes," says Mr. W. "Well, then the proof is at hand. A Deist believes that Jesus Christ will save none; a Calvinist believes he will save a few; the Universalist believes he will save the whole. It is now submitted to your judgement, sir, to decide, whether the statement is proved or not." Mr. W. smiled, but made no reply. MINISTERIAL SPECULATION. In the interior of New-Hampshire, lived a Rev. Mr. a Calvinist minister, who was a member of the Bible Society in that State, and had a large number of bibles entrusted to his care, to distribute among the poor who were destitute of the scriptures. After this good minister had diligently sought after the poor, and supplied them with the word of life, he had a few extra scriptures left. What think ye the good man did in this case? He goes to one of his rich neighbors, makes sale of one of his bibles, and purchases himself a pair of geese. What can we call this but missionary like, literally feathering his own nest? Mr. Editor, MISCELLANEOUS. The following was sent me some time ago; but by reason of being on a sheet containing matter not intended for the Repository, and received at a time when many avocations called my attention, it was put away with other papers, and thus was overlooked. You will undoubtedly confer a favor by inserting it. S. C. LOVELAND. "Mr. Editor, "Having been a reader of your useful work since its commencement, I request you or some of your correspondents, to explain their views of John v. 28, 29, which speaks of a resurrection to damnation. ELIAS." Among the miscellaneous matter of the last volume, we ought to have noticed that the sermons, with the exception of the one preached at the funeral of Mrs. Sherwin, were from the pen of Br. Edward Turner. New Meeting-houses.-Three new meeting-houses are building for the Universalists: one at Haverhill, Mass. one at Nantucket, and one at Turner, Me. May the Lord bless and prosper these builders. OBITUARY. Died, in Dalton, N. H. April 23, Mrs. MARY BROOKS, wife of Rev. George W. Brooks, aged 20 years, 10 months, and 25 days. She was an affectionate wife, a kind mother, an obedient daughter, and highly respected by all her friends and acquaintances. As an example to the world, of her christian, fortitude, she died with all the composure of one going to sleep with a hope full of immortality. [Communicated.] POETRY. From the London Universalist Miscellany. TRUST IN GOD. "Consider the Ravens."-Luke xii. 24. CHRIST JESUS, our Lord, our teacher and king, Consider the Ravens, and doubt him no more. No. 2. HARTLAND, August, 1825. VOL. VI. SERMON, NO. XXIV. [This discourse was delivered in Reading, by Samuel C. Loveland, May 1st, and was designed to notice the departure of widow HANNAH BOUTELL, who died at Fitchburg, Mass. March 16, in the 55th year of her age. She left two brothers, Mr. Daniel and Paul Stearns, inhabitants in Reading, Vt. at whose request the discourse is published] Acts ix. 39.-Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into an upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing him the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. Our subject may appear, at first view, to embrace no matter that is interesting or important. The coats and garments which Dorcas made may be thought too unmeaning to form a suitable theme of contemplation for the present occasion. But, at a more careful view of our subject, taking into consideration the attending circumstances, we shall see that it embraces much of human experience. It shows how the tender emotions of love and regard for our friends that have left us, are excited and seems almost to call up the mourners of ancient times to our society, to make them fellow-participants of our griefs. The fruits of the past are the treasures of the present; and the most valuable and interesting of these, we wish to bear along with us to the future periods of our lives. We think it, therefore, highly proper that subjects of this nature should have a place in our devotions. The disposition of the human mind seems always to have been naturally the same. In affliction, it contemplates similar objects, and receives similar impressions. The coats and garments exhibited by the weeping widows, were the works of one who then lay a corpse before VOL. VI. 5 |