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SERMONS

IN VINDICATION OF

UNIVERSALISM,

BY PITT MORSE,

PASTOR OF THE FIRST UNIVERSALIAN CHURCH
AND SOCIETY IN WATERTOWN, N. Y.

"Omnia explorate: bonum tenete.”

IN REPLY

ΤΟ

"LECTURES

ON

UNIVERSALISM;

BY JOEL PARKER,

Pastor of the 3d Presbyterian Church, Rochester,"

WATERTOWN:

PRINTED BY WOODWARD & CALHOUN.

9947 iP3

те

соро

Northern District of New-York, to wit:

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the fifth day of August, Anno Domini, 1831, PITT MORSE, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the title of which is in the words following, to wit :-"Sermons in vindication of Universalism, by PITT MORSE, Pastor of the first Universalian Church and Society in Watertown, N. Y. 'Omnia explorate: bonum tenete," in reply to 'Lectures on Universalism, by Joel Parker, Pastor of the 3d Presbyterian Church, Rochester;' the right whereof he claims as Author, in conformity with an Act of Congress, entitled an Act to amend the several Acts respecting Copy Rights. RUTGER B. MILLER. Clerk of the Northern District of New-York.

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SERMON I.

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke 13. 24.

Mr. Parker's Lectures against Universalism, form a rare production. It is an uncommon occurrence for a Clergyman of talents and intelligence to write and publish systematic arguments, designed to overthrow Universalism. Many avail themselves of the prejudices of the world-stigmatize that glorious doctrine, and labor to prevent a fair investigation or even hearing of it. Within a few years, L. Beecher D. D. of Boston Mass. has delivered Lectures against Universalism, in different places, and promised to publish them; but has never redeemed his promise. Mr. Parker has certainly had more courage than his distinguished New England coadjutor in the defence of the eternity of human misery. I enter most cheerfully upon a full and careful inves tigation of Mr. P's Lectures, because they appear to have been written with ability and some degree of candor.

He says "the purity and extent of the law, the richness of divine mercy, the glory of divine justice, and the eternal rewards of a future state, were topics which mingled themselves with his" (the Saviour's) "common discourse." The eternal rewards of a' future state were never mentioned by Jesus Christ on any occasion! Mr. P. should have recollected

the distinction between assertion and argument.He has not furnished any evidence to sustain that assertion. Again he says, "In the words just cited" (i. e. our text) "he" (Christ) "urges men to make a vigorous effort to enter upon that course of life which conducts the soul to heaven." The text certainly says nothing of conducting "the soul to heaven." Mr. P. would not only have us take it for granted that he has stated the true meaning of the text, but that heaven means eternal blessednessand infers that "many will ultimately fail of the blessing" of which he had been speaking. He must have calculated largely upon the credulity of Universalists, to suppose they would attach the same authority to his unsupported statements, that they do to the word of God! We believe our text has no relation to the final condition of mankind. See the question contained in the 23d verse, "Lord are there few that be saved?" Our text is a part of the answer to that question. The answer is finished at the end of the 30th verse. The question was asked by a Jew, under the influence of Jewish prejudices. It is notorious that the Jews expected their promised Shiloh would be a secular Prince-confine his favors to the children of Jacob-deliver them from Pagan vassalage and render their nation the glory of the earth. Under the influence of this prejudice, the disciples asked Christ at the period of his resurrection "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom again to Israel?" A vision from heaven was necessary to destroy this prejudice in the mind of Peter. From all these circumstances, it is plain that he who asked the question, "are there few that he

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