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trials and afflictions of this life. But here we find that, in many instances, they are not plagued and troubled like other men,"-the "rod of God is not upon them," but "they prosper in the world." We have, secondly, inquired whether they suffer the whole punishment of their sins in pain and distress of body? But here we find they suffer no more than the righteous. And lastly, we have inquired whether they suffer the whole desert of punishment in remorse of conscience? And here we find a class of wicked people, of people the most wicked, who suffer no remorse at all, because their consciences are seared with a hot iron, and past feeling. The result of the whole is, that the wicked do not receive their whole deserved punishment in this life, but that it awaits them in the life to come.

The dispute about future punishment is now reduced to a narrow compass. If my opponent replies to my arguments, he has got to prove, not that wicked men sometimes suffer much in this world, for this we admit ;-but that all wicked people suffer the whole punishment due to their transgressions in this life: because, if there are any who do not thus suffer, his system falls to the ground, and Universalism is found to be a fearful delusion. And I would press this point upon him, because it is all-important to the cause of truth. Should he attempt to satisfy himself, or this audience, with barely proving that "wicked men suffer and are punished in this life," he will only show

the weakness of his cause; because my argument requires this, and teaches that God uses a disciplinary punishment with them to bring them to repentance, and to fit them for heaven. If he would support his own cause, he must do more than this-he must show wherein my arguments are weak, and wherein I misapply the Scriptures; and he must show, not only that wicked people suffer and are punished in this life, but that all the wicked suffer all that their sins deserve; because, if only one does not so suffer, his doctrine is false, and universal salvation is a lie.

Let us suppose, then, as a suitable case for him to try the strength of his arguments uponlet us suppose that one of the despots of our earth, to gratify his pride and ambition, should place himself at the head of half a million of men prepared for the work of destruction and death. He goes forth trampling upon all laws human and Divine; he violates treaties, disregards justice, burns cities, ravages kingdoms, while destruction and misery every where mark his way; he makes indiscriminate slaughter of men, women, and children;-wantons in the miseries of his fellow creatures; sacrifices many ten thousands of his own subjects, and makes widows and fatherless children without number. Finally, he returns victorious, and leaves the kingdoms he has subdued to his heirs. It cannot be said that history furnishes no example of this kind. Now I care not whether it be said that this tyrant, after all this

crimes, past the remainder of his days in prosperity, and died in obdurate tranquillity, which is by far the most probable, or that he suffered in every possible way to the end of his life;-I ask whether it be possible for him to suffer in this life all that his crimes deserve?

The truth will appear in a still stronger light by contrasting to the condition of the prosperous wicked, the afflictions of many, very many of the holiest men that ever lived. How many of these have been poor, despised, oppressed, falsely accused, and treated as the filth and offscouring of the world,-chastened with strong pain, and plagued in various ways through their whole lives! The Divine testimony is, that they had "trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, of bonds and imprisonments;" that "they were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword;" that "they wandered about in sheep skins, and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented;" yea, they have suffered the spoiling of their goods,been torn from their families, immured in dark and loathsome prisons, loaded with chains, fed on bread and water, suffered anxiety and fear, and...... finally, perhaps after many years of constant suffering and pain, have been tortured to death by the most cruel methods the malice and ingenuity of their enemies could invent. Now, one of two things must be true, either that these holy persons suffered more than they deserved in justice, which it would be impious to say or that the prosperous wicked re

ceive less than their crimes deserve in this life. My opponent may take his choice of these consequences, and either will ruin his

scheme.

Nov. 28, 1827.

ANSWER V.

Remarks on Mr. Paige's Reply to Lecture III. "These shall go away into everlasting punishment,” Matt. xxv, 46.

Ir is with some regret I find myself compelled to remark on the productions of a new and absent antagonist this evening; but the course which my opponent has taken, has made it indispensable. Had he borrowed the sentiments of his brother Whittemore, and brought them here as his own, no exceptions could have been taken, especially if he had "given him due credit;" and this he certainly might have done. In this case his reply might have been in point; whereas now he has replied to some things not in my lecture, and has passed over more that are in it. His motive in introducing a third disputant I leave for others to decide; ;- -one thing all must agree in, that he could not have brought in Mr. Whittemore's misnamed reply to Mr. Scott, for the purpose of a pertinent reply to my lecture.

About two years since the Rev. T. Whittemore, of Cambridge Port, challenged the Rev.

0. Scott, of Charlestown, to a discussion upon doctrinal points, and offered him one page, once in a month, in the Universalist Magazine, for each of six pieces he should write, and the choice of subjects was left wholly to Mr. Scott. Mr. S. required some conditions, among which one was, that he should be allowed two pages in the Magazine for each of the six pieces. About ten months afterward Mr. W. complied with Mr. Scott's conditions; but when he found that Mr. S. did not reply to him, but pursued a forward course, he manifested a great degree of disappointment, and some irritation of feeling, which thenceforward changed the spirit and character of the discussion. Mr. Scott answered that he had fixed on five or six subjects for so many communications, and designed to reply in his last, if he found it necessary to reply;-that he was willing the arguments on both sides should go to the public without rejoinders; that he could not go on with his original design and reply in only two pages, and to require it was like requiring a man to run a race with his legs tied, especially as he, Mr. W., had adopted the style and mode of declamation, and every where abounded in evasion, assumption, and illogical deduction; but if he would allow him an equal privilege in the Magazine with himself, he would reply, and make good all his assertions. This privilege, however, was never granted; but Mr. W. continued his complaints with increasing emphasis, till Mr. S. in his fifth communication said to

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