mercy to be communicated to those who die in unreconciliation to God, or in unbelief of the gospel, as can possibly be stated. It may be proper, by way of indulgence, to ask which appears most warrantable, either to allow this subject to stand exactly as the scriptures, above quoted, state it, or to contradict those scriptures by limiting the goodness of God without any authority from scripture for so doing! It is a thing much to be desired and fervently prayed for, that those who so frequently and so earnestly labor to limit the holy One of Israel, in the dispensation of his grace would pause, and inquire into the authority by which they are to be supported. The pretension that the sentiment, so plainly taught in those scriptures, which have been considered, is a sentiment which tends to make sinners careless about their future and eternal welfare, not only treats the word of God with impertinence, but is subject to a fair refutation. What right have we to do violence to the scriptures under the pretension that the doctrine taught by them is unwholesome? If that were the case, where would the blame lie? It is conceived that Christian modesty ought to silence such impertinent objections! It is, however, found in the scripture which we have considered, that those spirits, to whom the gospel was preached, with a design that they might live according to God in the spirit, were JUDGED as they who were in the flesh, by him who is the proper judge of the quick and the dead. This judge says, "I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Far be it from the word of God either to encourage the sinner in wickedness, or to discourage him from hoping in divine mercy. God is a just God and a Savior.-Gospel Visitant. MINUTES OF the proceEDINGS OF THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF UNIVERSALISTS, FOR THE YEAR, 1821. The Ministers and Delegates composing the General Convention of Universalists, convened, according to adjournment of last year, at the house of Br. David Pickering, in the city of Hudson, N. Y. Tuesday evening, Sept. 18th, 1821. And opened the Council, by aniting in solemn and devout prayer to the Father of all mercies with Br. David Ballou. The Convention was then organized as follows; 1. Chose Brother SOLOMON GLOVER, Moderator. 2. Chose Brother RICHARD CARRIQUE, and Brother STEPHEN R. SMITH, Clerks. 5. Appointed Brs. A. Kneeland, D. Pickering, and D. Ballou, a committee to receive applications for letters of fellowship and ordination, at this session; and to report in due time. 4. Proceeded to examine the credentials of the Delegates, and read the Epistles from the Churches and Societies in fellowship with the Convention, which gave the pleasing intelligence of a rapid increase of believers in the Gospel of God our Savior, the Savior of all men. 5. Adjourned to half past 7 o'clock, Wednesday morning, and united to return thanks to Almighty God, and to supplicate the continuance of his blessing, with Br. I. Whitnall. Wednesday morning.-6. Met according to adjournment, and addressed the throne of grace, in prayer with Br. A. Kinsman, and resumed the business of the Council 7. Called the Committees who were appointed to visit the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Associations, whose reports gave evident demonstrations of the rapid and extensive march of the truth of the Gospel of God's dear Son. Order of the Morning Service. Introductory prayer, by Br. A. Kneeland. Text, Gal. iii. 8. "And the scriptures foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed.” Concluding prayer, by Br. C. Hudson. Afternoon Service. Introductory prayer, by Br. H. Ballou. Text, 2 Tim. i. 9, 10. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our borks, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Concluding prayer, by Br. A. Kinsman. 8. Unanimously voted to grant the request of the First Universalist Society in Roxbury-The First Universalist Society in Milford-The Universalist Society in Mount-Washington, Mass.-And the Society of United Christian Friends, in Norwich, Preston, and Groton, Con. to be received into the fellowship of this Convention. Evening Service. Introductory prayer, by Br. S. Jones. Text, 1 John iv. 19. "We love him, because he first loved us." Concluding prayer, by Br. Z. S. Crossman. 9. The Council adjourned to Thursday morning. Prayer, by Br. S. Jones. Thursday morning.-10. Met according to adjournment. Prayer, by Br. O. Ackley. 11. Voted that Br. D. Pickering be appointed to prepare, and superintend the printing of the Minutes of this Convention, and accompany the same with a circular letter. 12. Heard the report of the committee, appointed to receive applications for letters of fellowship and ordination, who reported in favor of Br. John E. Palmer, of Barre, Vt. for fellowship-Br. Charles Hudson, of Preston, Con. for ordination-Br. Josiah Dikeman, of Danbury, Con. for fellowship and ordination-Voted, that said report be accepted. 13. Appointed Brothers D. Pickering, R. Carrique, and P. Dean, a committee to visit the Western Association, to be holden at Lee, Oneida county, N. Y. the first Wednesday and Thursday of June, 1822. 14. Appointed Brothers C. G. Parsons and A. Kinsman, a committee to visit the Northern Association, to be holden at Kingsbury, N. Y. the first Wednesday and Thursday of October, 1821. 15. Appointed Brothers F. Mace, S. Streeter, and S. Cobb, a committee to visit the Eastern Association, to be holden at Turner, Maine, the first Wednesday, and Thursday of June, 1822.. 16. Appointed Brothers H. Ballou, J. Bisbee, and J. Wood, a committee to visit the Southern Association, in December, 1821. 17. Appointed Brothers H. Ballou, E. Turner, and R. Carrique, a standing committee to receive complaints, call councils, and suspend the public labors of such brethren as may walk disorderly, during the recess of the General Convention. Morning Service. Introductory prayer, by Br, N. Stacy. Text, Rev. iv. 11. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Concluding prayer, by Br. P. Morse. Afternoon Service. Introductory prayer, by Br. D. Ballou. Text, Psalms cxxxii. 15, 16. "I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. "I will also clothe her Priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy." Consecrating prayer, by Br. I. Whitnall. Charge and Delivery of the Scriptures, by Br. A. Kneeland. Right hand of Fellowship, by Br. D. Pickering, Evening Service. Introductory prayer, by Br. J. Dikeman. Text, Rom. v. 10. "For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Concluding prayer, by Br. O. Ackley. The labors of the session being happily terminated, we united with Brother Abner Kneeland in devout thanksgiving to the throne of grace, and invoking the blessing of Almighty God to rest upon our labors, and adjourned the Convention, to meet again, by divine permission, at Warner, N. H. the third Wednesday and Thursday in September, 1822. SOLOMON GLOVER, Moderator. RICHARD CARRIQUE, MINISTERING BRETHREN PRESENT. Solomon Glover, Newton, Con.-David Ballou, Rowe, Mass.-Hosea Ballou, Boston-Hosea Ballou, 2d. Roxbury-Joshua Flagg, Scituate Abner Kneeland, Philadelphia-Seth Jones, Lancaster, N. Y.Nathaniel Stacy, Hamilton, N. Y.-Stephen R. Smith, New-Hartford-Pitt Morse, Henderson-Oliver Ackley, Hamilton-David Pickering, Hudson-Isaac Whitnall, Camillus and Elbridge-Charles Hudson, Preston, Con.-Zephaniah S. Crossman, Shelburn, Mass.-Richard Carrique, Attleborough, Ms.-George B. Lisher, Otsego, N. Y-Aaron Kinsman, Williamstown, Vt.-Josiah Dikeman, Danbury, Con.-Arthur Field, New Berlin-Nathaniel Smith, Albany. MINISTERING BRETHREN NOT PRESENT. Elias Smith, Boston, Ms.-Paul Dean, do.-Edward Turner, Charlestown, Ms.-Thomas Whittemore, New |