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effects of those errors which they saw thousands in the community receiving as sacred truth, while they could keep up the appearance of being believers in Christianity, and yet deny all that the natural heart deemed offensive in its doctrines, and throw off all that it deemed uncomfortable in its restraints. But through fear, that noticing such errors, might give them a consequence to which they were not entitled, they have been induced to stand aloof from the contest, and to indulge the hope that doctrines so absurd and un#criptural would, if let alone, die of themselves. Thus did not the Apostles, and Martyrs, and Reformers in the first ages of Christianity, and in the sixteenth century. They attacked every prevailing error that threatened the subversion of Christianity, however weak and contemptible, or popular and powerful it might be. And this is the duty enjoined upon ministers of the Gospel by the Great Head of the Church. "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." "Contend, earnestly, for the faith, once delivered unto the saints."

From these, and other considerations, the author has devoted the first three Lectures of this Series to "The Scripture Proofs of Endless Punishment." He has felt that the exigencies of the times rendered it necessary to show, that the grounds, on which this doctrine rests, are not slender and fallacious, but permanent as the truth of God. Impressed with the full belief that the deductions of sound reason, and the principles of common sense, harmonize in every important point with the Sacred Scriptures, he has also argued the doctrine of endless punishment, "from facts and considerations that are independent of direct Scripture testimony." These arguments, which have been deduced from revelation and reason, might have been extended, but it is not necessary, since, those who are determined to reject the doctrine of endless punishment, and to rest their hope of Heaven on the presumption of its being false, will not be likely to be converted to the truth by the strongest, or most numer ous arguments; for,

"A man convinced against his will,

Is of the same opinion still."

Aware that there is much diversity of opinion among some portions of the Christian community, respecting the nature of future punishment; and that other portions have no definite idea upon the subject; and impressed with the belief that a consistent and scriptural view of this subject will serve to illustrate the equity of the Divine procedure in punishing his rebellious subjects with endless

torme..ts, the author has frankly expressed his own views of the "constituent parts of this punishment," or the principal ingredients in that cup, which is to be the future portion of the wicked. He has also endeavored to expose the artful and unscriptural "methods by which modern objectors to endless punishment, evade the force of Scripture testimony on that subject,”—“to give the true principle of interpretation, in reference to those passages of Scripture that are supposed to assert or imply the final salvation of all men," -"to refute the arguments by which they endeavor to overthrow the doctrine of endless punishment," and "to point out the sources, the nature, and the dangerous moral consequences of their scheme."

If the doctrine advanced in the following Lectures be true, it is a most interesting and important doctrine. However contrary to the feelings or wishes of any, it is by all means necessary to be known. Surely no man would wish "to flatter himself in his own eyes, till his iniquity be found to be hateful." And we deem it the more important that the subjects proposed should receive an ample discussion, because there are a numerous class of people who are sitting down easy in the expectation of "peace and safety, while sudden destruction is coming upon them;' and we wish to lead them to a careful and attentive examination of the mental process by which they arrived at their present conclusions. And we believe that such persons may not be so attached to their peculiar opinions, as to be beyond the reach of the Gospel. If they be treated with kindness, and if sound arguments be presented, we may rationally hope that they will be induced to review the subject, and decide the question with some degree of candor and impartiality. But these Lectures are not entered upon solely, nor chiefly for the benefit of that class of people. There are multitudes of our youth who feel powerfully inclined to reject a doctrine of such overwhelming import as that of future and eternal punishment, and to embrace a religious scheme that is fraught with the most pernicious and fatal consequences; and many more still, who in theory admit the doctrine which we have endeavored to establish, do not possess a strong and practical conviction of its reality and importance. Our object, therefore, is not merely to establish your minds in the speculative notion that some men will be eternally miserable, but to present such an array of evidence, as shall create a deep and abiding conviction of the truth of the doctrine; and such as shall impress upon the heart the necessity of fleeing to Christ for pardon and salvation,

Throughout the whole, the author has endeavored to divest these

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