held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Chap. 12: 14. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.-Verse 24. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? Chap. 15: 12. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! they were sore displeased.-Chap. 21: 15. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine. Mark 11: 18. The astonishment of the common people, unless it had been in favor of Christ, would not have alarmed the fears of the chief priests. And the common people heard him (Christ) gladly. — 12 : 37. For he (Pilate) knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. Chap. 15: 10. And the chief priests and the scribes, the same hour, sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. —Luke 20: 19. When some of the people, by seeing Christ's miracles, believed on him, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him. John 11:45 48. Thus we see, it was the religious pharisees and some other religionists, whose fears were alarmed and enmity awakened by Christ's performances; and the pharisees believed that the souls of those who were very wicked, were transmitted into a state of endless woe. So it is easy to account for their not liking him if he taught the salvation of all; besides, he spake against their doctrine, and called them blind guides. - See Mat 23: 16--24, and Chap. 16: 6-11, 12, telling them that God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. - John 3: 17. -- As for the three thousand, on the day of Pentecost, who said to the Apostles, "What shall we do to be saved?" I would ob. serve that the Apostle did not preach endless woe to influence them to repent, but preached consistently with the faith of universalism; rehearsing to them the prophecies that they might see that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, and that they had sinned in putting him to death. Read the 2d Chap. of Acts. To answer them when they asked what they must do, Peter said, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children. - Acts 2: 38, 39. From this we see, the Apostle made use of promises as a means to convert them. He exhorted, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation, that is, from their unbelief, but not from endless woe. The jailor's mind was awakened by the Lord's opening the prison doors. Supposing he heard Paul and Silas pray, he could not be frightened at that. Not a word of terror. Paul told him to do himself no harm. But he trembling said, Sirs what must I do to be saved? and they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Universalists believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Why may they not be saved? Felix, when he heard Paul reason of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, trembled; yet no evidence is given of his conversion; but he put off repentance for a more convenient season, and left Paul bound. - Read Acts 24: 24 - 27. which proves he was not converted. No one can prove that Pau! reasoned of an endless judgment; yet it was not a pres. ent one, for he said it was to come. If he had spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem, as Felix was a Roman, he would not have trembled. Probably he meant the judgment after death. Restorationists reason of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come; and I have witnessed the appearance of the Divine Spirit, operating as with a still small voice upon the minds of their hearers. If Christ and the Apostles taught that all men would be sav. ed, it is easily accounted for that their preaching caused those who believed in endless punishment to have anguish of spirit ; for it was the Pharisees who had anguish of spirit, and Christ condemned their doctrines; for he brought good tidings of great joy which should be to all people.- Luke 2: 10. And told them to repent for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. See Mat. 4: 17. Thus he made use of pure motives to persuade the people to repent. He went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. - Luke 8: 1. Those whom Christ converted were not in a fright, but became believers peaceably and joyfully. Zacheus, when converted, received Christ joyfully. Read Luke 19: 6-9. But now people are spoken against for being joyful at hearing the good tidings of universal salvation; yet Christ caused the hearts of the common people, those whom the religionists styled sinners, to rejoice. And all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. Luke 13: 17. The psalmist rejoiced in the house of his God. Christ's mild treatment towards the publicans and sinners made them hear him gladly, which caused the leaders of the Jews to say, "If we let him thus alone all men will believe on him." Christ, in his remarks, was more severe to hose who led in the religion of that day, than he was toward he Sadducees who were deists; he told them, that in denying he resurrection, they did greatly err. Christ was asked by a tertain lawyer, who stood up and tempted him, what he must do to inherit eternal life. Luke 10: 25. Yet being a Phari. see, and asking the question by way of mockery, he could feel no anguish for sin. And a certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ old him to sell all that he had and distribute unto the poor, and that made him very sorrowful; for he was very rich.See Luke 18: 18-23. Christ gave him many good instruc. tions, but did not frighten him with the fear of hell, and loved him although he would not do works meet for repentance; which shews him to be the friend of sinners, but not of sin. Read Mark 10: 17-23. Those who were converted by hearing Christ and his Apostles preach, doubtless were pricked in their hearts for sin; and so are those who are converted by the preaching of universalists. I have myself witnessed facts of this sort, and heard of others. I have likewise read in the word of God of people's being converted by hearing the doctrine of universal restoration. Repent (said Peter) and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; Whom the heayen must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began. Acts 3: 19-21. Just preceding this the Apostle had been shewing them that Jesus was the Prince of life; a theme dwelt upon by universalists. Yet in the 4th verse of the 4th Chapter it says: Many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of men was about five thousand. Converted under universalism. Read the 2d, 3d, and 4th Chaps. of Acts. L. If Christ and his Apostles believed and taught the salvation of all men, why were they so bitterly opposed by sinners, wherever they preached the glad tidings? What is there so offensive to wicked men in being told that God loves them, that he regards them as his children, and is determined to make them all completely happy? R. Christ and his Apostles were not opposed by those who were then called sinners. They were opposed by those who called themselves righteous, and believed in the endless misery of some of their fellow creatures. This Limitarian calls the salvation of all men glad tidings. He is correct. Christ and his Apostles preached glad tidings, and were not opposed by the sinners any more than universalists are now. The common people heard them gladly; which, according to the phraseology of the bible, meant the lower order of people, and in Christ's day were denominated sinners. It has been proved who bitterly opposed Christ. Now, we will see who opposed Paul for preaching glad tidings. He was not alone in preaching them, for he said, And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again. — Acts 13: 32, 33. In the 45th verse it states that when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. In the 50th verse of the same chapter, we are informed that the Jews raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts; and no doubt they were of the religiousorder, for they obtained their design by stirring up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city. L. Did you ever know any wicked man, any profane swearer, sabbath-breaker, drunkard, infidel, or despiser of sacred things, displeased at hearing this doctrine? Men of serious religion, men who pray in their families and closets, keep the sabbath, and walk humbly with God, often feel and express a deep abhorrence of universalism, and do what they can to oppose its progress. But when were the worldly and the gay, the impenitent and the prayerless, ever known to do this? And yet, by this class of men, Christ and his Apostles were every where hated and opposed. For what cause? Why, if universalism be true, for preaching that all men are of God; that he loves them all, and after death them all into his presence and favor in heaven. the children will receive R. Wicked men of the characters described by said Limitarian, were not the ones by whom Christ and his Apostles |