many and eminent) terminated his life by suicide-which was a common case in those days. The virtuous Roman matron, who did the same to prevent violation, and thereby occasioned the first overthrow of monarchical power of which history furnishes the record, must be consigned to a common hell with the infamous Cleopatra! It were vain to enlarge, however, for the scope for this kind of reflections is boundless. I here but just touch on these facts, that the reader may see, that Our veritable friend Paddle's speculations about hell and its inhabitants, are not absolutely gratuitous; in fact, they were entirely designed as an indirect mode of argumentation, and couched in their present form the better to secure a reading and awaken reflection. It is hoped that the serious and moderate portion of my orthodox readers, will not accuse me of an attempt to ridicule their professions or practice in the person of elder Tub. It is known that hypocrites and double-minded persons are to be found amongst all religious classes— Christian, Jew, Mahomedan, and Pagan; against pretenders of this class only are the shafts of my ridicule directed. The sincere Christian has my respect and my affection, wherever, or of what denomination soever, he is found. "To those I render more than mere respect, Whose actions say that they respect themselves." But the hypocrite has my detestation and contempt, whether he be orthodox or heterodox; for neither the one nor the other is free from his intrusions, according as he judges that with the one or the other his selfish ends may be best promoted. The reader may be curious to know whether there is actually such a spot on the Virginia shore of the Ohio as that described in the preceding narrative. To this I can only answer, that I was informed some years ago that there is (or used to be, I have forgotten which,) a stone on that shore, the precise locale of which I did not learn, which bears an inscription to the purport of the one I have described. This is all I know about it; the rest is fancy. THE GOSPEL CONSUMMATION. It comes! it comes! we now behold Soon, soon its noon-tide blaze we'll see, Then God the cov'ring shall remove, All kindreds, tribes, and tongues shall own The gift of sov'reign grace. Apostles, prophets, there we'll see, And all its breadth explore. Hark! hark! we hear the rapt'rous song Of the redeem'd-a countless throng; "Worthy the Lamb!" they sing, "Who died our ruined race to save; Where is thy boasted vict'ry, grave? O death! where is thy sting?" The Lord will then his table spread, The ocean of his pard'ning grace Oh! blissful time! oh! glorious day! Shall with united souls accord, That Christ in God is sov'reign Lord, INDEX TO COMPARISONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS WORK. Page. The folly of intolerance in regard to differences in religious opin- 30, 31 The way to reconcile apparent discrepances in a work of which 41 The injustice of holding a person to the consequences of a com- 58 Another illustration of the same point,. The law of God cannot be satisfied with what it does not require, The Creator would not have brought man into being, with the And provided he had so created him, he would have been justly God's relation to men, as Creator, a ground for his pity toward 67 72 74 Our unfilial conduct toward God does not change his relation to The endurance of God's paternal love,. He will not abandon his offspring to infinite ruin,. 88, 89 The character of a ruler inferrible from the condition of his sub- jects,.. 90,91 A ruler is answerable for the avoidable evils which he wilfully 91, 92 94 ........ The folly of deferring the business of retribution,. . The perseverance of the good shepherd in saving lost man,.. 96, 97 97,98 113 117 124 125 ........ ........ 133 And with the early experience of every christian,. VOL. I.-2 G 2 The use of religion if our future salvation is unconditional,..... ven,... Bad society in heaven,. ..... Page 134 136 .......148, 149 ..... According to endless misery there are many more rogues saved The same doctrine furnishes motives to murder,.... ..... 150 ib. 151 152 A peep into a universalian, and an endless hell futurity,......154, 155 And displeasing to men of prayer?... The supposed remoteness of a day of reckoning for deeds perform- 191 192 198 It gives the priesthood an influence at the bed of death, which has 199 The best, as the worst of men, must needs be changed after death 234 235 The divine Being is not subject to the difficulties which beset hu- 236 God was not reduced to the alternative of creating some for mis- ery, or not at all,.. . . . 237 Forgiveness of sin does not (in the divine economy) imply ex- 239 Another illustration of the same point,.. 240 The advantages of forgiveness on this scheme,.. ib. If punishment is for our benefit, should we sin the more, in order 241 .... The penalty of death for murder does not operate to prevent it— But when conscience becomes seared, how then?.... Except sin continue eternally, punishment, of a moral kind, can- Neither can that which is physical,.. ....250, 251 .252, 253 253 254 255 256 ...257,258 The very consequences of an evil tend to effect its removal,. ..... |