ted, and by these and other means they strengthened their party. But on the other hand, I took no pains, either to proselyte people to believe my sentiments or to make my party strong. But I believe near an hundred of the members suffered themselves to be excommunicated rather than to sign the protest against me, and the doctrine that I preached. When we were deprived of our house of worship, the Trustees of the University gave us the liberty of their Hall, where we quietly worshipped God for about four years, until we purchased a place for ourselves. But to return. After this meeting of the Ministers, the whole affair was open, and I found myself obliged to vindicate the doctrine which they had condemned unheard, not only in private but in the pulpit. Accordingly, on the 22d day of April, I preached a sermon on Gen. iii. 15, in which I openly asserted the doctrine of the Final and Universal Restoration of all fallen intelligences. This was published by particular desire, with a list of the plainest scripture passages in favour of the doctrine; and a number of the most common and principal objections, fairly stated, and answered. This was my first appearance in the world as a prose writer, which was what I never expected to be, and probably should never have been but for this occasion ; still less a writer of controversy, to which I had naturally a great aversion. After I had preached this sermon, I had the Chevelier Ramsey's Philosophical Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion put into my hands; I read the same with great pleasure and advantage, and I must acknowledge it to be a work of great merit, and I have reason to bless God that ever I had an opportunity of reading it. I can heartily recommend it, as one of the best works in our language; and I must say, that in most things I fully agree with that very intelligent author. On the fourth day of January 1782. I preached the sermon called, The Outcasts Comforted; from Isaiah Ixvi. 5, to my friends who had been cast out, and excommunicated, for believing this glorious doc trine. This was soon after printed, and the next year it was republished in London, by the Rev. Mr. Richard Clark, and was the first of my works ever printed here. I have thus given a brief, plain and simple account of the means that have brought me to think and write in the manner that I have done, and which account may be considered as an historical sketch of nearly four years of my life. I have every year since printed and published something which I judged might be useful to my fellowcreatures; but as my works are in the hands of most of my friends, it is not necessary to give a particular account of any of them here, except this book of Dialogues on the Universal Restoration. I have had many discourses with various persons upon this subjec and many objections have been proposed to me, which I have endeavored to answer; and I can truly say, that these discourses, their questions and my answers, their objections, and my solutions, form the bulk of these dialogues. I have endeavored to give all the possible force to their objections, and if any of them are weak I can assure the Public, that I have not made them so (as some have insinuated) merely that I might be able to answer them, but the weakest of them have been proposed to me, and I have fairly set down the most powerful that I ever heard, generally in the very words in which they were addressed to me, whether in conversation or by letter; and I am willing, if stroager objections can be made, to put them in the place of those which I have set down, or add them to the number; and I have in this new edi tion added a few, which I have heard since the work was first published, and especially one which was sent me by a venerable Minister from America, and which I have largely answered I have the satisfaction of knowing not only that these Dialogues have been well received, but that they have been the means of bringing many persons to the belief of the truth of the Universal Restoration, and have strengthened and confirmed others, as will plainly appear from the following extracts of letters, which I have received from several Ministers in different parts of the Kingdom, since their publi cation. "Dear Sir, WISBICH, October 26, 1788. I AM persuaded your knowledge of the world and its inhabitants, hath long since taught you to be familiar with the addresses of persons unknown to you; and I have formed that opinion of you, that your candour will admit, and your generous mind rejoice to hear, that a person though unknown to you, is convinced that God hath gracious designs towards universal man. I am that person, sir. For some time past, I have entertained doubts with respect to the eternity of hell torments. My doubts principally arose from the consideration of the vast disproportion between momentary crimes, committed in this short life and the suffering infinitude of punishment; yet many difficulties lay in my way that I did not know how to remove, and I continued thus embarrassed, until a short time since I had the happiness to meet with your Dialogues on the Universal Restoration, which, I thank God, have helped me much. My ardent prayer is, that the truth may spread, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified. "My good friend, Mr. F- shewed me your letter to him, by which I see your readiness to serve the cause of our great Head, Christ Jesus, and your willingness to visit the country, provided the way is 0pen. Now, Sir, I can only say, That my house and my heart, and my pulpit will be all open to receive you, provided you will visit us in this part of the world. "I remain, with the utmost respect, "Dear Sir, your sincere friend, "DEAR SIR, THOUGH personally unknown, have taken the liberty of addressing you with a few lines. I was lately in London, and called to see you: but was told you were out of town. Have for some time had the pleasure of reading your dialogues much to my satisfaction. "The subject of Universal Restitution has for many years engaged my thoughts at times, and often appeared in an amiable light to my mind. It is a subject that redounds to the everlasting honour of God, and the everlasting felicity of the rational creature, who, when delivered from misery, shall be fully sensible of the obligations due to the Deliverer, and consequently, shall naturally be engaged in the great and delightful work of praising and honoring both the Author and Accomplisher of the great salvation. "My residence is at Lyndhurst, in the New Forest Hants, where I am pastor over a little Church of General Baptists, of which denomination I am informed you are; but he that as it may, it is no small pleasure to me to find men, of whatever denomination, vindicate the goodness of God, in the manner it is done by the doctrine of Universal Restoration. "Should inclination or leisure ever favor your coming this way, I know not who I shall be more happy to see and enjoy. Permit me to subscribe myself, Your affectionate brother, In the gospel of universal love, ADAM ALDRIDGE." Lyndhurst, December 4, 1789. "Rev. and dear SIR, 66 "I "YORK, March 6, 1790. HOPE you will excuse the freedom I have taken in writing to you. "I have for several years embraced your sentiments, and have often stood up in defence of them. "I haved frequently met with learned and candid men, who have given me much satisfaction in this important subject. When your Dialogues were published, I procured and read them with the greatest avidity. I found the subject handled much to my mind. The strongest objections raised in all their weight and importance, and answered clearly and candidly. I read the book, over and over, with fresh pleasure and satisfaction. I studied the arguments, treasured them up in my memory, and determined to become a defender of this part of truth. My heart burnt in love to God and mankind 1 found exalted views of God raised exalted strains of gratitude and praise. It was one of the strongest and most attracting views that ever I met with since I knew the Savior's love. I soon entered the field, and was oblig ed to prove my armor against the strongest objections, backed with prejudices almost of an invincible nature. When I was hard put to it, I had recourse to your Magazine, and from thence brought forth new pieces of artillery. You will easily suppose I had many trials from persons of different dispositions. By persuading several of my acquaintance, Ministers of the Gospel, to read over your book, I became an instrument of winning them over to the truth. One of my brethren in the ministry protested much against our notions, and declared he would never believe them. Knowing him to be a sensible man, and one who might be wrought upon by the force of truth properly stated, I used several arguments to persuade him to read the book. At length he consented, and said, that he would de it to oblige me, but |