A Key to Universalism (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854. Excerpt: ... may we not conclude that the doctrine of eternal election and reprobation, has grown out of a misunderstanding of the Scriptures; that an improper view of the Divine character, has originated a system of partialism, which is a disgrace to its originators, and dishonorable to its present propagators? QUESTIONS TO BELIEVERS IN ENDLESS MISERY. 1. Upon what principle do you account for the fact that God is not as good as yourself? That he is not, upon the supposition that your doctrine is true, will be admitted by every one; for all say without the slightest hesitation, " I would save the world if I had the power." All the love and benevolence in your hearts came from God, who is love, in his nature, and it seems unaccountable that you would do more for man-kind than that Being who is the source and spring of all that is good and glorious in creation. Should you reply that he is just, as well as good--I answer, that does not alter the cardinal fact in the case; for justice is not cruelty, and cannot make a being bad who would otherwise be good. God can have no justice inconsistent with that love of his which is more tender than a mother's. Justice requires punishment sufficient to accomplish reformation, or the final good of all interested, but cruelty alone could demand infinite evil for finite, infinite curses for momentary blasphemies. If a man should say that you could look calmly on and see a child of your own flesh and blood in a furnace roasting in a fire one year, for any conceivable crime, with the power to relieve it, you would call him a base slanderer. Now say in thine heart, art thou better than thy God? And how dare you preach a doctrine that attributes to him what would prove a man the very essence of cruelty? 2. What do you mean by justice? W...