believe, and I think justly, that God will Eleis their labors.

None, but wicked men, would wish for the endlefs duration of fin; were it left to the carnal mind, it would wish for nothing but the privilege of drinking in iniquity forever. But thofe, who truly love God and holinefs, defire, night and day, to overcome the vile propenfities of their own deceitful hearts, and pray for the reconciliation of others to holiness and happiness. Now, why fhould we fuppofe that God is more of the mind of the wicked, than of the righteous? If it is God's fpirit in us, which caufes us to pray for the defruction of fin, is it reafonable, to fay, that this fame fpirit has determined that fin fhould always exift? Are we not right, in judging of the nature and character of God, from the dictates of his fpirit in us? If fo, does this spirit teach us the neceffity of endless tranfgreffion and mifery? I wish the reader to keep in mind, that I hold fin and mifery infeparably connected, and holiness and happiness fo, likewife.

I further argue, if any of the human race are endlessly miferable, the whole muft be, providing they all know it; for, reafoning from that fpirit of benevolence which is neceffary to a conformity to the principles of holinefs, I prove it impofi

ble for a well difpofed man to fee another in mifery, without bearing a very fenfible proportion of fuch mifery. If it be argued, that this idea is wrong, and that the fpirit which dictates it, is of the evil one; I fay, in anfwer, all good men in the world feel it to be a truth; and no man ever exhibited more of it than the Savior of the world. Man is conftituted with powers of fympathy; and while these principles laft, he cannot enjoy complete happiness, and fee one of his fellow.creatures in torment. I miftruft, fome one will fay, then Christ is not completely happy, nor the faints who have gone before us. I have no objection to the obfervation; but think I fee a divine beauty in the idea. I wil query a little, on the fubject. It is generally believed, that Chrift existed, before he was born in Bethlehem; and it is evident, from the fcriptures, that he did.-But I would inquire, What was his fituation? Was it a ftate of complete happiness? I think likely this question will generally be answered in the affirmative. Then I further afk, had he no defire : for. the falvation of finners, before he came into our world? Here the queftion must be anfwered in the affirmative, let the other queftion be anfwered as it may; for, if that were not the cafe, why did he come

for the exprefs purpofe of faving them! If he willed and intended the falvation of mankind, and alfo determined to encounter all the fufferings that were finally laid upon him, in favor of fo worthy an object, it is evident his happiness was not complete; neither do I believe it will be, until he fhall fee of the travail of his foul, and be fatisfied.

If any one fhould be fo particular as to query, afking, if the Almighty himfelf is not defirous of the falvation of finners; and if fo, how can his happiness be complete? I anfwer, a being, to whom events do not take place in fucceffion, nor time pafs away, with whom, an eternity is a prefent now, whofe knowledge is intuitive, and who can neither hope, nor anticipate, can neither increafe, nor decreafe in happinefs. But when we fpeak of God, abftractedly, our words ought to be few, and chofen.

I have, I think, fufficiently proved, in this work, that Jefus Chrift is a created dependant being, and that he ftands at the head of the creation of man, &c. If I am right, in that idea, I think I may reafonably argue, that he is a being to whom events take place in fucceffion, who hopes and anticipates, and who, for the joy fet before him, endured the crofs, and defpifed the fhame. Therefore, until the great

work of his miffion is completed, I cannot conceive that his happinefs will be complete. If it be argued, that Chrift, when on the crofs, faid it was finifhed, and that, in a moral fenfe, he felt no more pain for finners, I have a right to object, for I do not know what warrant the fcrip. ture gives, for believing all this argument. That the fufferings of Chrift, as to answer the type of a fin-offering, were then ended, is a reasonable idea; but to fuppofe, that Chrift was then difpoffeffed of that principle which caufed him to feel for the woe of mankind, does not appear reasonable. I have no idea, that the glorious Captain of our falvation now fuffers, as he did, when he faid, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?" But I believe, that he, whofe foul travailed for - the redemption of man, now increafes in joy, as the work of reconciliation is going on, to the deftruction of fin, and the converfion of finners. He has told us, that there is more joy, in the prefence of the angels, over one finner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine juit perfons who need no repentance. I do not conceive, that one part of human nature can be made perfectly happy, while the reft are in milery. When St. Paul fpake of thofe who died in faith, not having obtained the promife, he fays, "God having pro

vided fome better things for us, that they, without us, could not be made perfect.

Thofe, who are the moft devout on earth, are the moft deffrous for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the deliverance of themfelves and their fellow men, from fin and mifery.For the fake of a cafe, I will fuppofe a chriftian, to-day, is exercifed with fervent defires for the reconciliation of finners; at night, he dies. Do all thofe holy defires cease, at death? If they do not, but do continue, though the happiness of the foul be great, yet, it is, at leaft, capable of being enlarged, or increased, by the profperity of the Redeemer's cause among

men.

How the idea ever got place in the hu. man mind, that, even fathers and mothers, in the world to come, would rejoice, to fee their own offspring in endless flames and hopeless torments, I can hardly conceive; though the probability is, it was first invented, to fhun, in theory, thole difficulties not otherwife to be avoided. I wish to use this error as prudently as poffible; but I wish to have it rightly underftood, and judged of impartially. Will perfect reconciliation to God have this effect? I know it is contended, that it will; but what evidence have we of it? Was not Christ reconciled, or in a flate of con