A UNIVERSALIST SERMON

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 7, 1862

A UNIVERSALIST SERMON.

[The absurdities of the doctrine of Universalism are well shown up in the following article. The subject is not set forth in any too strong a light. Every statement is but a legitimate and necessary conclusion from the unscriptural doctrine that all men receive their reward in this life, and will all finally be saved hereafter. Who can contemplate this picture and then so dishonor the Bible or the God of the Bible, as to believe that it is the doctrine of the one or the plan of the other.—U. S.]

"The love of Christ constraineth us."—Bible.

Dear Brethren and Friends : We are a remarkable people for the love of Christ. We believe that he so loved the world as to die on the cross, that all mankind might be saved. Yes, ALL MANKIND : all despisers and rejecters of Jesus, and all idolaters : all the atheists that ever have scoffed, or ever will scoff, at the idea of a God, and all infidels : all the unitarians and universalists, with errorists of every grade and faction : all vagabonds ; including all the drunkards that ever have died or ever will die, of delirium tremens : and all that ever have died or ever will die of diseases occasioned

by vice : all the murderers who have, and have not, been hung, and all pirates, assassins, and highway robbers : all who have committed suicide ; thieves of every description : such e. g., as horse and man thieves, and knaves, and impostors of the blackest hue : all sorts of gamblers and speculators, who have done all in their power to defraud and injure their fellow men : all profane swearers ; and all liars : all whoremongers, adulterers, and seducers : all hypocrites and deceived religionists, including all the orthodox men and women, of all denominations. In a word, every rational being, from the bitterest enemy to God's throne, who keeps his gigantic and disciplined mind continually employed in forming some new weapon against religion, to the veriest object of filth, who lodges in the gutter, for want of a better place : all, all, whether they regard the claims of the gospel or not, whether they repent or not, shall finally be saved. This doctrine, the unspeakable love of Christ, constraineth us to believe. And it also constraineth us,

1. To regard secret prayer as a ridiculous thing.

2. To neglect, as a general thing, family prayer. Some few of our ministers may occasionally pray in their families, but, as a denomination we do not do it ; we deem it quite unnecessary. It looks too much like the orthodox—too pious. And as for "social prayer-meetings," as they are termed, we regard them pretty much in the same light.

3. It moreover constraineth us to pay no kind of regard to the claims and sanction of the Sabbath. We respect it as we do other days, and no better. If we wish to work in our shops, transact business in our counting-houses, or pursue our journeys, on that day, we always do so ; the expostulations of the orthodox to the contrary, notwithstanding.

In a word, we are constrained by the love of Christ to ridicule everything like practical piety, and to give ourselves up to the unqualified gratification of time and sense, under the full assurance that however we live, whatever may be our crimes, we shall all finally be saved.

We do not believe that God requires his creatures to live such strict lives ; we believe he intends that we shall enjoy ourselves in this world. We do not believe that heaven is as holy a place as the orthodox represent it, if it is, we shall soon wish ourselves back again : and as for singing the praises of the Lamb, we think it all downright fanaticism. We have no heart now for such consummate nonsense, and it is not very likely we shall feel any different THEN. Why should we praise the "Lamb of Calvary," as they call him? He has not, in reality, done anything for us. We suffer the just penalty of our sins in this life : and we therefore expect to claim heaven, as a matter of right. But if it is such a place as the orthodox say it is, we had better be in hell ; for we never could stand it in the midst of such glowing piety.

But, my friends, do not be alarmed. The orthodox are all wrong—all the Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed, &c., are all wrong, and we are right. Heaven is a more rational place. But I confess that I sometimes think I shall not want my seat very near Paul, or Peter, or John, or Stephen ; or even such ones as James B. Taylor, Dr. Payson, Brainard, Whitfield, Wesley, and some others I might name. But take courage, my friends, I have no doubt the Universalists will be permitted to occupy apartments by themselves.

REMARKS.

1. You see from this subject what sort of characters will form the society of heaven. It will not be so select as many imagine. It will be one vast ocean of heterogeneous and unharmonious mind.

2. You see the folly and superstition of orthodoxy. If, as we allege and believe, all mankind will be saved, it is utter fanaticism to make so much ado about the salvation of sinners.

3. You may see, in the light of this subject, that in point of fact, the preaching of the gospel, and all other means of grace, are of no real necessity.—Sel.