USA > Ohio > Twenty-five years in the West > Part 12
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In my first speech in the morning, I showed the result of the position, that immortal blessedness is conditional in the sense Mr. Tichner intended. If he is correct, but a small portion of mankind will be thus blessed. I. All children, dying in childhood, are lost, as they comply, in this world, with no conditions. 2. Idiots neither believe nor obey the gospel in this world - they will then be lost. 3. All who lived and died before Christ's advent complied with no gospel condition, hence, all those count- less millions are damned -forever damned. 4. Pagans, Jews, Mohammedans, since Christ's day, have all gone down to their graves, without faith in Christ or the gos-
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pel, hence, are all in hell. My friend is a Disciple, and will not admit any comply with gospel conditions, who are not immersed in water - down, then, to perdition, go Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, yea, all who are not immersed. If he is correct, only one here and there will be saved, while the mass of mankind, nearly all, will be doomed, for one of his propositions affirms the endless punishment of the unsaved. The gentleman may not believe all this - I cannot say how that is-but I am dealing with his proposition, and it involves the ruin of nearly all mankind. I once heard him deliver a sermon on the conditions of everlasting life, and he did not intimate that one could be saved without immersion. His creed unchurches all but his little sect, and sends all to hell but his party.
His next speech consumed only half of his allotted time, and he said not a word concerning what I had shown to be the result of his proposition. In my reply, I called attention to my former speech, and to the fact that no attempt had been made to refute it, and remarked, that the gentleman must either show my deductions are false, or abandon his proposition. He must do one or the other. He dared me to debate with him, boasted that he would annihilate my faith the first day before noon, and many of his friends are here to see him do it. We adjourned till two o'clock. Met according to adjournment. Mr. Tichner and his friends were in trouble. They saw I had their man in my grasp, and meant to hold him. I looked on, but said nothing. The preacher looked blue; did not know which way to turn. He and his brethren looked as if they were at the funeral of their dearest friend. I pitied them, and finally proposed that we drop the first proposition, which we were to debate two days, and take up
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the second proposition -" Will all mankind enjoy im- mortal blessedness?" He readily consented, and the discussion then went on. Mr. Tichner and his friends were mortified and disappointed. He soon ceased preaching, went to California, and made shipwreck of his faith and character.
Have preached in Charleston occasionally these many years, and always have a good hearing. Our people have a church now, and a good meeting - house. I have some esteemed friends in that pleasant town, and always feel at home when with them.
Lectured in Greenup; and while there, a preacher prayed the Lord, either to convert the Universalists, or send them to hell, and he did not seem to care which disposition was made of them. A Presbyterian minister in Grand View, delivered a labored sermon against " Infi- delity in all its forms," and, of course, "the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men," was one of its worst "forms." "That phase of infidelity," said he, " is the best baited of the whole batch. Read not their books, their papers, their Teacher, hear not their preachers, talk not on that subject with any of the believers in that damnable system. Pray for them, but don't talk with them. It is a heresy hot from hell, and have nothing to do with it." A Methodist divine in Shelbyville, gave notice that he would, the Lord permitting, preach a ser- mon against Universalism, the next Sunday. But not- withstanding this opposition, I thanked God and took courage. Many rejoiced in the testimony they heard, and resolved their lives should correspond with the purity of their new faith.
Being in Green Castle, Ind., I heard a discourse by James Mathes, concerning the conditions of salvation.
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and at its close, delivered, at his request, a short sermon. Without controverting any of his positions, I attempted to show, that all mankind would finally comply with the gospel conditions of salvation. When I got through, he proposed a debate on the subject of my discourse. In due time we met in Green Castle, and devoted two days to the investigation of said subject. Mr. Mathes was, and still is, a prominent man in his denomination. For many years he has published the Christian Record, a monthly journal. In the discussion, he said, "There are three conditions of salvation : Ist, Faith; 2d, Bap- tism; 3d, Repentance. He, and he only, who complies with these conditions, is entitled to salvation."
I answered : If the gentleman is correct, but a small squad of mankind will be saved, for he earnestly denies, that any will be allowed to comply with one of the con- ditions named, in the other world. We must believe, repent, be immersed in this world, or be lost forever; no opportunity for salvation will be granted beyond the grave; God's mercy is confined to this life, but his ven- geance will extend through eternity; his mercy is only the evanescent spark of a flint, but his wrath will burn forever; this life is only the infancy of our existence, but his creed makes it the hinge on which our destiny turns ; now, man is a moral agent, but death will destroy that agency, and he will be compelled to lie down in sin and darkness through the eternal ages; death bounds God's mercy-beyond it, the righteous will need no mercy, and the wicked will be allowed none. I cannot subscribe to such an unreasonable, unphilosophical, malignant and cruel creed. I believe in conditions of salvation, and that not one of us will ever be denied the ability, the opportunity, of complying with them. The
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conditions, in sum and substance, are, knowledge of the truth, and love to God, and love to man; and no one can be saved in this world or in the next world without that knowledge and that love. That is the straight and narrow way; there is no other way to be saved, and there is no other salvation, in time or eternity. True, all do not possess that knowledge, or exercise that love in this world, but as the light and heat of the sun are not confined to this world, but extend to all the worlds in the solar system, so God's mercy is not exhausted on earth, but extends through all time, and to all worlds.
It is certainly God's will that all shall be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Tim. ii. 4.) The gentleman, though, denies that in toto. True, he admits it is God's will that you, and I, and all who now live on earth, shall be saved, but he contends that all the sons of error and sin, as soon as they leave this world, are de- prived of all power, of all opportunity, to reform their lives, and must lie down in sin and error eternally. But mark the text, "God will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." It is God's will now that all shall be saved. God is unchangeable ; he is the same yesterday, to-day and forever. Men may change their will, their purpose, but his will, his purpose, is the same through all time, through all eternity. It was God's will six thousand years ago, that all should be saved; it is God's will now that all should be saved; it will be God's will six thousand years hence, yea, through the eternal ages, that all men shall be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. As it is God's will now that all shall be saved, all are now capable of salvation, none are reprobated, none are cast away ; and as it always will be God's will that all shall be saved, all ever will be
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capable of salvation, none will be reprobated, none cast away. What is true of God's nature, character, and will now, ever will be true of God's nature, character and . will, hence, the golden gates of salvation ever will be open to mankind. We read that the heavenly city has gates all around it, on the east, west, north and south, and that they are never shut by day or by night.
I know it is a common notion, and Mr. Mathes preaches it, that the ignorant and vicious will have no opportunity to become wiser or better in the other world; that, as they breathe their last breath, and heave their last sigh, they will be compelled to remain forever. And to prove this, I have heard repeated these and other home-made texts: "As the tree falls so it shall lie;" " As death leaves us, so judgment finds us :" "If you die in your sins, where I go ye cannot come." I need not inform you, these are spurious texts. Is it affirmed, that the Bible says, "There is no repentance in the grave?" Nothing of the kind is in the Good Book. And even if it were there it would not contradict my position. What is in the grave? Nothing but the body, and that cannot repent, in the grave or out of it, dead or alive. Where is the spirit when the body is moulder- ing in the grave? . The wise man tells us : "Dust returns to dust as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." That is the destiny of all. The body is of earth, the spirit from God, and when the copartnership between the body and the spirit are dissolved, the body descends, and the spirit ascends - the one to its mother-earth, the other to its Father-God. Man is a spirit ; Christ and the apostles talked to spirits; I am addressing spirits ; all revelation - its precepts and promises - are addressed to spirits ; and when the apostle said, "God will have all
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men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth," he spoke of all spirits, whether in this world or in the eternal world, whether in the body, or in the house not made with hands. I repeat, wherever a spirit exists unsaved, it is God's will he shall be saved, and God will ever work in all, to will and to do his pleasure.
Mr. Mathes admits it to be God's will that sinners, while in this world, shall be saved, but contends it is his will that sinners in the next world shall not be saved. Now, why this difference ? Why is it God's will that I shall now be saved, also his will that I shall not be saved beyond the grave, if I should there need salvation? Is not reformation of character a good thing any where and every where? I take it, that God's government is the same in all worlds, and at all times. It is perfect, and therefore uniform and unchangeable. He now requires all, and ever will require all, to learn the truth, and walk in the ways of life, hence, never will compel a soul to lie down in sin, darkness and death, one moment, in time or eternity.
When the third volume of The Teacher commenced, it was changed to a quarto form, and issued semi- monthly, instead of monthly, and James Burt and J. H. Jordan, became associate editors. Mr. Burt was recently from the East, where he had preached several years. He was a good writer, and a worthy man. Was connected with the paper one year, when his name, at his request, was dropped, and he ceased preaching and went into secular business. Mr. Jordan was not a min- ister, but a school teacher. He subsequently became a physician, and at the present time, is a citizen of Chicago.
I opened a new field about this time, in Southern Indiana. Lectured in Bowling Green. Oliver Crom-
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well resided there- a descendant of England's great Protector. He was an aged man, and an ardent defender of the liberal faith. He said the Protector was his great- great grandfather.
A zealous Methodist class leader tried to reply to one of my discourses. " If your faith is correct, why all this labor? Why form churches, build meeting-houses, have ministers, or try to serve the Lord in any way ? " I an- swered thus :
I infer from the gentleman's remarks, that he supposes the fear of hell, and the hope of heaven, are the only inducements worth naming for observing the duties of life ; and, according to the confession of sectarians gen- erally, these are the moving causes of all their so called Christian efforts ; hence, their first and last objection to Universalism is, it removes all inducements to live virtu- ously. This objection is in the mouth of nearly all, from the doctor of divinity to the most humble member ; but it is a shameful and degrading objection. It means, that those who urge it, work only for pay ; and pay they will have, or turn rebels. Piety with them is an insur- ance policy against the flames of hell; a commercial transaction; a ticket into heaven. Those who offer this objection in earnest stand on slippery places, are on the verge of destruction, and to all such Jesus would say, " thou hypocrite, " and Paul, " thou fool." Univer- salism lays a better foundation, presents better motives. It makes a reasonable appeal to our hopes and fears, but its strong foundation is in principle. It teaches we should revere the truth and practice righteousness, because we love truth and righteousness; should love God for his goodness, and man for his divinity; be truthful because we love the truth, and deal justly
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because we love justice. Character built on that foun- dation is permanent as the everlasting hills. The work is well done.
Lectured in Spencer, Gosport, Bloomington, Martins- ville, Morgantown, Franklin, Columbus and Nashville. In these places the liberal faith had not before been preached ; still, there were an elect few who cherished it amid all sorts of opposition. Faithful souls! They were true to their convictions, though standing alone, targets for bigots to shoot at. In Bloomington I lec- tured several times ; a minister tried to point out my errors, as he termed the noblest and most glorious of truths. Mr. Labertew, a merchant, and a zealous friend, residing there, took much interest in the good cause. He subsequently built a meeting-house at his own expense, and still later, gave Smithson College one thousand dol- lars. Held a meeting in Gosport - the house full, and several hundred outside ; though the rain poured down in torrents, they remained through the services. Here I subsequently had many conflicts with those of the partial faith. Near Nashville attended a Fourth-of-July cele- bration. When dinner was over, and the patriotic speeches made, I gave the people a sermon. Lectured in Martinsville in the Court-house ; a clergyman replied, and arrangements were made for a debate with Mr. Scott, a Methodist presiding elder. It was to continue four days. He had recently debated with J. Mathes, and coming off victorious, all were sure he would make short work of me, and my faith. But both survived, and are yet alive. He knew but little of Universalism, and so did not get along as well as his friends expected. In fact, he got mad, and left the rostrum, declaring he would discuss no more with me. But the moderators
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persuaded him to continue the allotted time. After he got through, another minister tried his hand at the work, but many thought he fared worse than his predecessor. Weighing about two hundred and fifty pounds, and fat as butter, he kept in good humor. Lectured in Columbus and Franklin, where I soon after had discus- sions. This was a laborious journey, for it was war, war, from the beginning to the end.
CHAPTER XI.
June, 1844, I commenced a journey into Northern Illinois. Preached in Newport, Ind., and became ac- quainted with several believers in the Restitution. Lectured on temperance in Perrysville. Related the following sad story of a family educated to the " temper- ate use " of liquor :
The husband and father was wealthy, educated, and in his days of vigor, had held important political and military stations. He was an officer in the last war with Great Britain; and after its termination, honorably oc- cupied a seat in the legislative hall of his native state. He was what is called a "temperate drinker." His chil- dren were instructed by precept and example to be tem- perate drinkers. The decanters, ever displayed on the mahogany side-board, were always full of choice liquors, and all freely partook of the sparkling beverage. The two sons married into families equal to their own; and the daughter, an accomplished lady, wedded the man of her choice. The father had the satisfaction of having his loved ones settled around him, respected by the com- munity, and blessed with a liberal share of the good things of this world. He was comforted with the reflec- tion that his declining years would be blessed by virtu- ous children.
My informant, who had spent his childhood and youth
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where this family lived, after long absence, returned to the home of his early years. He repaired to the residence of the venerable man, where he had spent many happy hours in by-gone days. Enquired for beloved names - for the sons and daughter, the associates of his early life. The aged father burst into tears; he wept aloud ; he wrung his hands with anguish. The tale was all horror the old man related. The daughter had disgraced her- self by intemperance, and was mouldering in a premature grave. The two brothers were ruined by rum-drinking. A short time previous, the wife of one of them, after enduring the brutal treatment of her husband for years, fled, while he was in a drunken fit, plunged into a pond to end her sorrows, and was drowned. The wife of the other had left him - would live no longer with the brute. One of the sons was at home, but rum had made him a cripple and an idiot. The mother had long since sunk into a welcome grave, overwhelmed with sor- row. The father was descending with grief to the grave. His expectations were blasted ; his hopes were cut off.
The misfortunes of this family were the results of temperate drinking. The seed of sin and death was sown by the father, while the children were under his roof. Taste for intoxicating drinks was there acquired and cultivated, and when they left home, continued to cherish it, till by degrees it became the ruling passion. The parents and children reaped a fearful reward. What a damning crime for parents thus to vitiate the taste of their children! Let them take warning. They will as surely reap the reward of their evil doing, as there is a God in heaven. For so great a sin to go unpunished nature's laws must be reversed.
Delivered two sermons in Rainsville. Spoke of the
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importance of living as becometh believers in the best religion ever entertained by men or angels. It is all truth and righteousness, and our character and life should be truthful and righteous. Better be an Orthodox Chris- tian than a Universalist sinner. Might as well be with- out knowledge of the truth, as hold it in unrighteousness. The gospel blesses those only who live it; to such only it "is the power of God unto salvation." Had a meeting in Montgomery, Ill., and at the close a Baptist preacher sung a reply. It was decidedly funny. He bellowed so long and loud he had the colic and had to send for a doctor. Forded the Kankakee river where the city of Kankakee now stands; but there was no city then - nothing but wild prairie. The river was deeper than I expected, and there was imminent danger of horses, buggy, and all, being washed down stream. Some men on shore watched me with much interest, but could have rendered no assistance had I needed it, no boat being near. Lectured in Bourbonais Grove, a French village, and put up with the principal man of the settlement. He was a Catholic, but said he believed what I preached.
July 2d, in Wilmington, Ill., was married to Miss H. W. Bryant, by Rev. W. H. Dean, of Joliet. This lady is a native of New York, and for a year or two previous to this date, was one of the Principals of a seminary in Warrenville, Ill. Left Wilmington with my charge for Terre Haute. But the windows of heaven opened, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up. The summer of 1844 will long be remembered in the West, for its floods, tornadoes, thunder and lightning. The whole country was inundated, and traveling was danger- Ous business. We came near being swept away, crossing a rapid stream; the first day of our journey. Arriving at
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the Kankakee, we found it past fording, and nothing but a small skiff in which to cross. The carriage was taken to pieces, carried over in parcels, and the horses swam the river. A few miles south, we encountered Beaver Creek - then a mighty river. Again, the buggy was ferried over by piece-meal, the horses swam at the side of the frail bark, I holding them by their heads. Every slough was a river, which we had to ford or swim. A few miles from Iroquois river, when far from a house, a terrible storm burst on our heads. There was no shelter, and for about one hour we were exposed to the peltings of a terrific storm. The wind blew a tornado. the thunder crashed fearfully, the light- ning flashed sheets of fire, the rain and hail poured down in torrents, and for a climax, the trees came crash- ing to the ground, all around us. We finally reached a house on the bank of the river, and were right glad to have a roof between us and that wild elemental war. There we had to remain several days, it being impossible to proceed till the waters abated. But I was very un- easy, as I had arranged for a discussion in Oakland with E. Kingsbury, a Presbyterian minister of Danville, Ill., and had barely time to reach there ; but that storm com- pelled me to disappoint my Oakland friend.
The bridge across the Iroquois being washed away, the carriage was again taken to pieces and ferried over, while the horses swam to the opposite shore. But one came near drowning, by getting entangled in a tree-top that had drifted down ; he was finally rescued, and we were soon on the way to encounter more trouble. Reach- ed the Wabash river bottom, opposite Montezuma, and found it all inundated - the water from one to three feet deep. When about half way from the bluff to the
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river, in attempting to cross a low place, on a corduroy bridge, all under water, and not visible, the water being so dirty, we missed the middle of the corduroy, and over went carriage and horses, bag and baggage, trunks, bride and bridegroom, into the mud and water. The bride, a" perfect hero, stood in the mud and water three feet deep, holding the frightened horses, while the bridegroom transferred the baggage from the buggy to the trunk of a fallen tree, which, happily, was not far distant. We finally got out of the slough, in a pretty bad plight, though, crossed the river to dry land, and the next day reached Terre Haute - thus ended our bridal tour.
Mr. Kingsbury, named above, gave notice he should deliver a discourse near Oakland, against the doctrine of the Restitution, and added, he was willing I should re- ply at the close, if I thought proper. I was in Coving- ton, Ind., the day before he was to deliver said discourse, and being detained in crossing the Wabash till near sun- down, I rode most of the night, and reached the ap- pointed place a few minutes after he had dismissed his congregation. I rode seventy miles, on horse back, between four o'clock Thursday, and twelve o'clock Friday, without any refreshment, and with only about two hours' rest. The congregation were called together. Mr. Kingsbury furnished notes of his sermon, and I spoke two hours in reply. He rejoined, and I spoke another hour. We subsequently spent four days in dis- cussion in Oakland. Mr. Kingsbury not being perfectly satisfied with his effort, proposed a written debate. He agreed to furnish twelve letters for The Teacher. He wrote five, and then gave up the controversy.
I again visited Northern Indiana; then Michigan, preaching wherever I could gather congregations. Had
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some conversation with an intelligent Indian near Peru, on the Upper Wabash.
I. " I no believe in your Bible, or your Jesus Christ- not a word of it."
M. " Well, my friend, do you believe in a God, and a hereafter ?"
I. " That I do. I believe in the Great Spirit, and that he will take good care of his children. No man ever killed him, as your Bible says man killed God. He is away beyond the reach of arrow or cross. Who brought God to life if he was killed ? You tell me that."
M. "The Bible does not say God was slain. He is a Great Spirit, and in him we all live, move and have our being. You say truly, man cannot harm him. Jesus Christ was not God, but rather a divine man, and was sent here by the Great Spirit to instruct us in wis- dom's ways. But do you not think God has sent prophets here to instruct his children ?"
I. "I do. My nation has had prophets. They taught us to use the bow and arrow ; and how to raise corn, potatoes, and tobacco. We bless the Great Spirit for such prophets."
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