pur Universalist Society in Lynn was re-dedicated to the poses of religion and the worship of God. It had been entirely changed and renovated. The pastor, Rev. E. G. Brooks, preached the sermon, and father Ballou offered the dedicatory prayer. The other parts were performed by Revs. M. Goodrich and J. R. Johnson. Shortly after the service at Lynn, he left Boston, on a visit to the city of New York. Rev. E. H. Chapin had gone to Europe, and he desired the services of father Ballou for his flock a part of the time while he was absent. A gentleman, who heard father Ballou at one of these occasions, addressed a letter to the Gospel Banner, of Augusta, Me., in the following terms: "I had the pleasure and profit of hearing the venerable father Hosea Ballou, last Sabbath, at the Murray-street church in New York. He occupied the pulpit for Mr. Chapin, who is now absent in Europe. I was surprised at the strength and clearness with which he dispenses the words of eternal life. He spoke of the loving kindness of God as being commensurate with his wisdom and power. I heard him preach seventeen years ago in Boston. His hair was then white with years; yet he is still a mighty man in Israel, though he has outlived the allotted time of humanity. His eye of faith is as clear to discern the record of truth as ever. He preached to quite a large and intellectual audience, without notes, in a firm and clear tone of voice, while a rapt attention was necessary and generally given to follow his argument, which was clear, plain, and convincing, uniting in his whole discourse upon one single point, though gathered by divers analysis from various themes, viz., the loving kindness of God.”—Banner of Sept. 21st. SECTION IV. NOT AT CONVENTION. The United States Convention. for the year 1850 was holden at Buffalo, N. Y. Father Ballou was not there; his engagements did not permit. He attended but one more session of this body on earth. SECTION V. - LINES BY A LADY.* A lady who heard him preach, not far from this time, in the pulpit at School-street, Boston, wrote the following lines: "God's blessing on that good old man! "His fainting voice within me stirred "When, doubting, trembling, and oppressed, That God to all is good.' "And saw, in spite of doubt and scorn, " 'Salvation to the world.' Alone, almost alone he stood, — Did not his spirit fear? The good man's spirit never faints, * Mrs. Frances D. Gage. "Farewell, old man! thy pilgrimage On earth is almost o'er ; But in the far off spirit-land We'll meet to part no more!" SECTION VI. ·DOCTRINAL PREACHING. Serious fears had our aged father that the ministers of universal grace were falling into the practice of neglecting the important doctrines of the gospel. That God is the Father and Friend of man, and that his purpose of grace embraces the final welfare of all, were truths inexpressibly precious to father Ballou. He felt deep sorrow to see doctrinal preaching neglected. "I am seriously of the opinion that many of our ministering brethren are in error in supposing that the time has gone by in which doctrinal preaching is needed in our community. Especially do I believe them wrong in supposing that it is not now, as formerly, necessary for our ministry to labor to expose the errors and false sentiments which are believed, and preached to the people, who are opposed to the blessed gospel of God's love to the world, and the impartial salvation of mankind, as revealed in the Scriptures. I would ask, why it was ever necessary to labor to expose the false doctrines of the Roman, the Episcopal, the Presbyterian, the Congregationalist, the Baptist, the Methodist, and other sects, who were known, not only to oppose the Scripture doctrine of a world's salvation, but to hold, believe, and preach doctrines and opinions not only anti-scriptural and most horrible to the human mind, but most dishonorable to the character of our adorable Father in heaven? What answer can be given to this question? That the denominations referred to are now in the same condition, as to their doctrine, and their opposition to the truth as it is in Jesus, cannot be denied. Because the successful labors of Universalists have been so blest of God that our denomination has become somewhat numerous, and we can assemble now in much larger conventions than we could forty years ago, may we think we are all the world, and that the enemies of the truth are all converted? How do Universalists now compare with all other denominations combined against them? As to numbers, we are very insignificant. Will it be said that one can chase a thousand, and that two can put ten thousand to flight? True, so they can, if they will but gird on their armor, and boldly rush on the phalanx of the enemy; but if they think the conflict is ended, and the war over, what may be expected? Just what is now known to be the state of things. "It is not one week since I was so situated as to have a most favorable opportunity to know the condition of one branch of that deadly Upas which has poisoned all Christendom. It was at a meeting called a prayer-meeting. And here I saw and heard the workings of the old abomination, which has been new modelled by clerical art. The object of the labor seemed to be to frighten young people to seek their salvation from the wrath of the Almighty! In order to excite them to immediate exertion, God was represented in a character so awful as to fill the soul with horror. A day of judgment in the future world was described in a most terrific manner; and, to crown the whole, hell, the doom which awaits all who neglect the means of salvation, was represented with all its imaginary terrors. The minister appeared to be well acquainted with those arts which have been of late practised to get up what have been called revivals of religion. These are so well known that it is not necessary to describe them here. A tormenting fear of God, a horrible dread of hell and its torments, were the means used and relied on to obtain the end desired. "On seeing and hearing these things, my mind reverted to the questionable enterprise of sending missionaries to convert the worshippers of Juggernaut to the abominable superstition displayed before my eyes! 66 Now, the scene I have represented was in one of our popular cities, where there are several societies of Universalists. How could I realize these things, and feel no fears that our ministry had erred in supposing that we need no longer to labor to expose and refute the wicked doctrines which are in our midst, and the vain worship which dishonors God, and opposes the doctrine of our blessed Redeemer ? "As a further reason for making these suggestions, I feel it a duty to add that, within six months, I have travelled in five of our States, and preached in as many as fifteen towns to Universalist societies; and it has been a very general complaint, made known to me, that the societies were favored with but a very little doctrinal preaching, and heard scarcely any sermons designed to make people understand the Scriptures, or the great truths taught therein. But sermons suitable for moral and scientific lectures were nearly all the food the pastors gave their flocks.” There were many among the Universalists whose souls responded readily and earnestly to these remarks. Indeed, thousands felt their importance. We remember one highly respected brother in the county of Essex, Mass., who responded in the following strain : "Universalism is the doctrine of the Bible, and must stand upon the true interpretation of that book. No person can be a firm believer in that doctrine unless he believes that the Bible harmoniously teaches it. For a few years past, I find that a considerable portion of the Universalist ministers overlook that portion of the Bible which the partialists claim as teaching the doctrine of endless misery. These ministers preach what some are pleased to call scientific and practical discourses. Their minds are somewhat airy; they soar far away from the Bible, and leave that good old book almost altogether. Now the preacher may tell his congregation to believe and repent, until he is gray, and he never will reform them, unless he shows them what to believe. Men must believe that Christ is the Saviour of the world,' before that fact can save them. The Saviour says: 'Ye shall know THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH shall make you free;' and St. Paul says that we which believe do enter into rest,' implying that there is 6 |