the way of life, the only way of true felicity; has no reason to expect the mild influences of the gospel will ́ again so attract his attention and enliven his feelings, as to save him from impending destruction and misery. As the earth that beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned, in like manner is represented their deplorable situation. But as bad as their situation may be, it is not to be forgotten that they are in the hands of a kind and faithful Creator, who is able to save the unbeliever and the rich man. Nor have we reason to believe, we are under any necessity of interpreting the passage under consideration, in such a way as to militate against the great and precious promises of him "who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

With reference to the impossibility of renewing to repentance such as are there described, it is to be noticed, the text does not say it is impossible for God to renew them. Our Savior observed with reference to a similar difficulty, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Another thing is worthy of observation, the text does not say it is impossible ever to renew them to repentance. It may, therefore, be understood, without any violation of language, to apply to some particular period, and with reference to certain means, which the nature of the subject naturally suggests. Respecting the time and means we have already given an opinion. How far this will satisfy our correspondent or the public, is not for us to determine; but should we meet their displeasure, we should only have the mortification of failing in a humble attempt to explain in some degree one selected portion of the divine testimony.

From the Universalist Magazine.

The following copy of a letter from Mr. DAVID PHIPPS, a respectable gentleman of Hopkinton, Ms. to Rev. THOMAS WHITTE MORE, of Cambridgeport, will shew the spirit of our opposers, and the manner in which they are disposed to treat Universalists.

HOPKINTON, Sept. 4, 1822.

Dear Sir,-This is to inform you, that previous to the last year's preachers leaving this circuit, which was about the first of July last, I requested a dismission from the Methodist church to which I then belonged. I asked this dismission, thinking that some of the members were averse to communing with me, because I attended the Universalists' meetings, read and circulated their books, and, in fact, I was advised to this measure by one of the members of the church. I spoke to Br. P. who is the leader of the class, and to Br. B. who was the preacher then here, upon this subject. They both advised me to desist from attending the Universalists' meetings, and speaking in their favor, and to remain among them. Br. P. said many hard things about Universalists, that he was not pleased with their company, and that they were not a praying people, &c. &c. I addressed a letter to him on this subject, in which I asked him if it were criminal to circulate or disseminate the principle and spirit of universal benevolence, impartial goodness, and christian affection. I told him if it were, I must not only plead guilty of having done, but of wishing to do so, and added, that I hoped that such criminality might be more prevalent.

It appeared to be the general wish of the members, so far as I could ascertain, that I should remain where I was, and cease from believing and speaking in favor of Universalism; and what makes me confident in this opinion, is their requesting me to remain with them, and not granting me my dismission, when I asked it of them. I would be plainly understood that I was desirous of continuing in their fellowship, and of

joining them in their communion; but then I would not for this sacrifice the enjoyment of my opinion, nor my right of hearing, at convenient seasons, such doctrines as I believed. My only reason for asking a dismission was, I would not give the members the pain of sitting down with me, if such it should be to them. I feel friendly to all mankind, and think that we ought not to make our little differences of opinion a cause of disfellowship and disunion.

When their preacher warned me to beware of Universalism, and the sophistry of the teachers of it, I reminded him that he and his brethren declare in the pulpit that this doctrine is more rational and consistent than the Calvinistic, and yet they would permit the members to go to the Calvinistic meetings, and let the thing pass off without remark.

At the meeting where this conversation took place, I was very frank, and opened my mind unreservedly to the members, that they might grant me my dismis sion, if my opinion or the liberty I took in worshipping occasionally with the Universalists should have a tendency to induce them to do this. I told them that I could not deny myself the privilege of reading, hearing, nor conversing; that I was as willing to be called an Universalist, as any thing else; that the name would not make the person honest nor dishonest, christian nor antichristian, neither on this account, said 1, is the love of God shed abroad in the heart.

They concluded not to grant me my request, and, therefore, I supposed that I should continue with them as I had formerly done, in the enjoyment of familiar intercourse and christian communion; and this supposition gave me joy, for I must say that I do not feel in my heart to disassociate with or disrespect any one, because he does not believe upon all subjects as I do. I felt a confidence that they could not charge me with immorality, and I will say that they made not the least reflection against my moral conduct. As to attending the meetings of other denominations, occasionally, they are all more or less guilty of this, if it

can be considered a crime, and as to doctrine, neither two of them think alike in all points.

After public service, on the first Sabbath in this month, the members were requested to stop. They requested me to retire. Judge of my surprise, when I was informed that I was expelled, or, in other words, suspended until I should make a public acknowledgement. The preacher in conversation with me stated, that they were all perfectly willing that I should enjoy my opinion, but not that I should make it known. He said that they entertained no doubt of my sincerity, and hoped that I would have no hard feelings towards them, for they were my friends. Taking me by the hand, he bid me farewell.

Some will undoubtedly call their conduct the work of the Holy Spirit, and some will call it persecution : to me it appears to oppose itself.

And now, altho some of my brethren have treated me, as I think, unhandsomely and unkindly, still I feel no other disposition than to do them good. In God do I put my trust. I feel under obligations to him for his past favors, and rejoice in the participation of his present, and in the hope of his future goodness. "He is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." "O Lord, just and true are thy ways. Who shall not fear thee and glorify thy name ? All nations shall come and worship before thee."

Dear Sir, I remain yours affectionately,
DAVID PHIPPS.

Rev. T. WHITTEMORE.

From the Unitarian Miscellany.

ETERNITY OF GOD. `

We receive such repeated intimations of decay in the world through which we are passing, decline and change and loss follow decline and change and loss in such rapid succession, that we can almost catch the sound of universal wasting, and hear the work of deso

lation going on busily around us. "The mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. The waters wear the stones, the things which grow out of the dust of the earth are washed away, and the hope of man is destroyed." Conscious of our own instability we look about for something to rest on, but we look in vain. The heavens and the earth had a beginning, and they will have an end. The face of the world is changing, daily and hourly. All animated things grow old and die. The rocks crumble, the trees fall, the leaves fade, and the grass withers. The clouds are flying, and the waters are flowing away from us.

The firmest works of man, too, are gradually giving way, the ivy clings to the mouldering tower, the briar hangs out from the shattered window, and the wallflower springs from the disjointed stones. The founders of these perishable works have shared the same fate long ago. If we look back to the days of our ancestors, to the men as well as the dwellings of former times, they become immediately associated in our imaginations, and only make the feeling of instability stronger and deeper than before. In the spacious domes, which once held our fathers, the serpent hisses, and the wild bird screams. The halls, which once were crowded with all that taste and science and labor could procure, which resounded with melody, and were lighted up with beauty, are buried by their own ruins, mocked by their own desolation. The voice of merriment, and of wailing, the steps of the busy and the idle have ceased in the deserted courts, and the weeds choke the entrances, and the long grass waves upon the hearth-stone. The works of art, the forming hand, the tombs, the very ashes they contained, are all gone.

While we thus walk among the ruins of the past, a sad feeling of insecurity comes over us; and that feeling is by no means diminished when we arrive at home. If we turn to our friends, we can hardly speak to them before they bid us farewell. We see them for a few moments, and in a few moments more their