is evident, however, that the Scriptures do represent him as an absolute sovereign in the government of the universe, and as an “avenger of iniquity," in relation to finally impenitent sinners; punishing them "with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." As our opponents consider these things to be unamiable traits in the character of Jehovah, we must believe that they stand opposed to that which is moral beauty in unlimited perfection. This is " striving with their Maker," and saying, "Why hast thou made me thus?" The whole scheme, therefore, is calculated to excite rebellious feelings in the human breast, against the moral character of the Almighty. Their teachers expressly say, that it is not consistent with infinite goodness, to make an intelligent creature, whose misery shall be such, that his existence shall be worse than to have no being. They all appear, therefore, to be settled in the opinion, that either there will be, a universal restoration, or that the wicked will be eternally annihilated. A universal restoration, is the avowed belief of Dr. Priestley. He says, no one of his sentiments "supposes that any of the human race will be eternally miserable;" and that "God has created us all for happiness-ultimate, unlimited happiness." But notwithstanding the Dr.'s opinion on the subject, many of his brethren profess to believe in the doctrine of annihilation. In this, however, they are pretty much agreed, not to exhibit any terror to sinners, either from the press or the pulpit. They must, of course, believe that these passages, "Wo unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him ;" and, "It had been good for that man, if he had not been born;" with many others of similar import, must be interpolations, or greatly altered by the Orthodox, in making the translations in which they appear. But in their system, we find much of the same spirit that is re probated in the 50th Psalm: "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself." Any scheme of religion which serves to overthrow the doctrine of vindictive justice, is pleasing to the unreconciled heart; but that is a certain evidence of its fallacy. When criminals argue in their own favor, their reasonings may be very different from the judgment that an enlightened and impartial court will pass upon their case. The Anti-Trinitarian plan is, unhappily, at variance with every essential doctrine contained in the Oracles of God; and it gives us a view of his moral character, which is the very reverse of that which is given there. It is, therefore, false; and ought to be rejected by all men, now and forever. But, 4. We may take a concise view of Anti-Trinitarianism, as it relates to the character of man. Here, my hearers, a cloud of moral darkness appears, that is thick and awful as the darkness of midnight, and which nothing but omnipotence can dispel! An eye than cannot see the glory of God, must be, in an equal degree, blind to the moral deformity of man. In the Scriptures, the whole human race are represented as being totally sinful-depraved from the very commencement of life, and under condemnation, until they are renewed and pardoned. This doctrine very fully appears from the following expressive passages; namely, "The carnal mind is enmity against God." Rom. 8. 7. flesh is flesh." John 3. 6. good, no not one." Rom. 3. 12. God before their eyes." Verse 18. receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2. 14. "The wicked go astray as soon as they be born." Ps. 58. -3. "That which is born of the "There is none that doeth "There is no fear of Verse 18. "The natural man "Behold I was shapen in iniquity." Ps. 51. 5. "Cur sed is every one that continueth not in all things written in "If any the book of the law to do them." Gal. 3. 10. With these declarations of God in our mind, let us now proceed to examine the Anti-Trinitarian theory. How soon the sound is changed! By that system we are taught, that man is born in a state of perfect innocence, and through his whole life, more inclined to virtue than to vice. In relation to the first opinion, namely, that we are born in a state of innocency, I shall not adduce any thing from their writings to prove it, being fully assured that there is not one, of that fraternity, who would wish to assert the contrary. Even in regard to the sins of adults, the most soft and extenuating expressions are used by their writers, when they speak on the subject. Mr. Belsham calls sin "human frailty," and those who commit it, "the frail and erring children of men." This is very gentle language when speaking of that, which God saith, "My soul hateth." A certain writer, in that liberal school, says, "The Supreme law-giver determined from the beginning to mitigate the rigor of the law, to make allowances for human error and imperfection." Is not this, my hearers, lessening sin at a wonderful rate? yes; it is pleading the sinner's cause at the expense of divine honor. But in relation to human virtue, that class of men consider it as having no cause extrinsic of men, but the empire of motives. Dr. Priestley says of man, that "his own disposition and actions are the necessary and sole means of his present and future happiness; so that in the proper ing, sense of the words, it depends entirely upon himself whether he be virtuous or vicious, happy or miserable. But, how does this assertion accord with St. Paul's declaration? "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." Rom. 9. 16. The same Apostle expresses a very different sentiment, in ask"Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive. Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it ?" 1 Cor. 4. 7. Thus you see, my hearers, that the Anti-Trinitarian view of human virtue is wild in the extreme, and at war with the Scriptures. It evidently raises the character of man beyond the bounds assigned to it in revealed religion. Mr. Belsham has so high an idea of the inclination of man to virtue rather than to vice, that he says, "In process of time, the earth may revert to its original paradisiacal state-and death itself be annihilated." This shows very clearly, that though Anti-Trinitarians glory in their own own supposed rationality, and eminent attainments in the empire of letters; that they are not altogether invulnerable to enthusiasm. They take great care, however, to apprise us, that this wonderful change in the condition of man, is to be effected without any special agency of the Holy Spirit. Nothing of that nature can be admitted in their theorizing minds. No; all is to be done by moral suasion and human energy-the glory must be ascribed to man, instead of God. But the agreement of such schemes with Revelation, is unhesitatingly submitted to your judgment. As to our various opinions on points of doctrine, Dr. Priestley says, "There are no errors but what men may be so circumstanced as to be innocently betrayed into; and that any mistake of the head is very consistent with rectitude of heart." St. Paul, therefore, must have been mis 1 taken, and highly censorious, in saying, "If any man preach another gospel unto you, let him be accursed." As the innocency of false sentiments in matters of religion, is not a doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, advocating it. must be very wicked. But, to justify sinners at all events, in almost every thing, appears to be one of the most prominent features in the Anti-Trinitarian system. The Bible, however, tells us, "Not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think;" to "accept the punishment of our iniquity;" to put on humility as a garment; to rejoice in the sovereignty of God; and to acknowledge freely our dependence on his power and Such ungrace. conditional submission is a beauty in the character of man, and the only proper way of honoring God. We cannot stand on any other ground before the glorious tribunal of the Almighty. He says expressly, "He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy." The system of our opponents has little to do with such feelings and acknowledgments. Being whole in their own imagination, they see no need of such a Physician as we suppose the Lord Jesus Christ to be. Human virtue is confessed by them to be the ground of their dependence. On these sacred words, "Other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid," one of their writers says, "All other foundation beside a good moral life, is chimerical"—a flat contradiction of the text on which he professes to found his remark. The liberty which they take with the Holy Scriptures, is truly astonishing! The art and assiduity which they display, in making every thing on their side of the question appear plausible, exceed description. Nothing is left undone that will veil the true character of God, and flatter sinners with the idea of their own virtue and safety. There were a set of teachers also in Israel, who cried |