end is destruction." I read of the "disobedient who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." The precise and particular import of these expressions, I am incompetent to apprehend. They possess to me a deep solemnity. Experience reveals to us, even in this life, the deplorable consequences of confirmed impenitence, and abandoned guilt. Humanity mourns over the wreck of ruined spirits, too often, alas! hastened to destruction by the uncharitable neglect, the unpitying scorn of the world.

But while I am constrained, from the deepest conviction, thus to believe, let me add that with equal confidence do I hold, that the perfect wisdom and impartial love of God, in the creation of man and the mission of the Saviour, will be finally and gloriously made known. I see proof of this in the promise to Abraham, that in him and in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. I see it in the sayings of the ancient prophets, in the distinct foretelling of the days, when all shall know the Lord, from the least even unto the greatest. I see it in the strong declaration by the Apostle of the purpose of God, to "gather together in one; all things in Christ, which are in heaven and on earth." Is it asked how this is to be reconciled with the endless consequences of sin, and the possible final destruction of any human being? To be able to answer the inquiry, would demand a knowledge of futurity I cannot claim. We see but parts of His ways; often but broken links in the infinite chain of the divine and all-wise counsel. I cannot reconcile, while I believe, the foreknowledge of God, and the moral freedom of man. I must needs bear with my ignorance of the will of Heaven, though that ignorance be sorrow. I must

yet say that firmly as I hold to the unalterable justice of God, and to the certainty of a retribution which shall render unto every man according to his deeds, amidst the darkness of my mind and the deep concern with which I must needs look upon the destiny of impenetrable and obdurate guilt, I have hope in God; I have confidence in his wisdom and love. What we know not now, I am assured we shall know hereafter. Now we see in part; then shall we know even as we are known.

I have thus presented, as plainly and fully as my limits allow, my leading views of Christian doctrine. I had designed to bring up other topics, and especially to explain more fully my views of the death and cross of Christ, to which I have only alluded. From what I have offered it will be seen that I regard the death of Christ, not as a satisfaction to God, but as designed to influence and affect man; to inspire faith, gratitude and love toward the Saviour; to impress us with the solemn claims of the gospel of truth and mercy, and to draw all men unto him. We deny not a crucified Saviour. We glory in the cross of Christ as the symbol of love divine - - of faith triumphant over pain and ignominy and death. It is the pledge of pardon and peace and immortal hope.

Such, then, are my thoughts of Christian doctrine. I believe them to be, in the main, the views of my Unitarian brethren. They are views, let me add, which have passed the ordeal of experience; which good and holy men have adorned by their lives, and in which they have found unspeakable comfort and all-sustaining hope in death. They are the views in which the great minds of a Newton, a Locke and a Milton, found rest. They are the views which how many! unknown to fame, wise only in the

wisdom of their pure thought and humble purpose, have gathered as precious pearls from the mines of eternal wisdom and truth. I have myself stood at the bedside of the sick and dying, and seen their power. And when I have witnessed the uplifting hope, and peaceful resignation which they have imparted to the suffering bosom, often through long years of pain and trial, I could not doubt they were drawn from the crystal waters of life. Oh! that their purifying influence may be felt in the hearts of all who embrace and love them, inspiring watchfulness in temptation, forbearance under provoca. tion, and faithfulness in duty.

Believing, as I do, that the sentiments I have here expressed are the truth of God, I cannot question their power; I have hope and unwavering confidence in their ultimate prevalence. The spirit of inquiry, so active about us, is nothing but auspicious to the interests of truth. Opposition, while it fain would stay, can only further its progress. Yet dearly as I love my own opinions, fondly as I cherish them, I cannot but remember that to others are their own as dear; nor can I fail to discover in every denomination pure and humble believers, who bear the image of Christ; and their faith, if founded on Christ and his word, I have no desire to distrub. However I may deem it erroneous in important particulars, however I may desire and pray it may be enlightened, if erroneous, were it in my power I would not uproot it. You have a trée in your garden planted in a soil which science and experience convince you to be not best adapted to it. But it grows and thrives and blossoms and brings forth rich and abundant fruit. Would you uproot that tree, retarding its growth, perhaps endangering its life, merely because you think a different soil and position better suited to it?

Neither would I dare uproot the smallest radicle of faith which is drawing nourishment from the one eternal fountain. No! God forbid that I should ever blight the humblest hope, or crush the feeblest spirit that strives to rise to Heaven. Rather let us bear with and enlighten our mutual ignorance, steadfast in the truth, and at the same time steadfast in our charity and love; remembering that other sheep hath Christ which are not of this fold; that God is no respecter of persons; but that in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

The Truth! sacred and responsible is the trust it imposes upon its possessor; most of all, when it is rejected of men - when it is cast out as evil. What occasions have we not had to enforce the solemn charge of fidelity-sometimes in sadness and grief, when assailed by harsh and uncharitable judgment; sometimes in gratitude and triumph, when we have beheld, as we have been permitted to behold, beautiful and illustrious examples of the power of the truth, in those its faithful servants, whose loss the church deplores. Oh! that we may be worthy of the doctrine we have embraced, and to which just and good men have set their seal, by a pure and generous zeal for its spread, by imbibing largely the spirit of Christ our master. Whatsoever things are pure, lovely, and of good report, these let us seek and do. Above all, put on charity, the bond of perfectnesswhich shall abide when knowledge shall vanish which is the grace that shall live in immortal glory when faith and hope shall be lost in sight and fruition.