bers of the Universalist Book Society, as well as of the Second Universalist Society in this city. The letter to which the one from which fers of assistance from brother Hosea Bal-logical reasoning. The effect may be interred lou of Boston and other zealous advocates from a knowledge of the cause. of the gospel of God our Saviour. When it is clearly ascertained that Jehovah is the cause of the above extracts are taken is in answer, was A true copy of the original notice. our being, a knowledge of his perfections will written with an express design to obtain a knowenable us to draw a rational conclusion what ADIN BALLOU. ledge of the impression the late overtures have The above needs no comment, and we will be the result of our existence. Strengthmade on the minds of our minisering brethren ening this conclusion by the assertions of inspiin Boston and its vicinity; iu order, in some shall be sparing in our remarks. We can ration, our proof may amount to a moral cermeasure, to counteract an erroneous report only say, that if our "brethren in the min-tainty. Admitting God is a being of infinite that has heen industriously circulated here. If all istry in the Eastern states," have done, what goodness, I naturally infer all his acts must be mankind were disposed to judge with as much this notice says they have, on ex parte testi-like himself, good. Hence if he confer existcaution, and decide with as much prudence, as mony, and especially on the representations ence upon any being, that existence on the this highly esteemed brother appears to have of an individual, they have done what, as whole must be a blessing to that being, or God done, how many feelings might be spared; and brethren, and as Christians, they ought not would, by conferring that existence, contradict how much difficulty would often be prevented! to have done; whereas if they have acted the first principle of his nature. When to this As the Second Universalist Society is now inI add the numerous declarations of Scripture, corporated and firmly established; as it is also agreeably to what is stated by our worthy and as their worthy pastor has heretofore been like wise men, and their conduct in this res- the ultimate good and happiness of all his crearespectable both as to numbers and character; friend and brother in Boston, they have acted representing God as infinitely good and just, willing and actually taking measures to effect an object of "sympathy," so we trust he will pect, will meet with the "unqualified" ap-tures, consequently there can be no hesitancy in now be an object of congratulation. Were we probation of the wise and good of all par- drawing the conclusion that whatever the final altogether indifferent spectators; so far as mo- ties. Therefore it is due from our ministe-destiny of man may be, it will on the whole be tives can be judged by actions, we should be ring brethren at the Eastward, to the New- a thousand times better than a state of nonwarranted in saying,that his have been pure and York Universalist Book Society, as also to existence. Thence the third query naturally consciencions in all that he has done, in re-the members of the Second Universalist So-presents itself. If God has made us and destilation to the overtures which have recently taken men. Kneeland, either to acknowledge, or else de- BENEVOLENCE. do we owe him? what kind of worship will be Utica Magazine. place. It has been his object to promote pure love to God, peace on earth, and good will to And when he saw that his labors were not productive of these happy consequences, he had no alternative but to stop short in his him ourselves and all we have, and all our powcourse. The measure having succeeded even ers of body and mind should unite to obey his beyond his most sanguine expectations, he now possesses no other feelings towards the society Happy is the man who is free from envy, who his law requires. To this are all other inquiries commands, and yield that pleasurable service he has left, than those of pure friendship. Their wishes and rejoices in the prosperity of his subservient. A knowledge of our origin and number is not much diminished, if any, below neighbor, being contented with his own condi- end, the existence and perfections of the being what it was when he was first called to labor tion, and delighted at the good fortune of those who made us have no other use, than to deterwith them in word and doctrine; and no one around him, his sympathetic heart beats in uni-mine our duty to ascertain what must be done, will rejoice more than their late pastor, to see son with the sufferer, and from his little store and persuade us to its performance. them prosper as a religious society; and he has bestows a generous mite to the children of pono doubt but that they will prosper in the ways verty. Enjoyment attends him through the vaof well doing. And above all things, he wishes rious walks of life, and misfortune rests lightly to maintain the most perfect friendship and on his head; the morsel which he eats is sweet cordial fellowship with those who may labor and nourishing; the water he drinks is cool and ON CHRISTIAN CANDOR AND RELIGIOUS with them, from time to time, in the ministry. refreshing, and the straw which supports his As for those who are disposed to believe false weary limbs, soothes him into soft forgetfulness. reports, or be the bearers of them, he can only When he visits his neighbor in trouble, such bepity and forgive them; and as to all those that nignity appears in his countenance, that the eye have counselled an evil counsel against them- of sorrow wears a smile, and the distressed selves, they will find their'destiny in the words breast ceases to heave a sigh. Like a minister of the prophet, (2 Kings xix. 28: Isa. xxxvii. of peace he is received among them, and his 29,) which are firmly believed by him, who has very words prove the oil of consolation. Surely been so much calumniated of late, as a revela-he, above the rest of his fellow mortals, partion from God! As editors of an impartial paper, devoted to the cause of universal truth, we shall rejoice in the prosperity of each and every religious society whose object is to promote liberal principles, and more especially the doctrine of Universal Salvation, which, as we believe, is the doctrine of Christ and his apostles. takes of heaven here below, and a bliss, which RELIGION. Rel. Ing, Extract from Dr. Watts. QUIRY. IN If it be an unreasonable thing to dictate to our fellow Christians, and urge our particular sentiments on them, in these mysterious points, (more particularly referring to the doctrine of the trinity,) how much more culpable and domineering is it, to establish any special form of human explication of this doctrine as a test of orthodoxy and christianity! How vain a presumption is it with a pretence of divine authority to impose mere human explications upon the consciences of men, and to forbid them all, the No subject within the compass of our knowl-sacred blessings of especial communion in edge, claims our attention more justly than reli- the gospel, unless they testify their assent to gion. Placed as we are here, occupying the sta- such a particular hypothesis or scheme of Since writing the above, the following notice tion we do, it is natural to inquire whence we has been put into our hands, which was pub-came, and what is our final destination what be human, and yet impose it in their own explanation, which the imposers confess to licly read from the desk in the Universalist being gave us birth, and what allegiance we church, in Prince-street, on Sunday morning owe him, what kind of service will be accepta- mere prescribed form of words. The perble to him and profitable to us? The first of sons who are guilty of this most uncharitaThe Trustees of this Society have these queries is easily answered. Whoever ble practice may consecrate their imposithe satisfaction of being able to state pub-marks the various events, the dependencies of tions, and their excommunications, with holy licly, that the measures pursued by them, in cause and effect observable in the whole of na-names, and call it pure zeal, but I suspect it relation to their late unhappy differences ture will readily admit the existence of some will be found in the great day to deserve no with Mr. Kneeland, have met with the un-and established the laws by which it is governed. honour of Christ, mingled with zeal for the great first cause, who gave birth to the whole, better character than a mistaken zeal for the qualified approbation of their brethren in Hence from him we took our existence, produ- divinity of their own notions. If we are to the ministry, in the Eastern states. They ced by the same Almighty fiat that called na- be condemned to hell for believing inconsishave also the pleasure of stating, that their ture into being. The second-our final destiarrangements for supplying their desk, with nation, is not so easily answered or readily astencies, then wo be to every son and daughfaithful preachers of the word of life, are ve- certained, On this point, we have no positive ter of Adam. What man is there in the `ky encouraging, inasmuch as they have prof-evidence, the whole rests on revelation, and ana-world free from error? And yet every error the 22d ultimo. he holds, is perhaps inconsistent with some truth which he believes. It is hard to write Anathema upon a man's forehead, because of some inconsistencies in his opinions while he believes all necessary truths, and practices the necessary duties relating to God and Christ, and his own soul. There have been many and very different explications of this doctrine, embraced by some persons of the most exemplary piety; concerning whom I could even venture to say "May my soul be where ever theirs is, in the other world." For the Olive Branch. When I see one zealously professing Christian religion, and at the same time making it his practice if the poor should be his debtor, to harass them, and otherwise grind the face of the poor, either by extortion of interest, or any other way which he would not wish done to himself, and who thinks lightly of overreaching his neighbour in a bargain, or in other words, in purchasing any article or commodity after asking the price, and he knowing it to be a reasonable one, to wish or desire to obtain it at a less price than he thinks his neighbour really can afford to sell it for, that man is a hypocrite, and his conduct informs me that he is a practical Atheist. B. GROUND SWELL IN THE POLAR REGIONS. ed with difficulty to ascend a rising hill; with two hands, and if possible, procure as- To make land now was the only sorce that remained, but it was with the utmost difficulty that the frightened dogs could be driven forward, and as the whole body of the ice frequently sunk below the summits of the rocks and then rose above them, the only time for landing was at the moment it gained the level of the coast, a circumstance which rendered the attempt extremely nice and hazardous. Both sledges, however, succeeded in gaining the shore, and were drawn During the time when they were up on the beach, though not without great in this situation, they were much when the part of the ice from which they bruised by the washing of the sea. The ice in the polar regions, accommo- had just escaped, burst asunder, and the wa-At 2 o'clock P. M. on Sunday, the dates itself to the surface by bending, but when ter rushing from beneath, instantly precipi- remaining persons on board, viz: several yards in thickness, it refuses to yield tated it into the ocean. In a moment, as if Mr. James Furse and son, of Barnbeyond a certain extent, and is broken in by a signal, the whole mass of ice for sevewell, S. C.; Mrs. Catharine Lampieces with dreadful explosions. The bestral miles along the coast, and extending as account that we know of the appearances far as the eye could reach, began to break ba, of Ireland; Captain Macy, late presented on such occasions is given by a and to be overwhelmed with waves; the of ship Commerce, of New-York; harty of Moravian Missionaries, who were spectacle was awfully grand, the immense Mr. H. Prescott, of New-Haven, engaged in a coasting expedition on the ice field of ice rising out of the ocean, clashing Conn. John Cany, of Ireland; along the northern shore of Labradore, with against one another, and then plunging insledges drawn by dogs. They narrowly es- to the deep with a violence which no lancaped destruction from one of those occur- guage can describe, and a noise like ten thourences, and were near enough to witness all sand cannons, was a sight which must have its grandeur. We extract it from the resent struck the most unreflecting mind with soThe brethren were overwhelminteresting compilation of the Rev. Dr. Brown, on the history of the propagation of christianity. lem awe. John Gready, of do; Patrick McCater, of do: Lewis Carter, of Philadelphia; and James Heron, of Ireland, (the latter died on board the Eliza on the 18th ;) Captain ed with amazement at their miraculous escape, and even the pagan Esquimaux expres-Delano, of sloop Falcon; Arthur sed gratitude to God for their deliverance. M'Donald, Josiah Brigs, and JoLon Pap. seph Raymond, a black man, seaman: Benjamin Ross, black, cook; and George, a black boy, were taken off the wreck, by the schr. Eliza. At the time the boat left From the Charleston Courier. Melancholy Shipwreck of the Sloop Fulton, "The missionaries met a sledge with Esquimaux turning in from the sea, who threw out some hints that it might be as swell for them to return; after some time, their own Esquimaux hinted that there was a ground swell under the ice; it was then scarcely perceptible except on lying down and apply- The schr. Eliza, Captain Casey, arrived ing the ear close to the ice, when a hollow here last evening, from Newbern, brought in disagreeable grating noise was heard ascen- part of the passengers, together with Captain the Falcon, the Light House was ding from the abyss. As the motion of the Delano, and part of the crew of the sloop in sight, and which those on board sea under the ice had grown more percepti- Falcon, which was wrecked on Cape Look-probably endeavoured to reach. ble, they became alarmed, and began to out Shoals, on the night of the 14th inst-Capt. think it prudent to keep close to the shore; from whom we learn the following particlars. Capt. Casey informs us, the shore difficult to land upon, is so very the ice also had fissures in many places, some of which formed chasms of one or two 12th inst. bound for New-York, having on that there is every reason to fear feet, but as these are not uncommon even in board a cargo of Cotton and Rice, and 23 all on board perished. When they its best state, and the dogs easily leap over passengers. On the 14th at 11 o'clock P. M. left the wreck, she was almost enthem, they are frightful only to strangers; the vessel struck on the outer shoal of Cape as the wind rose to a storm, the swell had Look Out, and bilged. The sea beat her tirely under water. now increased so much that its effects on over into deep water, where all sail was the ice were extraordinary and really alar-made for the land, the crew employed in ming. throwing overboard every thing they could The Falcon sailed from Savannah on the JESSE STRANG, charged with The sledges, instead of gliding smoothly at, the vessel sinking fast. Captain Delano, the murder of JOHN WHIPPLE, has along on an even surface, sometimes ran with to save the lives of the ladies, (passengers) had his trial at Albany, and brought violence after the dogs, and sometimes seem-gave permission to them to take the boat in guilty. ANECDOTES OF ELEPHANTS. In Mr. Griffith's edition of Baron Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, the question of the mental faculties of brutes is discussed, and the conclusion drawn, that the difference between brute and human reason is not in kind, but in the capability afforded to the former and denied to the latter. In illustration of this opinion, some curious anecdotes are related, from which we extract the following. "An elephant which a few years ago belong to a a to, to remove a branch still looked up; stretched his proboseis, and caught We have received No. 26 of only a twig or two and some leaves; he was paper entitled "The Anti-Universalist," with a request to pears to be a work well calculated, TO CORRESPONDENTS. úrged again, but he shook his ears and gave a 66 expiping sound of displeasure; but the mohaut change.' still insisting, after another vain attempt, he caught the bearing pole of a dooly (a kind of This paper, like a bastard child, palanquin,) and shook it with violence, making is owned by no one, or more, as poor sick soldier immediately start out of it; Editor, or Editors; it is a semithe hint was sufficient, he would not be trifled with. sheet, quarto, and comes out semi"At the siege of Bhurtpose, in the year ed to Mr. Cross, at Exeter Change, attained 1805, an affair occurred between two elephants, monthly. Admitting the matter the practice of a curious trick, which, by repe- which displays at once the character and men- equally important, it would be a tition, might be said to have acquired, if indeed tal capability, the passions, cunning, and re- very unequal exchange with a full instinct could be acquired, something of an insources of these curious animals. The British stinctive character; but which, the first time it Occurred at least, seems attributable to some- attendants, and thousands of cattle, had been however, that the ANTI-UNIVERSALarmy, with its countless host of followers and sheet weekly. As we perceive, thing short of reason. It is the usual part of for a long time before the city, when on the ap-IST is sent to several of the Revthe performances of an elephant at a public ex-proach of the hot season, and of the dry hot hibition, to pick up a piece of coin, thrown winds, the supply of water in the neighbour-erend Clergy of the orthodox within its reach for the purpose, with the finger-hood of the camp necessary for the supply of school, we hope it will have a very like appendage at the extremity of the trunk so many beings began to fail; the ponds or extensive circulation. For it apon one occasion a sixpence was thrown down, tanks had dried up, and no more water was left which happened to roll a little out of the reach than the immense welts of the country would of the animal, not far from the wall; being de- furnish. The multitude of men and cattle that sired to pick it up, he stretched out his proboseis several times to reach it; he then stood mowere unceasingly at the wells, particularly the tionless for a few seconds, evidently consider- for the priority in procuring the supply for largest, occasioned no inconsiderate struggle ing-we have no hesitation in saying, evidently which each was there to seek, and the conseconsidering, how to act; he then stretched his proboseis in a straight line as far as he could, a considerable. On one occasion, two elephant quent confusion on the spot was frequently very little distance above the coin, and blew with drivers, each with his elephant, the one remark-we learn that he is not the writer "Amana" is received, by which great force against the wall; the angle produ- ably large and strong, and the other compara of the piece signed "Biblist," as ced by the opposition of the wall, made the tively small and weak, were at the well togethcurrent of air act under the coin, as he evidently intended and anticipated it would, and his master with a bucket for the occasion, which This mistake being corrected, suer; the small elephant had been provided by "Veritas" seemed to suppose. it was curious to observe the sixpense travel- he carried at the end of his proboseis; but the ling by these means towards the animal, till it larger animal, being destitute of this necessary percedes the necessity of publishcame within his reach, and he picked it up. vessel, either spontaneously, or by the desire of ing what Amana has written on the This complicated calculation of natural means, his keeper, seized the bucket, and easily wrestat his disposal, was an intellectual effort beyond ed it away from his less powerful fellow-ser-subject. We mean to be like the what a vast number of human beings would vant: the latter was too sensible of his inferi-noble Bereans of old, who searchbe considered as a lucky thought, a clever ex-ority openly to resent the insult, though it is ed the Scriptures daily to see if pedient, under similar circumstances in any man. obvious that he felt it; but great squabbling and these things were so. "Some young camels belonging to a much abuse ensued between the keepers. At length respected friend of the editor, and brother of a the weaker animal, watching the opportunity shown that Mr. K. has "peeled" very valuable contributor to this work, were when the other was standing with his side to travelling with the army, when they had occa- the well, retired backwards a few paces, in a any truth out of the Bible, we will sion to cross the Jumna in a flat-bottomed boat; the novelty of the thing excited their very quiet, unsuspicious manner, and then rush- publish it: but unless this can be fears to such a degree, that it seemed impossi- against the side of the other, and fairly pushed not be acceptable to our readers. fears to such a degree, that it seemed impossi-ing forward with all his might, drove his head shown, empty declamations would ble to drive or induce them to enter the boat him into the well. spontaneously; upon which one of the mohauts, or elephant keepers, called to his elephant, and desired him to drive them in; the animal immediately put on a furious appearance, trumpeted with his proboseis, shook his ears, roared, struck the ground to the right A poor woman, who had seen betters days, and left, and blew the dust in clouds towards understanding from some of her acquaintance them; and so effectually subdued one great fear in the refractory camels, by exciting a greater, that they bolted into the boat in the greatest hurry-when the elephant re-assumed his composure, and deliberately walked back to his post. The same elephant was appealed to by his mohaut to remove a branch from a tree which hung too low to raise the tent-pole: the animal looked at the pole as if measuring it with his eye, then at the tree and impending branch; he then turned his rump towards the trunk of the tree, stepped a couple of paces forward, took the branch in his trunk, and felt as if examining where it would split off; finding it easy at this place, he moved a little back to where it was thicker; then taking a firm hold, he gave it three or four successive swings, increasing his force, till, with one powerful effort, it tore and fell on the ground. Being ap From Colman's Anecdotes. DR. GOLDSMITH. If it can be Just published, and for sale at this Office, by the New-York Universalist Book Society, Tract No 4, being a Reply to a Tract on "future punishment," published by the "Nassau Hall Tract Society, Princeton, N. J." The profits arising from this Tract are to be given to our worthy Secretary, Wm. W. Morris, who has hitherto volunteered his services, not only as Secretary to the Society, but also as Editor of the Olive Branch. ERRATA. Several typographical errors occurred in our last, among which the following are too important to go unnoticed. that Dr. Goldsmith had studied physic, aud IF THE OLIVE BRANCH advance. Mail Subscribers, 82 a year payable on the IF TERMS.-City Subscribers, $2 50, payable in receipt of the first number. No subscription will be received for less than a year, which includes one volume. C. NICHOLS, Printer. VOL. I. || PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE NEW-YORK UNIVERSALIST BOOK SOCIETY. "BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN ΤΟ DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY." SERMON, NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1827. ed into HELL and all the nations that forget God. By Rev. ABNER KNEELAND. (Concluded from our last.) a No. 15. even you, shall find grace; and, of course, be cer- ment in the world to come; how often, I On Psali ix. 17.—The wicked shall be turn-taiuly saved; or, at least, there is reason to say, is he buoyed up with this delusive hope that this will be the case. And not- dream? for although the criminal is told (on withstanding all the uncertainty they may the supposition of his being in an error in exhibit, and the danger of putting off repen- his calculations on futurity that "the antance to so late a period, yet, it may be ask-guish which now rends your bosom, is peace ed, who is so wicked that he does not mean when compared to the misery which awaits Here we might venture to dismiss this to repent before death overtakes him? The you," yet the Judge proceeds to inform him, subject, were it not for one consideration, greatest sinner in the world, who gives any that amidst the thunderings of its dreadful too important to be passed over unnoticed. credit to such a doctrine, undoubtedly calcu- denunciations, "the sacred volume breathes Some may honestly believe, as we presume lates that he shall repent sooner or later. a whisper of consolation, even to the most many do, that although it should be admitted Hence, notwithstanding the supposed use- hardened offender!" Thus he is encourathat the awful doctrine which stands oppo- fulness of the punishment, it is a mere bug-ged to hope for an escape from that punsed to that of universal grace, cannot be bear after all; it being removed as easy as ishment which, as it is said, God has deproved true from Bible, yet it ought to be persons can wash their hands in clean wa- nounced with his thundering voice; for, preached as a terror to the wicked. But in ter! It may be said, however, by way of continues the Judge "Yes, this we think they are honestly mistaken. objection, that the opportunity of repentance all bloody as you are, may yet be within As an object of terror, it only operates on may be denied the wicked, by being sud- the reách of its [the sacred volume's] kind the fears of men, but has no power to pro- denly and unexpectedly cut off by death. promises-Fly then, I beseech you, to the duce moral affections, or the love of virtue. Let this be admitted, if you please, for the last stay ef the sinner's hope for a happy Now, as an object of fear, being placed at present, for the sake of the supposition; eternity. While the light of life yet gleams greater distance, and at best, in a doubtful yet if the sinner calculates that he shall re- upon your short and dreary path to the and uncertain state, it has by no means the pent, as every sinner who gives any credit grave, catch the fleeting moment to bespeak influence of the penitentiary or solitary con- to such an awful doctrine undoubtedly does, the intercession of that Redeemer whose finement. But this is not all, those who and if he is taught to believe that this is power is equal to your necessities. He may preach the doctrine of endless misery as an even possible, your future hell (as an object yet wash out the foul stain that renders you object of fear, to deter the wicked from the of fear) is gone beyond even this dread or loathsome to the world, and raise you to the commission of crimes, destroy the very thing apprehension-it has vanished completely mansions of bliss!"* Now this same docwhich they mean to preach; for, while they out of his sight. Therefore, so far as that trine, which is thus proclaimed to the crimbuild up with one hand, they pull down with is to be feared, he may sin with impunity. inal, is equally proclaimed to the whole gathe other. And hence they leave an object This is the natural effect of the doctrine, as zing multitude; and the wicked among them of terror, not to the wicked, but to weak no one believes it true for himself, but only calculate how easy it is to go from the comminds only, to whom it can be of no use; for others, who he may think are greater sin-mission of the greatest of crimes to a parti(for they stand in no need of such awful fore-ners, or else may be less fortunate than him- cipation in all the joys of Heaven! How, bodings,) but, with regard to them, it may self, and therefore he may be as great a stick- often is it that this criminal, through the inbe productive of indescribable evils. And ler for the doctrine as any; and yet, those it is to save this, which is often the most others, in their turn, think the same: and it amiable part of community, from the mel- is in this way only that we can account for ancholy consequences of these unneces- such crimes as are often committed even by sary fears, that we thus labour in this some of those who not only profess to be lieve, but who preach the doctrine themselves.* cause. We have said that they pull down with one hand, what they build up with the other; for no one dare to preach endless misery as the absolute, certain, and inevitable portion of all the wicked. This, as it must be acknowledged, and as has been already proven, would doom too many to endless woe; even more than the advocates of the doctrine will admit; and, according to the reputed orthodox doctrine of total depravity, it would thus doom the whole human race. They must then hold up the possibility of an escape; and this too, even for those who have been guilty of the worst of crimes. Now, how easy it is for the wicked to magnify this possibility into a certainty? They are told that every sincere penitent, even on a death-bed, or at the very last hour of life, terposition and assistance of weak, but pious friends, before he is brought to the gallows, is made, in the estimation or imagination of those who have "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge," a convert at least, if not a saint! and as such he is conducted to the gallows, with his priests at his side, singing hymns on the way, in all the triumphant parade of a martyr to religion, or a sainted hero!!!t That these are the true features of the popular doctrine of endless misery, cannot be denied: and this is as well known to the This picture, my hearers, is by no means' would be thought to be so. We hear it con- facts of public notoriety. And now, what. wicked as to the righteous; or those who exaggerated. It is a truth which rests on tinually, not only from the pulpit, but also has become of the awful doctrine of endless from the bench. How often is the criminal, misery? So far as it is designed as an obhave been his crime, even when he is about vanished. All its salutary effects, if it had being convicted of murder, or whatever may ject of terror to the wicked, it has entirely to receive the sentence of death, after being any, are entirely destroyed by a mistaken reminded not only of the punishment which zeal, for what can be no other (as we conawaits him from the hands of men, but also of that more awful and interminable punish * Evidence is not wanting to justify the above remark, should its correctness or propriety be called in question. * See the sentence of Judge Longstreet, on John M. Williams, convicted of the murder of his wife. Many in this city will fully understand this alusion, when they recollect the circumstances which attended the execution of G→→ ceive) than blind fanaticism under the false cape; and this is one, if not the greatest rea- by every son of freedom with unceasing satisgarb of religion. For, the fear of a future son why human punishments do not, in so faction. We are here assembled in com hell is not only vanished, (and therefore great a degree as could be wished, have memoration of an occurrence, which milmight as well Have never existed,) but the their desired effect; or, in other words, dolions of freemen yet unborn shall hail as the disgrace and ignominy which otherwise not deter every one from the commission of first dawn of the glorious morn of liberty, would have been attached to the punishment crimes. But in regard to the punishment which even now is spreading a genial glow of the gallows, together with all the stigma which God inflicteth, we contend, there is over that portion of our continent which, of murder, and all the other crimes which no escape; and the reason why they have enlightened by our example, is emerging led to that one, which alone could cap the not yet prevented sin, is because they are from that dark and slavish thraldom, in climax, have vanished with it. not sufficiently realized, as the effect, and which for ages it has been held by the united These, my friends, are some of the fruits certain punishment of sin; while people power of political and mental tyrants, and of the doctrine of endless misery; none of have not only been looking for a more aw- which, unrestrained by the countless billows which can be attached to the doctrine for ful punishment in the world to come, but of an ocean, is shedding a ray of light over which we contend. God has made no other they have been also taught to believe that the helpless inhabitants of another hemis hell for the wicked than that into which they the punishment which God designs to inflict, phere, who, for centuries past, have slumplunge themselves by their wickedness. Let is so much like the punishments inflicted by bered under the benighting influence of ty every one then, keep himself out of the hell men, that, somehow or other, it may be ranny and superstition. We have met in which is the legitimate fruit of the conduct avoided. All of which we believe to be remembrance of a day, when a nation, which of the wicked, and there is no other hell to contrary to the eternal and immutable prin- had long suffered under the iron rod of opbe feared. And this being too bad to be de- ciples of the truth of God. pression, and had vainly sought redress from sired by any, or even to be endured for the As long, therefore, as people are taught that power, whose duty it was to guard her sake only of "the pleasures of sin for a sea- to believe, and do believe, that there is great rights, and to shield her from wrong, stood son," to fear any thing worse, is worse than pleasure in sin, more than amply to overbal- forth, in the sight of an admiring world, dauseless. But, on the other hand, let every ance all that is to be feared in this world in red to assert those rights and that liberty, one remember, that all the hell there is, consequence of committing it; and at the which is the birthright of every human be(and we believe in all the punishment of same time, that all the punishment in the ing, and hesitated not to deny the legitimawhich the Scriptures speak,) is inevitably world to come may be avoided by repent-cy of the authority, by which a foreign pow certain to the wicked. And their portion in ance, you will find the world more or less er assumed the right of dictating to her laws in this "lake of fire and brimstone," in these wicked. But only let every one be brought and regulating her government. "sorrows of death," and "pains of hell," fully to know, understand and believe, that "True-this authority was based on the not only is, but ever will be, in exact ratio the consequences of all sin are as certain as ties of consanguinity, it had been sanctioned to the measure and magnitude of sin. It is sin itself, and that the consequences of every by the power of custom, it had been strengon this principle that God rewards every crime, will, sooner or later, and at all times, thened by a similarity in habits and in lan man according to his works. The punish- produce more pain and misery, than the sin guage, it had acquired stability by a lapse of ments inflicted by men have a beneficial ef- which occasioned it did pleasure and hap-years,-but, delegated originally for the befect, as an example, just as far, and no far-piness, and as far as this knowledge shall ex-nefit of a people, it had long since been dither, than ignominy and disgrace are attach- tend and become the governing principle of verted from its original channel; it had be ed to them.-Any thing, therefore, which is come the instrument of oppression over calculated to lessen the ignominy, and do those, whose liberties it was intended to esaway the disgrace, is injudicious and impolitablish; it served but as a means of aggrantic. It is like, the burning of heretics; who, That you, my respected audience, one dizement to a distant nation, at the expense although damned by one party, are canoni- and all, may be saved from all the horrors of of the one, for whose benefit it ought to zed by another; and, therefore, as long as a guilty conscience, together with all other have been exerted; it had become but a you will find those who will burn, you will evils which sin and wickedness can possibly pretext for the invasion of rights, which it find others embracing the supposed heresy, produce, (which is the hell threatened in my was the duty and interest of those in whom under all the dangers of being burned! For text,) permit me to address you in the words this aurhority was vested, jealously to pre it is heroism! not punishment! to endure of the prophet: "Cease to do evil-learn serve and permanently to secure. pain and suffering unaccompanied by any to do well." For, in doing thus," although was the legality of the tenure, upon which disgrace-Hence, just in proportion to the your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white this authority was grounded, destroyed, the stigma and disgrace attached to the person as snow; although they be read like crim-bond upon which it rested, by the nonperwho suffers, so much is the punishment and son, they shall be as wool. Then ye shall formance of the conditions on which it was no more. In this point of view, bodily dis- be no longer wicked, but shall be raised to framed, was become void, an injured people eases, when they are the fruits of intemper- a newness of life, even although ye were in asserted their lost rights, claimed their long ance and vice, may be reckoned among the the depths of "the lowest sheol!" For it is sought liberty, pledged in its defence their greatest of all punishments; while persons the wicked, and the wicked only, who shall lives and fortunes, willed their freedom, and labouring under other diseases, which may be turned into hell! be considered providential, excite all our That you, my brethren and friends, may sympathy and affection; and we never think not be of this character, Remember, and not of calling the disease a punishment, but only forget, God. Which may God, of his infithink of the Christian patience aud fortitude nite mercy, grant, through the medium of with which it was born. his Son, our example and mediator, Jesus Christ, to whom, and through whom, be glory forever. Mild punishments will answer every purpose which can be answered by punishment, when they are believed to be inevitable and certain; but as long as a possibility of an escape is either made probable, or is even admitted as possible, some will be found hardy enough to run the risk. With the punishments which men may inflict, we know there the actions of men, the world will be saved, ORATION AMEN. were free. Thus "In former ages, when men were few in number, when all lived isolated in the forest like the animals, on which they relied for a subsistence, in that early period in the his tory of the human race, when man left his rude dwelling in the rock, but to allay his thirst at the chrystal spring, or when allured by the excitement of the chase, at once the pleasure and the business of his life-then DELIVERED AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE was mankind free, then did man enjoy true "We have met this day to commemorate and ever will be, a possibility of an es- an event, which shall long be remembered political liberty, unawed by his fellow man, unshackeled by those numerous regulations and restrictions, which civilization has imposed upon society for the benefit and secu |