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al agreement, and agree that the agreement, in the form of a public notice, should be published in the Universalist Magazine of Feb. 22d; but that the agreement was not published, because we, the subscribers, afterwards withdrew our names from it for the following reasons, viz.

1. We discovered, on reconsideration, and also by additional information received immediately after signing it, that the statements in that agreement were

not true.

2. The Editors had before entered into a mutual understanding that we would not publish any thing relative to the "Appeal to the Public" without the consent of all the Editors; and as the senior Editor was not present at the making of said agreement, we were satisfied on reflection that we alone had no right to agree to the publication of such a notice.

HOSEA BALLOU, 2d.

THOMAS WHITTEMORE.

THE UNIVERSALISTS CONTEND AMONG THEMSELVES.

The Universalists contend among themselves, says an opposer; this proves what we have always told them, that their doctrine is very licentious. But who is this man that is throwing stones? You doubtless remember what our Lord told the Pharisees concerning the woman, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. Brother Baptist, have you never had any difficulty in your Associations? Will you say it? No, you cannot. You have had many difficulties. We mention the circumstance, that there are many kinds of baptists as a proof of what we state. Brother Methodist, have you any stones to throw? As much as you hold to piety and zeal, there are some who think they are better in some respect than their other brethren; of course we have heard of Reformed Methodists. What says brother Congregationalist about stoning us? Are you able according to

bur Lord's permission thus to bruise us? You are sensible that a very large body of your general connexion have become Unitarian, and you have been disposed to have no small contention with them.

In

short, the history of your proceedings afford many instances of differences. But it is useless to particularize further; for we know not who can plead an exemption from similar troubles.

Let that denomination of Christians who never had troubles of a similar nature to ours, stone us, and we will not say a word. We will be as patient as a lamb led to the slaughter, or as a sheep before her shearers, which is dumb.

While many of our enemies suppose us much allied to infernal powers, some of our friends would have it that we possess an angelic nature that lifts us above the sphere of human folly. While the one exults in our misfortunes, the other is sorely disappointed in his calculations. Those who would consider us gods, are generally extremely afraid of the enemy. They seem to think he has the advantage of us, because we act more like men than like gods, some of us, like very foolish men too. But what denomination has any advantage of us on this ground? We say, let them pull the beam out of their own eyes, before they undertake to meddle with the mote-or if you please, the beam-that is in ours.

Men frequently act from motives of self interest, pride, &c. and will, while man is man, so act, let them belong to what society or denomination they may. Among the Apostles themselves, notwithstanding their intimate acquaintance with our Lord, there were some differences, and, on a certain occasion, Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.

We understand Br. Fearful has concluded not to take the Christian Repository, because he says he will not have a book that he is ashamed to lend to his neighbors. What is the trouble, my brother? There is so much contention among the brethren. For my part, continues Br. Fearful, I had much rather they

for

would write against other denominations than against one another. In reply we observe, we do not wish. any better contention with ANY one. We may be too extravagant in opposing the errors of other denominations as well as those of our own. They are entitled to respect for their learning and piety. As it respects our own denomination, it is certainly a matter against us that we have contentions. We are sensible they are calculated to blunt the finest feelings of fraternal affection, and nourish the root of bitterness, instead of love, harmony, and peace. But if this be our lot, let us endure with patience, knowing tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, through the love of God shed abroad in the heart.

We have made it a general rule not to invite controversy, and wish for no other than that which is of the calmest and most deliberate kind. But unfortunately for us as well as the reader, we have been called to submit to that which is very corroding to our feelings. But we considered it good policy not to exclude those communications, altho we were aware beforehand, they might tend to some personal damage. The subject was of too long standing and too obdurate in its nature, to be covertly hushed into silence. It required purgation by a more open exposure.

If by the trial of these difficulties, it is found that we possess more wickedness, malice, envy, cowardice and stubbornness, than we have heretofore supposed, the world will lose nothing by the exposure; for they will then know what kind of people we are, and, of course, will be able to treat us according to our characters.

From the Unitarian Miscellany.

THE GRAVE OF LAZARUS.

EVERY reader of the gospel, however superficial, must have had his attention arrested, at some time, by the sublime and affecting story of the resurrection of Lazarus. For the family to which this young man be

longed, composed, as it would seem, of himself and his two sisters, our Lord evidently felt a strong and ardent affection. At length, Lazarus, who appears to have been the principal support of the family, was taken sick and died. Jesus, who was always the friend of the afflicted, being at a distance from Bethany, the residence of his bereaved friends, went immediately to pay them a visit of condolence, intending moreover to make it the occasion of a stupendous miracle, which should gladden their hearts by restoring to them their brother, and at the same time demonstrate to them his own claim to the Messiahship.

The conversation which took place between the sister of the deceased on the one hand, and their affectionate friend and Savior on the other, at the time of their meeting, is the most touching, and at the same time, the most natural that can be conceived. It shews how full of grief were the hearts of these affectionate females for the death of their brother, and how full of sympathy was the heart of Jesus for the affliction of his friends. It shews, moreover, clearly enough, that they confided in him, not as a common friend, but as possessing qualities of a most extraordinary character; and it discovers on his part a degree of tenderness and authority, which proves that their confidence in him

was not excessive.

It is an incident of peculiar interest in the narrative, that our Lord justified the weeping of his friends by indulging in tears himself; and then he immediately changed their grief into joy by one authoritative command, which loosened the bands of death, and delivered this tenant of the sepulchre from his dominion. Lazarus, come forth! How simple, and yet how incomparably sublime! In an instant, he that was dead started from his iron slumber, the eye that had been closed in sepulchral darkness opened upon the light, the tongue that had lately faltered out its dying farewell, was loosed from the bands of silence, the limbs that had been stiffened by the chill of death resumed their vigor, and this affectionate friend came

forth, dressed in the apparel of the grave, to mingle again in the endearments of friendship, and to perform again the duties of life. Reader, let us linger for a moment by this empty sepulchre, and see what we can learn, either of truth or duty.

In the first place, I would ask, could there have been a more decisive proof than was here presented, that Jesus was what he claimed to be, the Son of God? It was a miracle, his enemies themselves being judges, in all respects the most unexceptionable of any which could be performed. Here was no splendid apparatus for carrying on the work of deception; no retreating into obscurity to avoid the observation of the world; no apparent attempt to excite wonder, or gain reputation; nothing of the spirit of worldly complacence or triumph when the miracle was over; in short, there was not a single mark of imposture about it; but all was open as day to the observation, as well of enemies as friends. Moreover, in its very nature, it was such as not to admit of its being counterfeited. That Lazarus was dead, was a fact which none could question; for his friends had closed his eyes, and followed his corpse to the grave several days before. That he was alive again, and that he came forth from the sepulchre at the command of Jesus, was perhaps equally a matter of public notoriety; for it seems there were present enemies as well friends, when the miracle was performed. If there had not been a divine power dwelling in him, in other words, if he had not been the Son of God, whence this energy in his words, which could awaken even the slumbers of the tomb? If you say, that some of the Jews who witnessed this miracle, appear still not to have believed on him; I answer, that this proves nothing but the omnipotence of prejudice. It proves not that there was any thing of a doubtful nature in the manner of its performance, but that the human mind is capable of being brought into such a state, that the light of heaven falls upon it, as the dews of heaven upon the finty rock; that it may be so strongly en

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