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& in- must lie not experience that washing of re­generation


which alone gives man the relish for


IJoliness, and render" him fit for ' the kingdom of


God? And CRn this work be done without


grace? Is mere punishment for sin, however


df'. IIerved, just and complete, the ground of his


acceptance with Gud '? t Of what use would even


II just punishment be, however great and dread ·


ful, if it were not followed by that r, ede~ ption


from ' the power of sin which is necessary to per­manent


and everlasting felicity? Do not the


Scriptures represent thafforgivcness in its strict­e"


t sense is tbe putting away ofsin itself from


the soul, the scaling of its acceptance and j'lsti­fication


with God? And would it dQ to Bay


that no m~ nis any farth ~ r saved by grace through


Christ, than as his just punishment is remitted?


If so, then all who are ever saved will be part­ly


saved by puniBhml'rotj for all are more or


lPoss punished in this life. Our' doctrine lloes


not SPot aside salvation by grace; it magnifies


it. It does nut set aside salvation by Christ j it


exalts his mediatorial efficiency to the highest


point. When the writers of such tracts as the


one before us come to see the difference be ·


tween deBerved punishment, and reg en eration­deliverance


from sin its'. llf, they will sec how


all their reasoning fails. There is no merit in


punishment; it cannot entitle the creature to


salvation. The real, restoration is from sin­not


{ rom the mere puni shment for sin. If the


sinner has not thai done for him, which rend ers


him superior, to the power of sin, he will ' go on


to repeat his sins, anti of course to incur new


punishments, for ever. Punishment has its use.


- and grace is always indispensable to - finish


the work, which Jesus Christ haB und ertaken


to do for lost men.


( 7) " For ! Iis indwidual good." Our doctrine


does indeed teach that the good of every indi­vidual


ill included in the design of tlie puni sh­ment


he suffers j but it does' not teach that in;


dividual good alone is sought. We believe


tliat the good of others, yea, the good of all, iB


directly or indrectly designed and promoted by


" hat each individual suffers. Ill' there " incon­sistency


and folly" in this 1 Then let us em­brace


the notion that millions ofthe human race


aTe to be puniBhed- without any regard to their


own good, and solely for the benefit of the


elect! This would be all consistency , and wis­dom!


( 8) This and most of the preceding paragraph


is a mere tissue of Barcasm and ridicule j which


though it may grieve, can have no effect to con­vince


the sincere Restorationist that his doctrine


illerroneous. The writer seems to revel in the


contemplation of a ' vindictive, revengeful, impla.


cable God; who will soon have no other \ lseto


put the wicked to, but to fill them full of wrath


world without end. He' evidently enters into


THE , PRACTICAL . CHRISTIAN.


vi S. ) The . doctrine of restoration teaches, . tl'l'ETITES · ABOVE MO'RAL SENTInIENTS. I H d . "-


(- . d ' d U " I'" . ... II,. affi)' . " . , . e rna e a comparison .. etween onr govern-bat,


In ee,' mvers~ 18ts. g~ n~ r~ y . . r! I!' -:- I am ' not going to attempt an essay upon ' .' ,


that God punishes no smner except for his indi- Ph " 1 ' , h ' " fro h d ment and those ofAustrra and Prussia - showmg


id th 1 " fi " 11 · .. ' , reno ogy .. as some 1mg t mier rom t e war s h d . d h di di


t7 ual good: that e pena ty or a transgres- h he d f thi . ' 1 D h ' h d h tea vantages an t e rsadvantages atten mg


lio. n is fatherly correction designe'd to reclaim. at tea 0 IS artie e. ut, avmg ate th H h d in wh h '


11 " ., ., isfacti f'heari f b ' 1 em. e s owe 10 w at way t e propensl-and


blesa, ence, whenever a man sins, he ". , 1 d . ." .. fi ' sat! action 0 eating one 0 Mr. Com. e s ec- t'res or 1ower facuIttiies 0~ 1 the mIiDnd may be all


fliCelves as pe~ ty, goo ness, m ~ ome , arm, . at tures, I propose to make a few remarks upon one ' ,. I •


ilie hand of the, LOrd. Upon tins hypothesls l


, r t f hi I' ti f Toh I well, or even better enjoyed 10 those despotisms


h


t e more men" ~ II'in, therIiccher expen' " e, ncs. W · .. · I1 or wo. o ' IS app rca Ions a" r renoogy as a as m. the Uni · ted States. So also, under some


they contino& lly have of Gad's .< FOOdness . and mental philosophy, to Americane- s- their govern- . . h . II 1" I '


." , ,?' • . , , . CIrcumstances, may t e inte ectun lacu ties


the 1I0ul, that shall receive the highest possible ment. and mstitutions, The perfect understand- d 1 ' b Od h 0


'" . It " f'Di f ' II b th t ' · hi h h " d' d hi . , . an mora sentiments e enjoye t er e. ne manlleltit~ lons a ivme avor WI e e mall lng w IC e iscovere of IS subject, 10 Its . " ,


outra~ us lind heaven darinz rebel on earth! d int ti b ' d may exercise, for Instance, his re verence, pro- • " " " e , . man an ID eres m earm s u on men an, , .


T bij ollows inevitably from the doctrine that y hi ff g d g dP, ifi d ' vided he believes 10 and conforms to the tenets


G~' intlicts ulJOn sinners - only that which is for cu stoms, IS una ecte manner, Igm e sim- f tholi D ' A ia if lId


, It . I' , a ca rcism. utin ustrra I casua ty ea


t" Air good j and who can help seeing th at this P ictty, manly exposure and reproof of faults, hi t db ' h db I d


' '';-;: 1' tl 1 h ~ hI ' h ff ' h the i , , im a au t its trut an enevo ence an con- 18 It e e se t an ror teA mig ty to 0 er a WIt e mgenurty, and, to say the least, plausi- , , !


P •


r, emium f" or blasphemy and rebellio. n? " Accor- bIilIitY af hiISpII'I1asaphy, rnade th e 1ec ture ex- acr" entieuhsenwesis lead hi. m to ex, pose error and not


dmg to this doctrine also, God's reignmg upon di I int ti d I' t d t b rei arm, e will find hirnselfin a most uncomfort-th


o e WIiCcked " snares, fire andbn'mstone,'' fI' S sy - ce, e 109 y .10 eres mg'' an was IS" ene 0 y a able s. nua, tion . because the government restram, s


oonymous with sending upon them sanctifying large audience, composed of the Iiterati of the h lr '


V. u'rc• lqBI. And the threatem. ng agam' st tIie un- ci. ty af L. wiitth proIr" ound aatttteennttiion. su, e eforts, "


godly, of.',' indignation and : wr~ th, , tribulati? n ' He seemed to understand well the manners, . Now le~ us ap~ ly thIS reasoDlng to our gov­alld


anguIBh," refer~ to t~ e dlstllbutl? n of dlf.. customs, policy, and governments of many Eu. ment and mstltutlOns. A man may go along


ferent sorts of blessmgs . The SCllpture ex · . ' I'h '- f ' smoothly enough at the north or south provided


pression, ' 0 fierce wrath of God," mllans ! limply, rope an natIOns. e governments a Austlla . ' , . . ,


jirr. ce /{ oodnrslof God; and the " fiery indignation and Pru~ sia, were principally dwelt upon and h~ be sil. tlsfie~ With the eXlstmg state of t1l1ngs­wh.


icllshall devour the adversaries," meanBfiery comp ared to our government and ' institutionB. WIth slavery, mtemperance and other great mor­mercyfl)


hich , shall save the ffdt · ersaries; and " the He did not seem to und erstand or at leas~ d'd al evils, But what is his condition if cauBalty


& m< lke ef their torment which ascendeth up fur ' h . b I '" A ' I lead him to inv esti aate and conBcientiousness


ever IIld ever" mUBt be understood as the smoke not mentIOn t e way y IV IICI merl cans ac- d b I I " d ' . of the salvatl.' on of the damned! ( 7) campI'ISh certam' en ds, whI' ch he compla. med of an enevo ence ea 1,11m to expose and op,-


6. If'thc penalty of the Divine law be llisci. despotic go vernments and churches for doing. pose th~ s~ eno~ mous evIls? If at th~ sO, uth, IllS


plinary ' alld puri( ying punishment in a future He said indeed that his imcrcourse had been so " Iuxurllltmg" 10 the moral freedom which our


state, theAhell is a most desirable home. Ac- I' ' t d · th A ' ' t tl t h d'd government gives would cost him his head, with-cord1


· 09 to. t, ie , doctl'lne ' 10hand, I' t fits mult'ltUdes Iml e WI IDerlcan socle y, la " e I not out J. udg e ( except Lynch) or jury. And how


for heaveR who were incorrigible upon earth: know whether or not mothers were 10 the habit . . ,


it is a kind ofhospital,~ vhere the deeply diseased here, as in old countries, of hirin O' children to would he fare at th e norlh? Ills hfe would not,


with sin Rnd otherwise incurable ar e rest ored tl ' d d tl " f I k' d probably, now be endangered by such a course .


I ' .' , say lelr prayers, an a a ler acts a t Ie - 10 ,


to perfect soundness. Henc e no one need fear . . . ' NClther the law s of the Btate nor tho se of th e


the" damnation of hell " nor indulere R mist al- · by gmng them some w gar plums or other del- b Id d ' I ' f I' l'b


. , 0 ' • • • " rna wou now epll ve 11m a liS I erty to


en wish to" escape " it. It is a plac e of mercy. IcaCIes. TillS p. racttc e, he said, gave the appe- k D ' f I b ' , f I" d


IIe11 ' IS deB'lerned tu secure the eternal saIva'tlOn tl. t es, the ascenden cy over the moral sentl. lnents. spea. , ut'I , Ie e a rmmst er. a rl' 1000IO, n' an


of, the ungodly! and the soo, ner they ' feel itB, puri- ' I'he cIl'ie f advalltage, IIe remarked, wh'ICh our has a'fIam'Ily dep. endll. lg f, or support upon' h, iS BUC-fY,


mg flames, the BOOneI' will Ihey have paid the" f ' , . d ' & cess m liS calhng, IS IllS freedom unabndged ?


w' a".. CI of lin" and be cleansed for the J'oys of llo' rm' ad govern. mhe' nt gives " men, ov. er e, s. potIsm, s He may m'deed" IuxurJ. al" e upon hI' Si, I" ght to ex-hellven.


( 8) " Imlte monarc IeS, consIst" s m ItS gIvmg a hm- press firee Iy an d IiuIIy h" IS se ntiments upon• tIlese


Ited ac, tIO' n to all the facultIes of th, e mamd, annd d at her moraI sub~' e cts; but'It WI' 11 aften be


to the , m• t ellectual, and moral" facultIeS unbou, nd- t. ound, I' t '' lOS al.. l. en been " loun d, tIlat, wh'Il e h'IBsouI


ed act, ion. The lower fac" ulueB or propenSIti, es, I. S " Iuxull. at1' 0 9''" III th'IS moraI f'reedom, Ili'S h0 dy,


he s aid, may all be exerCIsed In a proper ( hm- d l fl ' l l Id ' II b " Ii ' " "


ited) wa here. We ma nc uire ro ert but an I lOse 0 , li S lOuse 10 WI • e ~ m ls ling


y I & . D YtI q . fl P i' d from the WIthdrawal of support occaSIOned by


may not st, ea, ~ . ut Ie mte ectua an hiB freedom of soul.


m. oral sentiments a, rc allowed unshack. led . e, xer · HI' S I' IIustra'tion 0 f the propenS. it, ies abave the


c, lse. , Hl' spoke WIth rapture , of our luxunatlDg moraI sentI'ments, 1.0 the ca se af ch'Ildren, be", o re


m tillS moral freedom. . But It s~ em~<! to me, allud.: d to; - struck my~ mind - very- 1brc lbly- as


thllt he ' would not find thIS freedom qlllte as lux-' ~ h .. , h ' I ' I t I fi d


, Ii - ~ ..- -. d od' d' 1 . , d - s owmg t e way 10 w IIC I no on y some on


urlOUS, ns, e represente, , I Ie enJoy It un er mot'hers ' p. " reval' I upon th el'r II'ttIe ones to Bay


certalD cIrcumstances willch r. re analogous to h' . btl h th A .


those complained of in other lands. t elr prayers, u ~ so ow , ~ . mencan


___ " churches and people mduce their mmlsters not


the spirit of his own doctrine, a~ il ' 1aughs to not to pr~~ and pr~ ach only, but to pray


scorn the idea that the penalty for sin may be. and preac~ 10 a c~ rtam mann er. 0, we want


at the same time a means of salutary discipline. you to preach ': Ith us,. to pray for us, th ey


According to our doctrine, he thinlls hell " a often say- we WIll furmsh bread an? butter,


most desirable home" which no one should sweetmeats and suga r plums to your mind; on­wish


to escape, and wilich cannot too soon be Iy p, reach with us and pray f~ r us, and not p~ e, ach


enjoY, ed ! How gross and carnnl must men's mind agalDst slaver~, not pra! for Its ~ peedy a bo! l tl ~ n ;


be to reaBon · in this way. " Vhen therefore they not preach agatnst ~ akmg , selllDg and drlDk, lDg'


read in the 26th chapter of Leviticus that God rum, not pray partIcularly , for the success of


puni shes men to reform them, they must say,- t~ mp~ ranc e. Yes: and thiS appeal to the appe­I<


if th is be so, let the wicked commit all the sin tltes IS heard- nnd OBEYED.


th ey can! their punishment will only be - so \ Vhat but this shuts the mouths of the whole


much the greater and helter. "\ Vhen they read phalanx of th~ southern clergy upon slavery?


th at God ch ast ens th ose whom he loves and cor- \ Vhat but this rai se s up ap ologist s for slavery at


rects the~ for the ir profit, that they may be " par~ the north? What but th is gives so many who


takers of his holiness," ( S ee Heb. ] 2: 10), feelimpellodto sp E; akatremblingvoice? What


they must infer rfladily that all su ch chastening but Ihis shuts the mouths of so many both at the


is joyous, and that thos e who can do th e most north Rnd south upon th e temp erance que sti on ?


to proc ' olre it to themse ] ves, ar c the wisest of All who ar e opposed to th e grE~ at reforms of the


their race. Ifthey had se cn th e Prodigal ": Son day, do not say with some. in plain Engli sh, that


returning in rags and wretchedness and tears they will not help support a man, who spea ks


to his Father ' s hou se, and ht: held his reception, fre ely upon these subjects ; but the averted look,


they would have tunwd to his Btill younger the increasin g coldness, sufficie ntly indicate


brother ( ifhe had one) nnd said U Go run the what may be expected- U witMrawal of sup­same


round of folly, dissipation, crime, destitu- port.


tion , misery and penitenc e; for your Father is Are these things ' so? Yes. I appeal to the


good and merciful; he will receive you also.- north, I appeal to the south, to preachers, to


Go, be as miserable as you can make yourself, hearers to bear testimony to the ' truth of this pa­in


order to enjoy the ben efitB of starvation and sition. I t is truly a gr ievous st ate of thin gs­Bwine


feeding. You will by these means be as grievous to the hearer as the pre acher. For


brou ght to yourself, return again with peniten- it shows plainly that the hearer's soul too is un­tial


sorrow and eat of the fatted calf. They der his body- his morality under his appetite.


would say, we suppose, to the Prison Discipline For no one whose moral sentiments predominate


Society,- go on ameliorating the criminal's lot; will ever desire to place another man's moral


you will soon make the State Prison a most de- sentimen ts' und er his appetites, or make ap­sirable


h0! De, and all the . sons of Delial will peals to that effect. Thus to a deplorable ex­crowd


the highway of iniquity to enjoy the de- tent ar e both mini sters and people in spiritual


Iightful retreat• . And if the In sane ~ Ios p i tal is servitude- a slav ery surely sufficiently degrad­designed


for the benefit of its inmates , why then ing j . min isters receiving th eir food and raimellt,


the conclusion would be let every man destroy upon condition th nt they leave certain sins­his


reaBon forthwith that' he may go and receive and those too most debasin g to the peopl e- un­the


medicine and treatment aff~ rded there. In touched, unexposed , uncondemned : and the peo­fine,


if ' God is our friend, let us be his ~ nemy; pIe purchasing the qui et possession of th eir in­if


he punishes us for our good, let us by all . dulgences at no very gr eat expense. Are the se


means get punished as much as possible, and if thingB so ?


there is any such thing as being finally restored, What then ought to be done? what ought


let us make ourselves aB miserable as we can, ministers to do? ' I'hey ought as ONE nrAN to


as long as we can. 0 what christian reasonng. a" se like men, like christian men, and decl are


.. • / t~~;: ' .


.. v ..'


" i' cliO


1' 1.


in the spirit of Jesus Christ, the whole counsel


of God. They ought to do this at the peril of


of being obliged to dig, to BEG, to STARVE.


The servic e of Christ demands it: the souls


of their hearers demand it: the safety . a nd de;


liverance of their own souls . demand it. Up!


then, ye watchmen on the walls of Zion, and


show the people their danger. There is not,


a shepherds of Israel! half the danger in serv­ing


God faithfully which your fears and distrust


in heaven represent. There is a goodly portion


of the people who would hail so noble a step


with enth us iasm. Many are impatiently wait­ing


to be led against the enemy. They arc well


prepared for the onset with the moral armour


of the christian. The fault is mostly, not whol­ly,


attached to the leaders of the christian ar­my-


the commanders and guides who leave them


to the ir blindness. Awake! tllen ye ministers of


the cross, put on salvation aB a robe; arm your­selves


with truth, love, confid ence in God, un­flinching


integrity: go forth to the battle in the


nallle of Jehovah, and victory is yours.


RELIGION.


True religion is the life of the soul. With ·


out it man is but little, if any, better than the


brute c rea tion. He walks in darkness, knowing


not whence he came, nor whither he goeth, be­ca


use tllat darkness hath blinded his eyes. But


much that passes current in the world for reli­gion


is of but little worth. , Not many are there,


e ven in the Christian church, who seem rightly


to discern it. It has been too often held lip be­fore


men as an ab straction- as a something


standing out before us by itselfj- as something


whic h lU ust be communicat ed to the soul mira­culously,


and when communicated, dwell there,


in some small dep aitment of it, to little or no


purp ose, sav e the keeping up an excited state of


le elin er. Not as a diffusive principle, pervad­in


g e: e ry avenue of the heart- regenerating it,


and prompting to love alld ~? od works, has it


always been looked upon. l'lot as a southt: r of


the passion s- not as a controller of the appetites


and propensities of the flesh- not aB a chastener


of the affectionB, and as an inward teacher of


right thoughts, and right words, and right ac­tions.


Nor can it be expected that any will


follow aftl'r it, until they perceive something of


its ex ce llency- some ono or more of its divine


features.


The se archer after wealth sees, or at least thinks


he sees, something in the idol of hi s allections,


that is worthy of his attention, worthy of his


10Vll, worthy of his wbole heart's worship­something


that is above all tllin/, Tll desirable.


To his imagi nati on power is in it, and indepen­dence,


and authority, and dominion- that which


will yield him plenty and profusion, peace and


jo y. Thus is he led on from step tu st ep, in the


pnr su it of it. It acts as a charm to draw him


to its embrace, and calls int o activity his whole


powers of sen se and body. It is lIuthin g else that


cha ins him to his present mode of life. But


th is will holJ him fast, until somethi ng iB placed


before him th at wears a Dlore captivating as­pellt-


something that shines in the brightness


llnd beuuty uf eternity- someth ing thlll hilS re­flect


ed upon it a g lory that tim e cannot chanae


a nd which can be louked upon with lIew : nd


blessed se nsa tions forever. Tllis is C" ristiani -


ty as it is . >


The fear of the con sequ enc es of sin should


it is tru e, aro u~ e men from th eir sp i ri t~ a l slum:


ber s, and induce them to turn from the path of


t ran sgression. Some who consider to what


vice and irr eligion , lead, are in this way influ­e


nc~ d to . s ~ ek, salvatIOn. Dut there iBprevalent


so lt tt le faith In the future world, and withal


th e re is such a tend enc y in th e hum an mind to


be indifferent to every thing but Ihe prospect of


imllled iate good, that not many will become in­te


rest ed in th is su~ j ect, until th ey are satisfied


that the gos pel brlOgs I\' lad tidingB, and pro­claims


peace and good will. And most certain­ly,


the attainment of reli giou s truth- of true


and dh- ine wisd9m, of he avenly light and liber.


ty a nd love is th e most important of all atlain~


mentB. This is the' philo sopher's ston e.' It is


the' one thin g needful,' th at so me ar e seeking


in go ld, a nd others In fame, a nd oth ers in Ben­sua


l indul gen ce. , It is that after which th e hu­m-


an mind has been reaching through eVl'ry age


si nce the fall. It is the rock upon which all are


seeking to establish the ir feet with permanency.


They may I) ot kn ow it- and they do 1I0t j still


tlley will never find any other which will lIot


remo ve from beneath th em. ' E very one that


huildeth not up on this foundation,' says the S a­vior


, ' shall be likened unto the foo lish man, which


built his house UpOIl tile sand " and the rains de­scended,


and thejl~ ods came, and the winds blew,


and heat upon that house, an~ it f ell " and / freat


was the fall of it .' All is vanity that docs not


bear the impress of immortality. But to ob­tain


th e desire of our hearts- to ha ve our wan­derin


gs cease ill the possession of the ' true


rich es'- to seek and find the chief good, this is


to be fixed, in a st ate of contentmeut nut only,


but of satisfied assurance and blessedness. ThiS


is the end for which we wel'e cr eat ed. It is the


close of th e Chri stian race. It is harmony witli


the Divinity. It is hea ven. It is dwell ing in '


God and God in us. It is being in that state in


which f.' lith is l os~ i n sight. Oh! way we all


see k thi s home oflthe, soul. w. 11. 1'.


. r ot! ~


.....- i

Page 11 from Volume 1 of The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840