if all do not come unto the knowledge of the truth in this world, as
they cannot in every sense of the word, be saved until they know the
Lord; as God is omnipotent and his will absolute, it must follow that
a period will come when all shall know him from the least unto the
greatest: nor is justice opposed to this well conducted plan, for there
is one mediator between God and man; the man Christ Jesus, who
gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Hasten-
ing to a close, I pass by a variety of testimonies; yet I cannot forbear
citing one or two passages from the Revelation of St. John the
divine, chap. 5th, And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on
the throne, a book written within and on the back side, sealed with
seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud
voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was
able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much,
because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book,
neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me,
Weep not; behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David
hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.'
Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah, he prevails, and effectuates
that which no one beside could accomplish-no certainly, there is
none righteous, no not one; but his righteousness is upon all and
there is therefore no cause for weeping. Hence when he had taken
the book a new song was sung, saying, 'Thou art worthy to take
the book, and open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue,
and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and
we shall reign upon the earth.' Are not these individuals who on
this occasion, are found hymning the praises of their God, the
chosen few who were sealed by the spirit's seal, those to whom it
is given to believe on the name of the Son of God, those who first
rejoice, who are the first fruits of God? In fact as we proceed, we
are necessitated to acknowledge that the mercy of God knoweth
neither pause nor limit; for John beheld and heard the voice of
many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders,
and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength and honour, and glory, and blessing.' Nor is this enough-
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under

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the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.' Here every knee bends and every tongue confesses Jesus. Here all men honour the Son even as they honour the Father, and here all flesh worship the Lamb together. I might go on, for the subject is exhaustless. I know no part of the Bible which doth not either remotely or directly point to Jesus Christ as the fulfiller of the law, and the Saviour of mankind. I am right happy in an opportunity of thus rendering a reason for the hope which is in me: I do assure you my hope doth not make me ashamed, for I know it is a hope full of immortality; I know that God can be faithful and just in forgiving our sins, and I once more declare I do believe that God will annihilate sin and save the sinner: his promise, his oath compel me to believe his sacred word, may I always give him such credit as I will yield to no created being. But my God will lead us into all truth, that we may be all taught of God, and that knowing God we may love God, for we cannot know God and not love him; and we cannot love God whom we have not seen without loving our brethren whom we have seen; I am grateful for the patience you have exercised toward me, and I close by devoutly wishing that God may shed abroad his love in our hearts."

Mr. L then arose and opening his Bible began, "Here is a passage I have been looking over, which I have thought much of: I will beg leave to read it. Isaiah, chap. Ixiii. the six first verses of that chapter: Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

'I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year redeemed is come.

of my

'And I looked, and there was none to help, and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury it upheld nie.

'And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.'

Now as Mr. S has read so many scriptures, I should be glad he would consider this, or rather I should be glad Mr. Murray would consider it for him."

Thus the way being opened, I addressed the audience in words to the following effect: Brethren, I am thankful to God that I have this day so good an opportunity, in this public manner to enquire of the oracles of God, respecting the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a providential opportunity, for it was not sought by me. Indeed I have always had a great aversion from religious disputes. I bear about with me such a consciousness of inability, as is abundantly sufficient to deter me from any effort to produce such a result: and disputes of this nature more frequently create wrath, than issue in conviction. Yet I will indulge a hope that the present occasion will be productive of harmony. Attending to the petitions of the respectable moderator devoutly offered up, I flattered myself as they breathed the Christian spirit, the same spirit would conduct this conversation, and I do still believe that we shall be able with calmness, and moderation to search after truth, that we may mutually profit by the inquiry. For myself, if I know any thing of my own heart, truth is my object: I have no interest in supporting error. I am opposed to error; I value truth beyond hidden treasure, and should it in the course of this conversation be made evident from this book, (the Bible) that I have advocated any fallacy, I will in this public manner unequivocally renounce it, and hold myself under great obligation to the person who shall make it appear. Such my sentiments, I proceed without fear, to the consideration of the passage just read.

Mr. L recommends it to investigation after the many scriptures produced by Mr. S, if this scripture be introduced by way of contradiction, to the testimonies brought forward upon this occasion; even admitting it really contained a view diametrically opposite to what has been read, I might, however, content myself with observing that Mr. S is as orthodox as Mr. L, since they derive their authority from the same source. But I shall not take this method; I shall do as I would be done by. Had I recommended a passage to the consideration of Mr. L-, I should have wished him to consider it. I will do likewise.

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the great ness of his strength?

The prophet beholding at a distance a surprising phenomenon approaching toward him, seems fixt with astonishment! and enquires with unusual consternation, "Who is this that cometh from Edom, the country of the enemy, from Bozrah, the capital of that country; and, what is truly surprising with dyed garments. The wonder increases when we consider, that although these garments be dyed, yet he is glorious in his apparel and travelling in the greatness of his strength. The answer to all these enquiries, which the astonished prophet receives from the advancing vision is very striking. I that speak in righteousness mighty to save. This answer seems far from satisfactory, the difficulty is not solved, it only produces another and another question. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? as though he had said, If thou art righteous, how is it thou art from Edom and Bozrah; wherefore art thou in such circumstances, red in thine apparel? If thou be mighty, why shouldst thou appear in the likeness of one treading in the winefat? If thou art good, if thou art mighty, wherefore doth thy appearance indicate wickedness and weakness?

The vision at length unfolds the mystery. I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with me. So far from my being injured by an adversary, so far from being unable to help myself, of the people there was none with me; and so far from being subjected to punishment for my own individual guilt, I only show you in figure what I will do as a righteous judge. I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment, for the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. Permit me to say, that far from reading in this passage the work of destruction, I trace in it the gracious purpose of my God, whose is the work of salvation. Yea verily, the anger and fury of the avenging Deity finally terminates in the salvation of the sinner, and thus becomes a proof of the love of God to the world which he hath made, for God so loved the world as to give unto them his unoffending Son.

L—————. “Mr. Murray has said a great deal, but I cannot say I understand him! Is it possible that I have lost my reasoning powers? or that I do not understand language? I wish I could know what Mr. Murray means: I confess he has been ingenious while considering the first part of the passage in question, respecting the

enemy's country, the capital of that country, and the manner of the prophet's address on the approach of the vision: but I must repeat, I am wholly at a loss what he can intend when he would insinuate that God's declaration of anger and fury intends good will to sinners, or how what is here threatened points out salvation to the party threatened. Who, I should be glad to know, does this gentleman suppose is speaking, and to whom? or of whom, when he says, 'I will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments;' and again, I will tread down the the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in fury.' Who, I desire to know, is intended by these characters? who is it that thus threatened, and who is to stain his garments? I wish to understand what Mr. Murray would be at, and what he conceives of treading them as in a winepress ?"

M. There is nothing I more ardently wish than to be understood I do not wish to darken counsel by words without knowledge, and that I may be fully understood not only by Mr. L-, but by every individual present, I will first consider the character of our Saviour Jesus Christ himself, as held forth to us in the sacred records. He is styled the root and the offspring of David: Revelations v. 5. Isaiah xi. 10. and also by the Psalmist. The root, as in the fore cited passages, the offspring, as in Isaiah xi. 1. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Jeremiah xxiii. 5. "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, behold I will bring forth my servant the branch." But the Holy Ghost, in Isaiah chap. 9, verse 6, exhibits a perfect character of the God man, "A child born and a Son given; the government upon his shoulders his name Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Or as Jude, in the conclusion of his Epistle, expresses himself, "The only wise God our Saviour."

From all these testimonies of sacred writ, and sundry others which might be produced, it is manifest that our Saviour Jesus Christ, is both God and man. All fulness dwelleth in him. He was the God with us. The fulness of the God-head dwelling in him was the offended Being; the fulness of our humanity in him was the offending nature. From the fulness of the God-head came the law by Moses; through the fulness of the humanity came grace and truth. Sometimes the divine nature appeareth as a severely just and sin avenging God, and in his holy law the divine vengeance is deVOL. I.

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