extremely cruel. This assertion requires no logical argument to prove it, because it will be self-evident to every unprejudiced mind. But can any thing in nature be more monstrous, than to suppose a God of infinite goodness should send an infant into the world under his wrath and curse, loaded with imputed guilt....divested of the principles of moral rectitude.... the most helpless of the animal creation....devoid of every kind and degree of knowledge, being an imitative animal, subject to be initiated into almost every vice and error....even before their own reason begins to dawn, they are liable to contract vicious habits, and acquire evil propensities, which cannot be easily eradicated! And in this deplorable condition many of them are supposed to be deserted by the God that made them, and left without the efficacious op erations of his spirit to extricate themselves from this labyrinth of evils or perish eternally; to which the Partialists say, they are justly liable even for Adam's transgression. And they will not allow that our present inability can be plead in mitigation of our delinquencies or transgressions; because, they alledge, we had power given to us in Adam, but that we sinned in him, and fell with him, by which we lost it; and that God was under no obligation to restore it, nor to remit any part of our duty, on account of our

moral inability. And as the covenant of grace is conditional, as well as the covenant of works, there is still something which the sinner must do, to entitle him to the benefits resulting from it.... he must believe....he must have faith. Very true; he must believe; but this, like every good we receive and enjoy, is also the gift of God. The Apostle tells the Ephesians, “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, least any man should boast."* For it is evidently impossible for a person to believe any proposition whatever, until his understanding is convinced by the force of evidence, and then it is no longer in his power to disbelieve or withhold his assent; and it is also the peculiar prerogative of the Deity, not only to point out the object of our faith, which is Jesus of Nazareth, but also to furnish the evidence and the means of conveying it to the remotest parts of the earth, so as to carry conviction to the mind of every man, either in this stage of action or at some future period.

The object of our faith is declared by Peter, where he tells us, That there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we

* Ephes. ii. 8, 9.

H

must be saved, but that of Jesus of Nazareth.* And St. Paul tells us, Romans x. 15, That whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved; but asks in the next verse, How, then, shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? This being a plain statement of a very important case, we would ask those who are conversant in history and geography,

First, Whether they do not firmly believe, that many millions have lived, and died without ever having heard the name of Jesus of Nazareth mentioned?

Secondly, Whether any reasonable, unprejudiced person can suppose it to be compatible with the infinite justice and benevolence of the Deity, to sentence these ignorant millions to eternal perdition for not believing in him, and calling upon his name for mercy, of whom they had never heard, and to whom no preacher had ever been sent ?

*Actsiv. 12.

Thirdly, Is it possible that the first opportunity afforded to them of the means whereby they might have been saved, will be when they are aroused from the sleep of death, and summoned before the judgment-seat to receive their sentence to eternal perdition, for not having heard of, believed on, or called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, which they never had heard mentioned?

This certainly will never be the fate of these poor mortals who died ignorant of the means of salvation. Because we are told in Philippians, and in other parts of scripture, that there shall be a time, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.* And we have the testimony of John, that, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God."t

"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart

*Phil, ii. 10. † 1 John v. 1.

1 John iv. 15.

that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."t

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants, and upon the handmaids, in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders. in the heavens, and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered."‡

By what is revealed in this prophesy, it appears that there will be an uncommon out-pouring of the spirit upon all flesh before the great and terrible day of the Lord, that even the menial servants shall be inspired; which will, > doubtless, be one means of diffusing that uni. versal knowledge of the Lord, which is promis

* Rom. x. 9. † Acts ii. 21,

Joel ii. 28 to 32.