SHORTER CATECHISMFOR UNIVERSALIANS.
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DURINGour discussion in Decatur, Ill., we presented the following, substantially, as the “Shorter Catechism” for Universalians to test their pretences to a belief in the Scriptures:
1. Phil. iii. 18, 19, Paul, speaking of the enemies of the cross of Christ, says, “Whose end is destruction.” Can a man of sense believe that the end of a man is destruction, and at the same time believe that his salvation? Theendof a man will certainly be his last state, and if that is destruction, his end can not be salvation.
2. Mark iii. 29, the Lord says, he who shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, “hath never forgiveness.” Can a man of sense believe that a man who “hathnever forgiveness,” shall be saved? To save a man without forgiveness, would be to save himin his sins.
3. John iii. 36, the Lord says, “He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Can a man of sense believe that those who believe not the Son, shallnot see life, and yet believe that they shallsee life?
4. Rev. xxii. 19, the Scriptures say of certain persons, that “God shall take away their part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Can a man of sense believe that a man whose “part is taken out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,” can be saved?
5. Heb. xii. 15, the Scriptures speak of men “failing of the grace of God.” Can a man of sense believe that men may “fail of the grace of God,” and be saved? What! saved without the grace of God?
6. John viii. 21, the Lord said to certain persons, “Ye shall die in your sins; whither I go ye can not come.” Can a sensible man believe that men shall “die in their sins,” and that whither the Lord went they could not come, and still believe that all will be saved? Do not refer to what the Lord said to his disciples, for he said more than this to them. He said to his disciples, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow menow; but thou shalt follow me afterward.” John xiii. 36. This he did not say to the Jews. But he did say to the Jews, “Ye shalt die in your sins: whither I go ye can not come.” Is that true? It is. Then Universalism is not true.
7. Heb. x. 26, 27, Paul says, “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Can men of sense believe that a man for whom “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” but for whom their remains “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries,” will be saved?
8. John v. 29, the Lord declares that “they who have done evil shall come forth to the resurrection of damnation.” Can a man of sense believe that those who have done evil can “come forth to the resurrection of damnation,” and yet all men be saved?
9. Rev. xx. 13–15, we find an account of the dead standing before God and being “judged every man according to their works,” and the declaration is made that “whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.” Can a man of sense believe that the dead shall be raised and judged according to their works, and the wicked, or those whose names are not written in the book of life, shall be cast into the lake of fire, and yet all men be saved?
10. Gal. v. 2, Paul testifies to certain men, “Christ shall profit you nothing.” Can a man of sense believe that those shall be saved whom Christ shall profit nothing?
11. Heb. vi., Paul declares of certain persons, that it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. Can a man of sense believe that those can be saved whom it is impossible to renew again to repentance?
12. Heb. ix. 27, Paul says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Can a man of sense believe that “it is appointed unto men once to die, butafter this the judgment,” and not believe that God will judge men after death?
13. Luke xvi. 22, 23, we read of a “certain rich man,” that “the rich man died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.” Can a man of sense believe that a man after he died and was buried, was “in torments,” and believe that there are no torments after death?
14. Matt. xxv., the Lord says of the wicked, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.” Be it observed, these righteous are in the life of a christian already, or before they go intolife eternal, and the wicked are in all the hell there is for them in this world already. But here at the time the righteous entereternal life, the wicked entereverlasting punishment. The same Greek wordaionion, in the same sentence, expresses the duration of thelife of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked. Can a man of sense believe that the Lord usedaionionin a limited sense in one place and an unlimited sense in the other?
15. Luke xiii. 23, we are informed that a man inquired of our Lord, “Are there few that be saved?” The Lord did not answer his silly question, but said to him, “Strive to enter in at the straight gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.”Can a man of sense believe this statement, that they shall not be able to enter, and still believe that all shall enter? Do not begin to think of entering the church here now, for we know that all who seek to enter the church are able.
16. Ez. xiii. 22, the Lord says, “With lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.” Can a man of sense believe that he strengthens the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life, and still believe that he is doing good in preaching that all men shall have life?
When our Universalist friends get so that they can answer these questions and explain the difficulties involved clearly and satisfactorily, the people may become satisfied that theyare not sceptics.