The Salvation of All Men Strictly Examined

It is to be hoped, that no man, who believes a future state of existence, will grudge the time and pains which are necessary to obtain satisfactory evidence concerning the nature of that state. A mistake here may be fatal. If the doctrine advanced in the following pages be true, it is a most important, a most interesting doctrine. However contrary to the wishes of any, however mortifying to their feelings, however dreadful, it is by all means necessary to be known. Surely no man would wish “to flatter himself in his own eyes, till his iniquity be found to be hateful.” To a rational and scriptural view of the truth in this case, and to a satisfactory solution of the difficulties which have been objected to it, great attention and close examination are necessary. And whether both our duty and interest require us to subject ourselves to the labour of this attention and examination, rather than to sit down easy in the expectation “of peace and safety, till sudden destruction come upon us;” no rational man can hesitatet.

If any object to the size of my book, my apologies are, the size of that to which it is intended as an answer, and the extent and importance of the subject.

Doctor Chauncy’s book is indeed anonymou. Yet, as I am informed, that he and his most intimate friends have made no secret of the author’s name; I presume I need not apologize for using the same name.

I am sensible of the prejudice of many against controversy on religious subjects. But is it possible in all cases to avoid it? What is controversy pro,- perly managed, but rational or argumentative discussion? And is there to be no rational discussion of the subjects of religion? — Heat and personal invec five in such disquisitions are both impertinent and hurtful. But a cool discussion of the doctrines of religion, on the ground of reason and revelation, js undoubtedly one of the best means of investigating truth, of diffusing the knowledge of it, and of obtaining and giving satisfaction with regard to the difficulties which attend many moral and religious subjects. This is the mode of discussion, which I have endeavoured to observe in the following pages. To point out the inconsistence and absurdity of an erroneous system, and even to set them in the most glaring light; is not at all inconsistent with this mode of discussion. If in any instances I have deviated from this mode, and instead of adhering closely to the argument, have descended to personalities, and have endeavoured to bear hard on Dr. Chauncy, otherwise than by showing the weakness and inconsistence of his arguments; for every such instance I ask pardon of the reader, and allow it is of no advantage to the cause which I espouse. That cause must be a bad one indeed, which cannot be support without the aid of personal reflections.

New-Haven, June 29, 1789.

In which the fundamental principles are pointed out,,

Before we enter into the consideration of the particular arguments of Dr. Chauncy, it may be proper to give some account of the fundamental principles of his system. Beside the doctrine of the salvation of all men, to establish which is the design of his whole book; there are several other doctrines, which may be considered as fundamental to his system. He does not deny all future punishment of the wicked; but allows that they will be punished according to their demerits, or according to strict justice. Thus he allows that “many men will be miserable in the next state of existence, in proportion to the moral depravity they have contracted in this. There is no room for debate here.’’* “They must be unavoidably miserable in proportion to the number and greatness of their vices.”! ‘’ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord: i. e. if men continue the servants of sin, the

* rase 9. t P. 10.

wages (hey shall receive, before the gift through Christ is conferred on them, will be the second death,“* If some men suffer that punishment which is the wages of sin, they doubtless suffer all which they deserve. No man deserves more than his wages.” In the collective sense, they will be tormented for ages of ages; though some of them only should be tormented through the whole of that period; the rest variously as “to time, m proportion to their desertsP’li “There shall be a difference in the punishment of wicked men, according to the difference there has been in the nature and number of their evil deeds.’’’’l He speaks of the wicked as liable “to positive torments awfully great in degree, and long in continuance, in proportion to the number and greatness of their cnwie5.”§ “The pardonableness of all other sins and blasphemies,” [except that against the Holy Ghost] “lies in this, its being possible for men, to escape the torments of hell, though they should have been guilty of those sins. — Accordingly the unpardonableness of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, must consist in the reverse of the pardonableness of other sins — in the impossibility of their escaping the torments of hell, who are chargeable with this sin. — This now being the meaning of the unpardonableness of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it is quite easy to perceive, that even these blasphemers, notwithstanding the unpardonableness of the sin they have committed, may finally be saved — For if they are not saved till after they have passed through these torments, they have never been forgiven -^The divine tazn) has taken its course; nor has any intervening pardon prevented the full execution of the threatened penalty on them. — Forgiveness strictly and literally speaking has not been granted them.’’||” This kind of sinners being absolutely excluded from the privilege of

P. 00. t P. 307. t Page 320. i P. 350, 351. [j P. 335, &c.

forgiveness, mu=t, as has been sahl, suffer the torments of another world, before they can he saved.’’*

In these passages concerning the hhisphemers of the Holy Ghost, the author pLainly supposes, that not only those of that character, but all wo suffer the torments of hell are finally saved without forgiveness, havir.g satisiied by their own sufferings the utmost demands of strict justice. He who is delivered ftom further punishment in consequence of having suffered a jiunishment Iiowever great in degree and long in duration, but not. equal to that, to which he is iiiiblo by strict justice, is the subject of forgiveness. Just so much punishment is forgiven him, as is lucking to make the punishment, which he hath suffered, equal to that,’ to which he is liable by strict justice. Now our author, in the passages just quoted, supposes that both the blasphemers of the Holy Ghost and all others who pass through the torments of hell, are finally delivered, not in consequence of a punishment inferior in degree or duration, to that which may be inflicted on them, according to strict justice; as in that case they would be the subjects of forgiveness: hut in consequence of that punishment, which is according to strict justice, and therefore they an delivered without forgiveness. ]-{e says, ‘’• The [)ardonableneS’S of all other sins, lies in the possibility, that those who have been guilty of them, should escape the torments of hell.” Those therefore who actually pass through the torments of hell receive no forgiveness; but are liberated on the footing of strict justice. If pardonableness, or which is the same, a possibility of pardon consist in a possibility of escaping the torments of hell; then actual [)ardon consists in an actual escape from those torments. Of course they who do not escape them, but pass througl» them, receive no pardon.

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