264

Jeremiah, in full assurance that God would perform what he promised, was unquestionably a Universalist.

'When thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, Then thou aud thy daughters shall return to thy former estate. Ezekiel xvi. 55.

Sodom and her daughters were those who suffered the vengeance of eternal fire. But the Prophet Ezekiel, being a Universalist, was persuaded they would not be eternally suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

'Pharaoh shall see them, and be comforted over all his multitude; even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord.' Ezekiel xxxii. 31.

"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. Then the heathen that are left round about you, shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places.' Ezekiel xxxvi. 25, 36. Thus we see Ezekiel, in declaring the salvation of Jew and Heathen, was a Universalist.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting rightDaniel ix. 24. Surely Daniel was a very strong Uni

eousness.'

versalist.

'Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea shore that cannot be measured or numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, ye are the sons of the living God.' Hosea i. 10. 'And I will sow her unto me in the earth, and I will have mercy on her that had not obtained merey, and I will say to them which were not my people, thou art my people, and they shall say, thou art my God. Hosea ii. 23. Was not Hosea a Universalist?

'And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh,' &c. Joel ii. 28. For I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed.' Joel iii. 21.

In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof, that they may possess the remnant of all Edom, and of the heathen, whicli are called by my name, saith the Lord, that doeth this.' Amos ix. 11, 12.

'And Saviours shall come upon Mount Zion, to judge the mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.' Obadiah 21.

'And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' Micah, iv. 3, 4. He will turn again, he will have compassion up

on us, he will subdue all our sins into the depths of the sea.

iniquities, and thou wilt cast all our Thou wilt perform the truth to Ja

cob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers, from the days of old.' Micah vii. 19, 20. Thus it is plain, the prophets were all Universalists.

But the angels of God are also Universalists. Let us listen to those messengers of heaven, while addressing the wondering shepherds of Judea. 'And the angel said unto them, Fear not, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; and suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will towards men.' Luke ii. 10, 14. The devout Simeon was a Universalist. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke ii. 30, 31, 32.

6

But that we may ascertain what all the evangelists and all the apostles were, in one view, let us hear the sentiments of our Saviour himself, upon this subject. 'For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them.' John xvii. 8. ' For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me; he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak, and I know that this coinmandment is life everlasting. Whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unte me, so I speak. John xii. 49, 50. See also ver. 32.

Let us now attend to the ministry committed to the apostle . God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing unto them their trespasses.' 2 Corinthians v. 19. And he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you, whom the heavens must receive, until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, ever since the world began.' Acts iii. 21.

It is plain, from these testimonies, and many more which might be adduced, that the doctrine of Universalism is the doctrine of God our Saviour; and while the Universalists can produce so many illustrious vouchers, they never can be discomfited, or even embarrassed.—Letters, &c. ii. 422–425.

23*

INDEX.

Adams, Hon. John, sen. solicits Murray to preach, on the voyage from
England to America, 205

Alton, Murray's birth-place, 10

Bath, Murray's arrival at, 60; hospitably entertained by the hay-mak-
er, 61; preaches here, 62

Belief, the proper object of, 84

Benezet, Anthony, Murray's friend, 158; account of him, 158, note
Boston, Murray visits for first time, 162; his reception, 162-164;

preaches for first time here, 166; again arrives in Boston, 172;
is attacked by a clergyman, (Bacon,) 172; his controversy with
Croswell, 174-179; is stoned in Croswell's pulpit, 180; he oc-
casionally officiates in Boston, 198; installed pastor of the socie-
ty here, 212

Boston, First Universalist Society in, outline of its history, 243
Class Meetings of Methodists, how conducted, 21

Convention Gen. of Universalists of New England States and others,
197; origin of, 241; records of first meeting, 242; M.'s sermon
preached at, 259

Convention of Universalists in Philadelphia in 1790, address Gen. Wash-
ington, 207

Convention of 1780 for framing constitution of Mass. appear to have been
alarmed at Murray's doctrine, 190, note

Cork, Murray's visit to, 54-56

Cranberry Inlet described, 122, note

Croswell, Rev. A., account of him, 169, note; slanders Murray in pub-
lic papers, 174; is replied to, 175; endeavors to bar M. out of
the pulpit, 175; attacks M. there in a very bitter manner, 175;
is replied to by M. 176; interrupts M. 178; his uneasiness dur
ing M.'s defence, 179

Dedication of infants introduced by Murray, 215, note

Duchee, Rev. Mr., Murray's friend, 157; anecdote of, 157, note
Dunham, Rev. Mr., a friend to Murray, 132, 134

England, Murray's father removes from, 15; M. returns to, 58; his ar-
rival in 1778 from America, 201

Factory in which Murray first preached in Boston, where situated, 166,

note

Gehenna, true sense of, 94, note

Gloucester, Mass. visited by M. first time, 174; again, 181; considers
it his home, 182; his measures to relieve the inhabitants, 186;

is summoned before Committee of Safety, who treat him very
ungenerously, 186-189; Universalist meeting-house here dedi-
cated, 189; church formed, 189; their views of ordination, 191;
suits are commenced against them, and their property is attached
to support orthodox clergyman, 192; the church bring an action
to recover back the monies, 192; the action finally brought in
Murray's name, 193; Messrs. King, Sullivan, and Tudor con-
duct his cause, 194; the Universalists publish an appeal to the
public in regard to this case, 194; sentiments of the appeal, 194,
195; the important case finally settled in favor of the Universal-
ists, 195; Sullivan's eloquence on the occasion, ib.; the con-
duct and opinions of Judge Dana, ib.; the congregation petition
legislature in favor of Murray, 200; give him certificate of ordi.
nation, 202; renew his ordination after his return from England,
205; the society's instrument of compact, 239

Greene, Gen. corresponds with Murray, 226

Hitchins, Rev. Mr. minister to Murray, 90; his argument against Ar-
minians led M. to Universalism, 92

Hopkins, Rev. Mr.'s journey and dialogue with Murray, 142-144;
writes a book against Universalism, 143, note

Ireland, Murray removes to, 15; he leaves for England, 58

Jones, Rev. Thos. conversion and settlement at Gloucester, 212
Judgment after death explained, 94, note

Little, Mr. converted to Methodism, 28; adopts young Murray as his
his displeasure at M.'s conduct, 58

son, 42;

London, Murray arrives at, 63; arrives at in 1788 from America, 204
Lord's Supper, Murray's views of, 214, note

Mason, president of a society, 86; attempts to refute Relly's Union, 87
Methodist Meetings, how conducted, 23

Mitchell, Rev. Ed. agrees with Murray in opinion, 237

Murray's father, an Episcopalian, 10; removes to Ireland, 15; becomes
a Methodist, 16; his sickness, 35; dying prayer for his son, 36;
death, 37; his character and acquirements, 37, 38

Murray's mother, a Presbyterian, 10; her benediction when he left her
for England, 52; do. when he came to America, 109; visits her
in 1788, on his return from America, 204

Murray, John, when born, 9; his ancestors, 12-14; danger of being
lost in a boat, 15; appointed a class-leader, 20; his confirmation
by the bishop, 25, 26; his love of Miss Dupee, 30; discovered by
his father, 31; recovers possession of an estate, 41; preaches for
the first time, 43; his difficulties at Mr. Little's, 45-50; leaves
Mr. L.'s house, 51; his touching farewell to the scenes of his
youth, 54; his visit to Cork, 55, 56; return to England, 58; ar-
rival at Bath, 60; entertained by the hay-maker, 61; do. by Rev.
Mr. Tucker, 60, 61; arrives in London, 63; his early impru
dences here, 64-66; repents of them, 69; his feelings towards
one of Relly's preachers, 72; introduction to Miss Eliza Neale,
75; is enamored by her attractions, 76; proposes himself as her
lover, 76; is married to her, 82; his feeling towards Mr. Relly,
83; his attempt to reclaim a young woman who had become a
Universalist, 82-85; his feeling towards Universalists, 85; pe-
ruses Mason's pamphlet against Relly's Union, 87; loses Ma-
son's favor by objecting to it. 88; sees Relly's Union first time,
89; the effect of it on his mind, 90; hears Relly preach, 91;