Morning Star

From the New England Christian Herald.

STRANGE THINGS.

Messrs Editors, - Having of late had put into my hands a tract entitled, "A Strange Thing," published by the American Tract Society, which I send you for publication in the Herald. I would say that I heartily agree with the author of the "Strange thing," and say with him, -

"It is strange that the sinners of the antediluvian world, that the guilty Sodomites, and heaven-daring Pharaoh, with his host, were speedily translated to heaven, by fire and flood, as a reward of their wickedness; while Noah, Lot, and Moses, with the Israelites, as a judgment on their piety, were doomed to a continuance of their trials in this world of sorrow.

It is strange that the apostles, knowing that no man's soul is in danger, should have felt such solicitude and made such painful exertions for the salvation of men.

It is strange that the persons whom they addressed were often so deeply alarmed under the soothing doctrines of Universal Salvation.

It is strange that, if Christ and the apostles held such doctrines, they should have employed language such as the preachers of future punishment would choose to employ to express their sentiments - language which has actually led seven-eighths of all who ever read the New Testament to believe, that they taught the future eternal damnation of all who die without conversion.

It is strange that the man who dies in the very act of iniquity, as the suicide, should have no punishment either in this world or the next.

It is strange that all who believe in Universalism, when involved in distress, do not make their escape by self-destruction, and enter at once upon the joys of heaven.

It is strange that a system of religion, designed by its author to promote the reformation and holiness of men, should tend to loosen their obligations, and relax their morals and piety, as Universalism is known to do.

These are some of the strange things involved in the doctrine of Universal Salvation. Having attentively considered them, will you not, reader, deem it a strange thing that any man, having the Bible in his hand, or reason or grace in his heart, should be a Universalist?"

And as I have just been perusing the doctrinal tract No. 7, published by Calvinists, and find them to say that God has decreed all the actions of men, or determined beforehand what every man shall do, in addition to the above Strange things, I would say that it looks strange to me that men should think hard of their fellow men for misconduct if God has decreed all their actions.

It is strange that the father should be so hard hearted as to inflict punishment on his child for lying, or stealing, if God has determined all his actions.

It is strange that the prison should be prepared for the thief, or the gallows for the murderer, if God has determined before hand what he should do.

It is strange that the author of the "Strange Thing" should think strange of the Universalists for believing, preaching, and acting as they do, if God has decreed all these things.

G.