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    inhabitants of
    Jerusalem to wash in from sin and uncleanness would abolish it
    forever. I acknowledge, sir, that my five particulars do not
    comprehend every particular of your letter; nor have I attended to all
    which they do comprehend so extensively as I would if I could suppose
    it necessary; but as you were in hopes of receiving nothing, it is not
    to be expected that you will find fault because there is no more.

    [Footnote 11: "Candid Review," or Answer to Robinson.]

    I cannot be willing to close this epistle without giving you credit of
    following the apostle's direction in your observation concerning my
    argument in respect to St. Peter. You say "I conceive you think you
    have got a _mighty_ argument," &c. The apostle exhorts us to be
    _children_ in _malice_, and I am sure St. Paul, nor any body else ever
    heard a more _childish expression_ which communicated the least
    possible disaffection.

    What you quote from St. Peter with a design to prove endless misery,
    without attempting to show that such was his meaning, I forbear
    commenting upon. If you had shown that Peter could consistently
    believe that no man was common or unclean considered in the sheet
    which he saw in vision, and at the same time believe that the greatest
    part of mankind would remain in sin and uncleanness eternally you
    would have done more than you have. I hope, sir, if you are determined
    to take your leave of this correspondence without supporting the
    subjects of your admonition, and without supporting the heavy charges
    you have stated against me, and, likewise, without acknowledging the
    impropriety of your admonition, and the incorrectness of your charges,
    that you will never attack another of your fellow creatures in the
    same way. I do not express this because I feel the least
    unfriendliness to you in consequence of the method you have pursued,
    but because I think it is contrary to the spirit of Christianity; it
    is not doing as we wish to be done by. I do not believe that your soul
    feels satisfied with it; but you have some remains of pride yet which
    keeps you from giving up ground which you are sensible you cannot
    maintain. I hope, sir, you will entertain no apprehensions respecting
    my cordial friendship to you, or my readiness to join you in any
    possible usefulness to our fellow creatures. And, as you
    affectionately committed me to God and to the word of his grace,
    please to accept the sincere desires for your present and everlasting
    welfare, of sir, your humble servant, for Christ's sake.

    HOSEA BALLOU.

    * * * * *

    LETTER VI.

    FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME.

    PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 1, 1811.

    _Rev. Sir_,--Having taken into serious consideration the whole
    correspondence which has passed between us, I have felt very deep
    impressions on my mind arising from the following coosiderations.

    1st. You and I are accountable beings, and must undoubtedly, sooner or
    later, be called to account for the propriety, or impropriety of our
    labours with each other.

    2d. Our professional character must, without doubt, be a high
    consideration in our accountability.

    3d. The eyes of society are ever watchful, and God has made us
    accountable, not only to himself, but to our fellow creatures, who
    have a just demand upon us.

    While these important considerations were revolving in my mind, I felt
    a sense of my youth, compared with your age, my inexperience, the
    proneness of the human heart to the vanity of self confidence, the
    blindness of prejudice to which old and young are more or less
    subject, and also, the friendship which has hitherto happily subsisted
    between us since our first acquaintance.

    These circumstances and those considerations, led my mind to the
    conclusion that I ought to lay the whole matter before God, and to ask
    of him suitable wisdom to guide me in relation to so weighty a
    subject.

    The result of my devotional supplications is a forcible application of
    the divine direction, given by St. Paul 1 Tim. v. 1, "Rebuke not an
    elder but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren."

    How far your communications to me are consistent, or inconsistent with
    the apostle's direction, in the above test, I do not conceive it my
    duty to judge, any farther than a discharge of my own duty, pursuant
    to the apostle's direction, may require. On the most deliberate
    recapitulation of all which I have written, I cannot now say, that I
    could wish to recall a single idea, argument, application of
    scripture, or sentiment; though I will not even suggest that better
    information might not produce a different conclusion. I trust I have
    hitherto treated you, sir, and the subjects of your communications
    with all the propriety of which my understanding is master; and my
    fervent desire is, that I may complete the labours enjoined on me by
    the above text, in strict conformity to that most holy spirit which
    inspired such excellent counsel. Therefore, Rev. Sir, I _entreat you_
    as a _father_ to consider,

    1st. Whether you entreated your humble servant as a _brother_ when you
    admonished him for important particulars which you wholly refuse to
    substantiate either as facts or wrongs?

    2d. Whether you entreated me as a brother in refusing to decide, as to
    your meaning, in the first subject of your admonition, and in not
    giving me to understand whether I had rightly apprehended you or not?

    3d. Whether you entreated me as a brother in not acknowledging an
    agreement of sentiment on the subject of _repentance_ after I had
    given _you_ the fullest assurance possible, that I believed in its
    necessity and importance?

    4th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in admonishing me as an
    apostate from the true faith of the gospel, while I profess to believe
    in Christ the Son of God, as the Saviour of the world; and stand in
    society, in my various relation by the blessing of God, unimpeached as
    to morality?

    5th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in admonishing me against a
    doctrine which commends the love and mercy of God in the final
    reconciliation and everlasting happiness of all unreconciled beings;
    and in opposing said doctrine with no other argument than saying, in
    effect, that if the scriptures which prove the doctrine are allowed to
    mean as they naturally read, other scriptures contradict them! Thus
    furnishing the infidel with his darling weapon against the divinity of
    the scriptures?

    6th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in stating those heavy
    charges against me, in which you _accuse me_ of a _designed mistake_,
    and of _wilful misapplications_ of scriptures where neither _mistake_
    or _misapplications_ of scriptures can be made to appear?

    7th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in misrepresenting my
    preaching when you never heard me perform in the particular capacity
    of a preacher?

    8th. Whether you entreated me as a brother in taking your leave of
    this correspondence without supporting one single particular of your
    admonition, or one single charge against me. And also, without
    acknowledging the incorrectness of your admonition, or the impropriety
    of your charges.

    I entreat you, sir, as a father, to consider whether the spirit which
    you manifested, in bring such _unreasonable_ charges against me, be
    consistent with the directions given by St. Paul to Timothy, and also
    with the example and precept of him who loved his enemies and
    commanded his disciples to do likewise?

    I entreat you seriously to consider what the conduct of the Saviour
    would have been, if he had been disposed to _judge, denounce, reject_
    and _disfellowship_ all those who sincerely believe in him and strove
    to honour him with becoming obedience to his commands, on account of
    their not understanding every thing as well as he did?

    I entreat you to call in question your treatment of me because I do
    not believe in every thing as you do; and carefully examine if it
    correspond with the conduct of him, who, out of pity to human
    weakness, submitted himself to the scorn and hatred of those who
    considered themselves more righteous than others?

    In relation to the doctrine, to which you appear so violently opposed,
    I entreat you, as a father, to take into consideration, 1st. The
    promises of God to Abraham by which the doctrine is supported. 2dly.
    The corroborating testimonies in the New Testament by which we are to
    understand those promises. 3dly. The consistency of the doctrine with
    the character of _infinite goodness_. And, 4thly. The consistency of
    the doctrine with every benevolent and godlike desire of the human
    heart.

    If God promised to bless all the families, nations and kindreds of the
    earth in the seed of Abraham, who is Christ, and if St. Paul has
    informed us that this blessing is _justification through faith_, I
    entreat you to consider by what authority you condemn the doctrine of
    _Universal Justification_.

    If the apostle has also argued that God has made peace through the
    blood of the cross of Jesus, by him to reconcile _all things_ to
    himself, I entreat you to consider by what authority you condemn the
    doctrine of _Universal Reconciliation_.

    If in perfect conformity to the promises of God, the prophet has given
    his testimony that _all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation
    of our God_, I entreat you to consider by what authority you condemn
    the doctrine of _Universal Salvation_.

    If you make use of scripture to contradict such plain and positive
    declarations, by explaining _parables_ and _doubtful sayings_ for that
    purpose, I entreat you candidly to consider whether you can do any
    thing more to the dishonour of the sacred word, or more pleasing to
    those who wish to bring the scriptures into disrepute.

    If you feel determined to maintain and inculcate the idea of God's
    punishing his rational offspring eternally without mercy, love, or
    pity towards them, I entreat you, as a father,

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