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EXISTENCE A BLESSING OR FAVOUR

for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." How the descendants of Adam, as sinners, are interested in the atonement of Christ, will be shown in its proper place.

SECTION IX.

Since all the descendants of Adam are brought into existence through the atonement of Christ, it follows, that the existence of every man must be a blessing or favour.

FROM the holy scriptures we learn that the redemption of mankind originated in love. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."* "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he were rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."† Now, if love was the source of human redemption, and if one great object to be accomplished by it, was the existence and happiness of men, it is irresistibly evident, that the existence of every man, being an effect of redemption, must be a blessing or favour. Indeed, every argument which would prove the existence of Adam to have been a blessing, on the ground of his receiving it

*John iii. 16. † 2 Cor. viii. 9.

from the creating hand of the God of wisdom, power, and benevolence, will apply with equal force to the offspring of Adam, on the ground of their being brought into being through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

To deny the position which is here taken to deny that our existence is a favour, would be to contradict the bible, to discredit universal experience, and to cast the most dishonourable reflections on the redeemer, and his unparalleled undertaking in behalf of guilty men. We think that no man, who will candidly employ his thoughts on the subject, can deny that we are indebted to redemption for our existence, whether that existence be a good, or an evil, a blessing or a curse. And we think morecan suppose that

over, that no person of sober reason, the redeemer would lay down his life to procure a miserable existence, for any individual of the human race. Such a supposition would be the most daring, and impious that the mind of man could possibly entertain.

The fact that simple existence may be turned to our disadvantage, by our own misconduct, cannot be urged as an objection to the present argument, because the same thing is true, with regard to all rational beings in a state of trial. Angels, in their first estate, and Adam in Paradise, manifestly had it in their power to convert this blessing into a curse. But as this does not disprove their existence to have been a blessing from the hand of their creator; so neither does such liability to abuse,

disprove our existence to be a blessing of redemption.

SECTION X.

If the existence of all men, under the new dispensation, be a blessing or favour, it must be granted that they really possess the MEANS of happiness through the whole duration of their being.

To deny the truth of this proposition, would involve us in some of the grossest absurdities.

1. To admit that existence itself is a favour or blessing to rational and immortal beings, whilst the means of happiness are withheld from them, is so shocking to common sense, and so manifestly absurd, as to carry its own refutation along with it.

2. If the means of happiness be denied to any of our race, it will follow, that those individuals cannot be in a state of probation. Beings in a state of trial, because susceptible of happiness and misery, must be supposed to be capable of right and wrong conduct; for happiness and misery are the natural result of well or ill doing. To withhold the means of happiness, would render them incapable of that conduct, from which happiness flows. And, if incapable of right conduct, they must be incapable of wrong conduct also; for it would

be absurd to say that a being may do wrong, who cannot do right; and a being who can neither do right nor wrong, cannot possibly be in a state of trial. Such a state necessarily implies the means of happiness, as well as an exposure to misery. Pressed with the force of this conclusion, the consistent defenders of calvinistic theology, have ventured, not only to question, but positively to deny that men, at present, are in a state of trial! They tell us that all had their trial in Adam, and were lost!!—that some have had a second trial in Christ, and, in him, are saved!!—and that the rest have had no second trial at all, but go down to hell in consequence of their disobedience in Adam, or for those actual transgressions which are the necessary result of that disobedience!

3. If the means of happiness be denied to any of the human family, it is demonstrable, that the christian scheme-the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ, is, to them, the greatest possible calamity that could have befallen them. It is to redemption, as we have seen, that all men owe their existence. But existence, to rational beings who never really possessed the means of happiness, would be the greatest conceivable curse; since they must of necessity be objects of interminable sufferings. To such Jesus would be, not a saviour, but a destroyer. Their damnation would be the necessary-the unavoidable consequence of his meritorious obedience and death! It is granted, however, by the advocates of an exclusive and unconditional election of some men to life eternal, that those who were not thus elected, have, nevertheless,

some interest in the great work of redemption.

The meaning of which

The means of much temporal happiness; such as food, raiment, habitations, friends, and a thousand other favours, which they do not deserve; all which, coming through the channel of redeeming love, call loudly for gratitude, and thanksgiving, and praise. is, (if we understand it) that, because they have been brought into existence-have the privilege of eating, drinking, sleeping, and of running the giddy round of earthly pleasures, for a short time, and of dropping, at last, into the unquenchable fire of hell, they ought to be thankful! In the name of reason, and of common sense, we would ask, how long are sentiments like these to pass amongst us, under the sacred name of divinity ? — As the pure, the rational, and elevated truths of revelation?

We have no hesitation whatever in affirming, that if the dispensation, under which man is placed, does not provide for his happiness, through the whole duration of his existence, then must that existence be a curse, and his punishment unjust. Can the thought be entertained for one moment, that the merciful father of the spirits of all flesh, would, either by an act of creation or redemption, give existence to rational and accountable creatures, and place them under a moral government, without supplying them with the means necessary to render them obedient and happy? Such a supposition would be the highest insult which could be offered to the righteous governor of angels and men; and would contradict the