bility, and appears unfavourable to personal solicitude and earnestness concerning religion. (5.) It invests the Divine character with the awful charge of partiality; and

(6.) Seems to render the Judgment day unnecessary.

On the other hand, personal conditional Election, or the Election of character,—

(1.) Is in perfect harmony with the Divine attributes.

(2.) Is in unison with the commission to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel to all

men.

(3.) Involves men in circumstances of individual responsibility.

(4.) Is favourable to personal holiness, and solemnly reiterates the address of the Apostle-"Give diligence to make your calling and Election sure." And

(5.) Accords with man's responsibility and the necessity for the judgment day.

We conclude the subject, then, by again

stating that Scriptural Election is God's choice of those who believe the Gospel, to all the privileges and blessings of present salvation, and to the hope of eternal life through Christ Jesus.

CONVERSATION IV.

A UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT.

Inquirer. I MAY premise from our last conversation on the doctrine of Election, that you believe the Atonement made by the Lord Jesus Christ to be for the benefit of all men ?

Minister. Fully so; and I know of no subject more distinctly and satisfactorily stated in God's holy word.

In. What distinct evidence can you adduce, fully to settle this question?

Min. Why, we have the evidence of Prophets of Christ himself, and of the Apostles.

In. What testimony have the Prophets given?

Min. Isaiah, in that most affecting chapter of predictions respecting the Messiahthe 53rd, says, "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all:" verse 6. Now in this passage the remedy and the disease are coextensive. The first "6 "All" referring to man's universal apostacy, is admitted by all evangelical Christians: the death, or bearing of sin for all men, is equally attested by the evangelical prophet. There are other prophecies where the extent of Messiah's salvation is equally the subject of holy exultation. In. But what has the Lord Jesus Christ taught on this subject?

Min. He everywhere represents God's love and mercy as extending to all men. He says, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John iii. 16. See also verses 14, 15, 17, and 18. He also affirmed,

that he had come to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus also commanded the Gospel to be preached in all the world and to every creature.

In. But what have the Apostles and other sacred writers declared on the subject?

Min. John the Baptist directed men to "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world:"-John i. 29. And the Apostle John reiterates the universality of the Atonement in the most direct and striking language possible. He says, "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world:" -1 John iv. 14. Again, he says, "And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Chapter ii. 2. Now, did the New Testament contain no other declaration, this last passage should be deemed sufficient; and certainly and unequivocally settles the

matter.

In. But is not the term World sometimes