Alliance. But I believe we shall come to the conclusion with the
same good, kind, brotherly feeling, with which the whole has been
thus far conducted ; and that the minority will graciously yield to
the majority, and let nothing drive any man from the Alliance.

The Chairman. I fall in very much with the sentiments of
Mr. James : but it seems to me, that you might come to a conclusion
after the next Speaker has spoken.

The Rev. Dr. Wardlaw. — Leaving London, as I soon must, I
feel I should have a burden on my conscience, if I did not say a
little on this subject. I have never regarded the Basis as intended
to draw the line with precision, within which all personal
Christianity was to be considered as included. That would have
been assuming a Divine Prerogative. It is not for us to say — im-
perfect creatures as we are — exactly where the line is to be drawn,
within which every thing of the nature of real Christianity is to be
considered as alone contained. I have been very much anticipated
in the remarks which have been made ; and reference has been made
to an Experimental Basis. It struck me very forcibly, when this
subject was brought forward, that the first and elementary principle
of Christian character is faith. Faith relates to Truth. Therefore
if you take an Experimental Basis, you must begin with the first
element of Christian character: you must begin with faith. How
can you begin with faith, without beginning with those Truths to
which faith refers ? We must, therefore, have a basis of some kind,
containing elementary Truths, — such as Evangelical Christians are
agreed upon. With regard to the Ninth Article, I confess I was
one of those who were disposed to be satisfied with the Basis when
it originally came forward ; and for this reason : I thought it
sufficiently distinct ; and, therefore, that it would sufficiently answer
the purpose designed. But when Dr. Cox from America alluded to
the fact, that, in such a Basis, no reference whatever had been made
to a Future State, I felt surprise and sorrow ; and I could not account
for the fact of such an omission, except upon the ground, that we
had all considered that point assumed. Yet it did appear a singular
thing, that, in the Basis of Christian Truth, there should be no re-
ference whatever to Futurity. I, therefore, am decidedly of opinion,



108 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

that the Ninth Article should be retained. It is a doctrine I have never
been able to view as capable of being disposed of by verbal criticism,,

as if it were indefinitely stated. It is one of the most fearful

truths of the Bible. It presents the most awful views of the
Divine Government we can take. I must own before this assembly,
it is a Truth which, of all others, has occasioned the most powerful
emotions in my own mind. I have studied the subject, — and alas !
with tears and anguish, when I have thought of what is implied in
eternal punishment. I have trembled, and was almost afraid of think-
ing upon it. But then it has ever recurred to my mind (and I hope I
have not been actuated and influenced, in this emotion, by " the fear
that hath torment")— with regard to my own personal position ; I
hope in the Son of God : and one consideration which especially
binds my soul to Him is this — that He has delivered me from ever-
lasting misery. Again, whenever I have thought on the subject, the
question would come back to my mind — Am I to claim for myself
o-reater benevolence than God ? And this has led me to the Bible ;
and there I have found that awful Truth, — written so clearly, and in
such a variety of ways, and so universally pervading it, — that I could
not resist the conviction without giving up my principles. I have
therefore yielded my conviction to God ; and rested in the hope,
that He will give me strength of principle to acquiesce, with holy joy,
in what is to glorify Him for ever ; and that the Great Day will be,
in this, as in every other respect, the day of the revelation of the
righteous judgement of God. I hold this as a most important
Article of Truth, fearful as I have felt it. But there is one ground
that has been alluded to, and which I feel equally: that our
American Brethren were not with us at Liverpool when our Basis
was formed ; and it is the only Article they have proposed to intro-
duce. It does appear to me, that, if we are of one mind in regard
to it, — from this very circumstance, that the Foreign Brethren, when
they have come amongst us, have felt a difficulty, and proposed this
as the only additional Article they were anxious to introduce, — we
ought, on this account, not to exclude it. If it goes forth, that the
Article has been brought before us, — and in terms of such strong and
convincing eloquence, — and we were now to throw it out, what
would be the conclusion come to, — both in our own country and in
America ? Though I was satisfied with the Basis as at first proposed,
I am glad that this Article has been introduced. It gives impress-
iveness to that Basis ; and it would have been a defect if it had not
been added. I hope it will remain in the place it now occupies.
Having said this, I sit down, in the hope that it will not be rejected.
[It is impossible to describe the solemnity of spirit with which



THIRD DAY MORNING SESSION. 109

this venerable servant of Christ spoke upon this subject ; or the
deep impression which it appeared to make upon the whole of the
Meeting.]

The Rev. Dr. Beecher said, that, if this Article had not
been introduced and discussed, he could have endured the omission,
though with regret, for peace' sake : but, since it had been
introduced, it could not now be rejected, without implying, as the
public mind would feel, a depreciation of the Doctrine. He
admitted that a disbeliever in eternal punishment was within the
possibility of God's grace : but the administration of His sove-
reignty clearly showed, that the instances were few and far between.
He pointed out, moreover, the importance of the doctrine in
preaching to the unconverted. " Knowing the terror of the Lord,
we persuade men." What do God's enemies care about sin, — or
the commission of sin — when separated from the sanctions of God's
government ? The disbelief of the doctrine takes away the whole
power, by which the Holy Spirit restrains, awakens, convicts, and
converts men. He argued, that it should not be the object of this
Conference to come together on the lowest possible point of doctrine
on which men might be saved : but to include so much of the
Evangelical system, that it shall stand up strong in the power of
the Holy Ghost : and it could not do so if this doctrine were
omitted. In the face of the World it would be sanctioning the
doctrine of the non-eternity of punishment. It would give ground
for saying that punishment is not eternal. One or two words more.
The tendency of the human heart, respecting doctrine, is down-
ward ; therefore it is necessary to keep the standard high. The
removal of this doctrine, depend upon it, would open the gates of
death ; the tide that would come in could not be stemmed. He
was sustained herein by fact. — The doctrine of Universalism began
to be preached by Winchester and Murray ; it had gone on to the
total denial of all punishment, and of all moral accountability on
the part of man : in the whole neighbourhood where it once pre-
vailed, there were not now half a dozen Churches who held the
doctrine as originally preached. — It had died out.

It had been said by some, that eternity was a word so incom-
prehensible, that nobody could understand it : that children especially
could not comprehend it. He, however, undertook to say, there is
no word in language which meets the open mind of a child sooner
than eternity ; it impresses it with a moral power which nothing
can obliterate. What is Eternal Punishment? It is suffering
that will have no end ; that will never, never, never end. God
never made a child four years of age, that could not understand



110 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

what it wast — a duration that should never end: suffering that
should never end.

Rev. Dr. Beaumont moved that the further discussion of
the question be adjourned to the evening sitting.

Rev. John Preston seconded the Adjournment.

The Chairman. — Dr. Byrth being out of the room, I do not
see how we can divide on the question.

Rev. Dr. S. H. Cox. — We are a deliberative Assembly. I
am not going to make a speech : but I am going to intreat our
Brethren, that they will give no occasion to any man to retire from
the Conference and say, he could not be heard in reply. I am,
therefore, for the Adjournment.

The question of Adjournment was then put and carried.

The Rev. Dr. F. A. Cox then engaged in prayer, and the
Meeting adjourned till five o'clock in the evening.



EVENING SESSION.

James S. Blackwood, Esq. LL.D. moved, and

R. Walters, Esq. seconded —

•'That the Rev. Dr. Bunting preside over the Devotional Exercises."

Carried.

Rev. Dr. Bunting, on taking the Chair, said, Honoured and
beloved Fathers and Brethren, in consequence of your appointment
I take this Chair. I take it, not merely in deference to your appoint-
ment; but in consequence of the absence, by you especially to be
lamented, of the honoured individual who was expected to have
presided over the Devotional Exercises this evening, Dr. Henry
Grey of Edinburgh. Therefore, at a moment's warning, I have
assented to your nomination. I have also a commission to execute.
It has been the opinion of the Business Committee, that it might
contribute to our comfort, refreshment, and edification, if instead
of two persons engaging in prayer, there were three ; — with the
understanding, that the three, if possible, should not occupy more
time than has usually been allotted to the two. I do not feel that
it is in my power to make those preliminary remarks which are
usually made ; but I wish this Meeting to be considered as one of
a peculiarly solemn character. The subject that we have before
us is so awful, and the decision of the question may be attended
with such important results, one way or the other, that I think



THIRD DAY EVENING SESSION. Ill

we should take this opportunity of asking the special direction
of Almighty God.

The Meeting then sung the First Hymn of Dr. Watts's First
Book.

Rev. E. N. Kirk engaged in Prayer.
The 516th Hymn, Wesley's Hymns, was then sung; and
Rev. R. H. Herschell engaged in Prayer. After which the
151st Hymn in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody was sung; and
Rev. James Pringle engaged in Prayer.

Sir Culling Eardley Smith then took the Chair. He said,
I am requested by the Business Committee to submit to the
Meeting the propriety of the discussion on the subject now before
us being brought to a termination this Evening.

The Rev. Dr. Beaumont argued decidedly in favour of the
retention of the Ninth Article. He thought that a great element '
of moral and spiritual power would be wanting, if it were omitted ;
that the vast body of those with whom he was connected
would be in favour of it ; and that to reject it would throw a shade
of doubt upon the doctrine. As it had been brought forward,
it could not be wise or safe for this Assembly to let it go.

Rev. Dr. Patton. — Sir Culling, I feel that this subject is one
that can only be approached with feelings of the deepest awe. It
is a subject so deep and awful in its own nature, that, if we get
the impression of it upon our own minds, I think we shall come
to it rather with weeping, than with any other feeling. What
is so inconceivably affecting to the human mind as a deathless
soul suffering the wrath of God without end ? It was a thought
that entered the heart of the Son of God, and brought Him down,
and nailed Him to the cross, after His agony in the garden. It was
a thought that thrilled through the hearts of the Apostles, whom
He appointed to go forth and make known His Will ; — so that
the Apostle Paul went forth weeping, when he remembered
these terrible things. I feel, Sir Culling, as though the settle-
ment of this question was one of very great moment; and I wish
to disabuse the minds, perhaps of some in this Conference, of the
idea, that this is an American question. Sir Culling, it is not an
American question : it is a question that belongs to every one who
loves the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, wherever God may have
cast his earthly lot. It is a question that affects every individual
of this Conference,— and millions more that are not here present.
It is true, that this question first struck the attention of Brethren
across the water, at a Meeting held in New York, on the subject
of Union— growing, somewhat at least, out of your warm appeal to






112 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

meet you on this occasion. The Eight Articles were read ; and, to
the surprise of many, it was there founds as it has been stated,
that there was no recognition of Futurity, no recognition of any-
thing beyond the grave. Your Articles, in so far as they were
distinctly stated, left us, without any throwing forth of the light of
Christianity upon this subject ; for Christianity peculiarly claims
it, as its province, to throw this light. A Resolution was then
passed, (not at all in the way of complaint) that these Articles
should be adopted at that Meeting as the Basis, — with the under-
standing, that they included, or would be made to include, some
expression on the subject of Future Rewards and Punishments.
That paper has been placed in the hands of your Secretary ; and, in
an early part of the deliberations, has received the place that was
designed it — not to come before this Meeting, but merely to be
placed among your documents.

Now there was very great jealousy on the part of the Brethren
that came from the other side of the Atlantic ; and a great unwill-
ingness to disturb one single item of the Articles. The discussion
was introduced first into the London Committee. After that, it
came before the Aggregate Committee. Some of us, from across
the water, were very unwilling that the Basis should be disturbed,
if we could get along without it. But it has come before that
Committee ; and it has there been discussed. It has also
come before this great Meeting : here it is under discussion ; and
what will be the result? That which was so ably stated this
morning: if it is now rejected, it places us in a position which is
exceedingly fearful. It places the broad seal of this great Con-
federation upon this view, that this doctrine, though revealed in
the Word of God, and believed by every one in the Conference, is
yet a doctrine not to be confessed before the sun ! This is a fear-
ful position for us individually to take. And the effect — as it
shall go back to America, — as it shall come in among your commu-
nities in England, — will be very unhappy indeed. The difficulty
1 feel in this matter, is not, that this question, or any other ques-
tion legitimately belonging to this body, should be discussed here;
for results may be come to, with entire harmony of feeling, if not
with harmony of votes. I believe that this question can be dis-
cussed ; and that, when we come to the vote, though there may be
Brethren who feel constrained to vote against the introduction of
the Ninth Article, yet these Brethren will acquiesce in the deci-
sion : not one of them will leave the Confederation. I cannot but
think that the remarks made by Mr. Hinton this morning, were
made in haste, — when he said, that if you introduce the Article,



IHIBD DAT EVENING SESSION. 113

he must leave tlie Confederation. I know it must have been made
in the warmth of argument ; for if he is indeed compelled to do
that, I shall be constrained to hope that three of our Brethren will
go and sit before him seven days and seven nights, and not speak a
word, in their deep sympathy for his solitary position. Me will
not take this ground ; he cannot take it ; lie has too much love for
this body to take it. There is a sacred and heavenly influence,
that stands not in one place, but is like a wall of fire around us ;
so that there is not a man of us that can get out. Its coruscations
wave outward against the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ, but
not inward against ourselves.

Now, from America we have come to you, precisely in obedience
to what you have told us to do. You have informed us of the
objects you contemplate ; for you speak of your objects on the sixth
page; and the second object to which you are to direct your attention
is, — "the state of Infidelity, and the form which it assumes in the
present day." The generic form of Infidelity in the United States
is Universalism. It is that form under which all the enemies of
God and Jesus Christ are gathering themselves together as a
mighty host, and preparing for the great battle against spiritual
Religion. Our eyes behold it; we are compelled to meet it.
Unitarianism ranks under that generic form of error 5 and Infi-
delity cannot now come out boldly, and avow itself, as denying the
Scriptures, and denying the Atonement, and denying all the fun-
damental doctrines of Religion. But it comes crawling under the
shape of a pretended love for the glory of the Redeemer — in that
He died for every one, that that Atonement is applied to every man,
and that, therefore, there is no Hell. That is the form in which it
presents itself. They tell us, that God is a Universal Father ; and
would any man put his own child in the fire, and burn him up for
ever ? These are their appeals : and these gentlemen will have no
difficulty in coming to an Alliance, supposing we should form one
in America, without this Article. We shall then be compelled to do
one of two things : either to admit this class of individuals —
if they will take these other Articles (and some of them un-
doubtedly will ; for we know that, where the sons of God are met
together, there are others that want to get in.) There has been a
trial to get in ; but, through the vigilance of your Committee, they
have not been able to get in. But, if that Article had not been
proposed, there would have been no difficulty in getting in. I say,
we shall have either to admit them, or to form a new Alliance
suitable to the United States of America. Mr. Chairman, that
would be an exceedingly unhappy thing. We are now laying the

1



114 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

Basis of a Society for the World : and, when you met at Liver-
pool, you were not so conversant with facts in all the World, as you
expected to be when this gathering came together, and Brethren
told you how the facts were in their own country. But now you
are able to form a Basis, which shall embrace the Church of Christ
all over the World. We tell you our exigencies. Suppose we form
an Alliance, and put this Article in ; and you have it not ? We
are brought immediately into collision with the Parent Society !
We set an example that will be exceedingly perilous : for if we in
America may add one Article, somebody, else in Canada may add
another, and somebody somewhere else, another ; and, by and by,
when the next Meeting assembles, you will find individuals
gathered together, not on one platform, but on many; and you
will have a great work to do, to harmonize the various members that
shall come together.

It will not be long before you will have this form of Infidelity
here, in an organized shape, in England. The intercourse between
America and England is not all one way. I know that the stream
runs from the British dominions to America; but there are return
boats, and there are persons that come back in return. There are
troublesome spirits, that love to roam abroad in the Earth ; and
there are correspondences, and there will be organizations, in this
country ; and you will find, by and by, that you will be under the
necessity of introducing such an Article for your own defence in
the British dominions, if you do not find it necessary now.

I trust, then, we shall come to a very united and harmonious
vote on this subject, and that the influence of that vote will be felt
all over the World. And if we can do so ; and if this Basis can be
got through (as I have no doubt it can), and we come to that unani-
mous vote on the subject,— I think the influence of it will be most
happy, in uniting all hearts in Christian lands, in ascribing the
praise and glory to our common Lord and Redeemer.

Rev. D. McAfee thought it highly desirable to retain the
Ninth Article ; and argued this from its connexion with those
which preceded.

Rev. D. T. K. Drummond felt himself called upon to come
forward, in consequence of some statements which had fallen from
Mr. Binney, which were calculated to leave an impression with
reference to members of the Church of England, by no means
consistent with the facts that had come under his own observa-
tion, through his whole life and Ministry. He had also con-
ferred with as many friends, of his own Church, as he could, and
their testimony fully concurred with his own. They knew no



THIRD DAY— EVENING SESSION. 115

instance of a pious man in their Church, who did not hold the
doctrine of the eternity of punishment. Fur himself, he felt that
individual Christianity was mixed up with that essential doctrinal
Truth : and he believed he was warranted in stating this to be the
conscientious conviction of that important Body in Scotland, with
which he was connected

Hereupon Rev. T. Binney rose to explain j and very frankly
acknowledged, that what he had said was calculated to leave a
different impression from that which he himself intended to
convey.

Rev. D. T. K. Drummond cordially accepted the explanation
given.

Rev. J. Haldane Stewart. — I shall only detain you a few
minutes ; but, not having had an opportunity of being present
when the subject was discussed in the Aggregate Committee, and
feeling it to be one of vital importance, I claim your indulgence
for a short time. I should have been satisfied with the Eight
Articles that were brought forward in the earlier Meetings of the
Conference : but, the Ninth Article having been brought before us
by our friends, I feel that we are under obligation to them ; and I
feel it upon these accounts. In the first place, the Ninth Article
does especial honour to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. All
truth and error may be tried by this simple test. If you submit
any doctrine that is brought forward to this test, you will find, that
Truth exalts Him whom we all desire to exalt ; and that, on the
other hand, error tends to degrade our blessed Saviour. Now let
us try the doctrine before us : let us come to the pit which burnetii
for ever and ever; and let us see our blessed Saviour, and let us
hear Him saying, " Deliver him from going down to the pit : I have
found a ransom." AVho does not, hereupon, feel more and more
of love to the Saviour kindled in his heart ? As the flames of hell
are rising up, he feels, That would have been my portion, but for
Him, who now is exalted at the right hand of God, having a Name
given Him which is above every name. I am now confining
myself to the last point ; but I say, with respect to the whole of the
five points included in that Article, they all tend to the exaltation
of our Lord. In the next place, I heartily approve of this Article,
from its being so Scriptural ; by which I mean to say,itisin accord-
ance with the Canon of Scripture. The last discourse which our
Saviour delivered was one, in which He sets forth the eternal happi-
ness of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked.
The last chapters of the Bible do the same. When we would re-
fresh our souls, we come to that city which is not made with hands,

i 2



116 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

where the glory of God shall lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof. But in these chapters we find, that the smoke of the tor-
ment of the lo.st ascends up for ever and ever. When, therefore,
we make this the last Article, I conceive that we are just keeping
to the Canon of Scripture — that we are following out the Word of
God. I would say, again, that I approve most highly of this
Article, as one that may be exceedingly useful to us in attempting
to fulfil that which we all desire ; namely to bring those who are
deluded by the Church of Rome out of her communion. You will
bear in mind this, Sir, that, — previously to the most awful sentence
which is contained in the Bible, namely, when Babylon is fallen,
and the smoke of her torment is ascending up for ever and ever,
and it is said, Hallelujah ; and again they say, Hallelujah, — the