WHO ARE UNIVERSALISTS? Who are Universalists? Be patient and hear us! Those are Universalists who understand, believe, profess and practice the Doctrines of Universalism. This answer is a comprehensive one, and admits of a brief enlargement. And, First: No person can be a Universalist until he fully understands the doctrine. It is, emphatically, a system of faith. It must be investigated; its parts must be examined: it must be scrutinized closely-in a word it must be studied. In this respect it differs, essentially, from all other systems of religion. Based as it is upon the sound principles of a divine philosophy, it demands an exercise of the intellectual faculties. Being reasonable, the mind must reason upon it. It cannot be understood in any other way. Other religions may be taken by innoculation --some of them are communicated by contagion-not so with ours. Second: No person can be a Universalist, until he fully believes the doctrine. His mind must understandingly embrace the various parts of the system, and receive it, without wrath or doubting, as a whole. To say that a person is a Universalist who does not fully and understandingly believe the doctrine, is to use words without meaning. Nor is there the least propriety in calling a man a Universalist simply because he sometimes says he is one. Not every every one that says Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, has entered into the kingdom. The mere accidental, or even habitual "say so " of an individual, is no evidence that he is any thing more than a mere pretender. For we affirm, Thirdly: That no person should be regarded as a Universalist, until, in some suitable way, he has made a profession of his belief. We do not say that there are no Universalists who have never joined the Church; but it is unquestionably wrong, to hold the denomination responsible for the conduct of others than those who have voluntarily identified their interests, in some way, with the interests of the cause, and have been recognized, in a proper manner, as members of the body. It is, however, the custom with our opponents, to hold us responsible for the conduct of every man, woman, and child, who has ever been known to attend one of our meetings, or think at all favorably of our views. With how much propriety might we say to all concerned, wait until we receive people as members of our societies and churches, before you make us accountable for their sins, or give us credit for their virtues. And for one we are free to say, that we know none as Universalists, who are either afraid, or ashamed, to own themselves such before the world. Fourthly: None are, or can be Universalists, but those who govern themselves, so far as in them lies, by the rules and teachings of the doctrine. How can it be proper to say that a man is a convert to a doctrine, unless he conforms his life to its requirements? Let men, therefore, understand our doctrine-let them believe our doctrine-let them profess our doctrine-let them live our doctrine; and then we will joyfully acknowledge that they are Universal ists. Now, it so happens, that the cause of our Master has been greatly injured by those who sometimes say they are Universalists, but who neither understand nor practice the doctrine. They have no just conceptions of the sentiment, much less do they feel its power, its consolations, or its restraints. They know but little and care less about a religion which they pretend to respect and love. There are, hanging on the skirts of our cause so to speak-hundreds who would be puzzled to tell what are the cardinal principles of our religion. All such, without fear, favor or affection, should be told, and plainly too, that they are not of our Israel. expe But, of all the dead weights to our cause, none equal those who pretend to be Universalists, and at the same time do all they can to retard the progress of our cause. Such persons are always doubtful about the diency of our measures they think the time has not come for actionthey are a little troubled about the unpopularity of our cause; and, while they are waiting for the world to come round, they are sure to lend their influence and support to the promulgators of God's concentrated and ever-blazing wrath. Such persons ought to be told that they have no valid claim to the name of Universalist. They belong, body and soul, to the orthodox-so called. THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD. In almost every household there is an enshrined memory, a sacred casket where a lock of shining hair, a ring or faded picture, tells of some one long since gone. The younger children, as they grow up, learn to lock on the picture of the dead brother or sister as on the face of an angel. They wonder if they ever shall be as good as they were! They look with tender awe upon the various relics of a sister never known, the broken plaything, the unfinished piece of work with rusted needle just where she left it; and seeing their mother's tears, and hearing her talk of the child that was or would have been more lovely or intelligent than any of the rest, they meekly wonder if they shall ever deserve to be loved as much as she was who is now in heaven. The orphan, longing for a mother dimly remembered, is sure if she had lived he never could have dishonored her, never could have been ungrateful or disobedient. Yet our daily life together is subject to many disturbances. Parents forget to be patient with their children; the noisy, trying little things are often roughly treated, their feelings wounded, and their gayety checked; children of a family quarrel and overbear; friends grow critical and cold. To look upon the surface of general domestic and social life, it sometimes seems as if there were a few only who would not be happier separated. But when by death some are removed, then only can we measure the real depth of affection that was cherished for them. One beautiful trait of our humanity is the tenderness with which we cherish the memory of the departed. Let death take from the household the troublesome and ungovernable child, and all that is remembered is his sweet and gentle words, his rare qualities, his loving way, his beauty and manliness. The child stands before his parents' eyes, not as what he was, but as what he might have been had all God put in him been perfected by love and grace. He is now always "dear child" in their thought, and no longer selfish and unlovely. The children long for their dead companion with real and tender griefthey would be pleasanter were he back again; they are surprised to find how much they loved him. Friends long to have the opportunity, now lost, to show their love. Why did I not prize him more-why did I not serve him better? is the universal feeling. Our cemeteries, carefully kept and richly ornamented, may sometimes betray the harsh ostentation of wealth, but usually the polished and elaborate marble speaks the tenderness of grief, striving to do here what it feels. had been left undone before. Absence lends, to a less degree, the same halo of perfectness. So soon as we are separated from those we really love, then they seem more than ever desirable and necessary to us, and we send back messages of regret for past selfishness and unfriendli ness. COMMON OPINION AGAINST THE BIBLE. Common Opinion. God is angry with the sinner, and will be angry with him world without end. Bible. "For his anger endureth but a moment.” Ps. 30: 5. "He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever." Ps. 193: 9. Common Opinion. The Lord will cast off sinners forever, into endless misery. And though they shriek in agony, yet no deliverance will reach them. Bible. "For the Lord will not cast off forever. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies, for he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men." Lam. 3: 31, 32, 33. Common Opinion. Some men will stand forth in the resurrection, bold opposers of God; open and daring blasphemers; to be fixed in the chains of endless sin and suffering. Bible. "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven." Matt. 22: 29, 30. Common Opinion. According as our works are on earth, so will our eternal destiny be. If good, we shall be made happy in immortality. If sinful, we shall be made endlessly miserable. Bible. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2: 8, 9, 10. Common Opinion. God purposed and elected certain men and angels to endless life, without foresight of faith or good works, and the rest he passed by to dishonor and contempt. And the number is so certain and definite, that it can neither be added to nor diminished. Bible. "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things, in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." Eph. 1:9, 10. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Tim. 2: 3-6. Common Opinion. The moral man is not a religious man-for he may be moral without being religious. Bible. "Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1: 27. This opposition of common opinion. to the Bible might be carried out to a long catalogue of points. And though that common opinion may denominate the "Restitution of all things" a licentious heresy, yet, so long as God hath spoken it "by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began," we must believe it in preference to an opinion which denies the word of God. G. W. M. APPLE BLOSSOMS Are the glory of May. With us, the last week in May is called the blossom week, when we made it a point to leave, and spend a day among the orchards. An orchard looks like a camping ground, and every appletree a tent of blossoms. Oh, it is curious too see how ambitious every little twig is to bear a bunch. A little while ago every branch was naked. Now they are covered with the most beautiful pink and white, softer and more delicate than princess ever wore, and the whole air is filled with their sweetness. Where did the flowers come from? Who created this rich profusion? Count them, who can? The same sap which came from the dark, unsightly roots, made bark here, and wood there, was moulded into a stem, a bud, a leaf, a twig, a bough; yes, and then, as if to show us its marvelous power of change, turns itself out into millions of beautiful flowers, making the old trees rejoice in the beauty and freshness of their youth again. Ah, this is no work of man. The greatest minds in the world could not make so much as the smallest leaf of an apple-blossom. God is in the orchard. His mind, his mechanism, his taste, his work, his goodness create and superintend and guide everything, from the bud that is formed on the bough, to the ripe apple falling to the ground. The home of the apple-tree is in the north temperate zone. From England to Japan it grows wild in the fields, and all the way round to New England. But the wild apple is a small, sour, homely fruit, which, like the deer and the Indian, is becoming scarcer every year. was The cultivated apple-tree brought over from old England with the first settlers, and like the dog, the horse and the cow, it migrates with them, going where they go, and thriving where they thrive. It is a favorite too, not only with us, but many a bird, insect, and quaruped, have found out its virtues and fed on its juices. No sooner had it settled on our shores thin the tent cater pillar saddled her eggs on its twigs, and the canker worm found it equal to the elm. Blue-bird, robin, cherrybird, king-bird and many more came with haste, built their nests and warbled in its boughs, and so became orchard birds, and multiplied more and more. Woodpecker finds a savory meal under its bark, and often picks a ring around the tree; and many a fine tree has lost its life by it. THE LADY AND THE ROBBER. A REMARKABLE STORY. In a large, lonely house, situated in the south of England, there once lived a lady and her two maid ser vants. They were far away from all human habitations, but they seemed to have felt no fear, but to have dwelt there peacefully and happily. It was the lady's custom with her maids, to go round the house every evening, to see if all the windows and doors were properly fastened. One night she had accompanied them as usual, and ascertained that all was safe. They left her in a passage close to her room, and went to their own, which was quite at the outside of the house. As the lady opened her door, she distinctly saw a min under the bed. What could she do? Her servants were far away, and could not hear her if she screamed for help, and even if they had come to her assistance, these three weak women were no match for a desperate house-breaker. How, then, did she act? She trusted in God. Quietly she closed the door, and locked it on the inside, which she was in the habit of doing. She then leisurely brushed her hair, and then putting on her dressing gown, she took her Bible and sat down to read. She read aloud, and chose a chapter that had peculiar reference to God's watchfulness over us, and constant care of us by day and by night. When it was finished she knelt and prayed at great length, still uttering her words aloud, especially commending herself to God's protection, and dwelling upon their utter helplessness, and dependence upon Him to preserve them from all dangers. At last she rose from her knees, put out her candle, and laid down in bed; but she did not sleep. After a few minutes had elasped, she was conscious that the man was standing by her bedside. He begged of her not to be alarmed. "I came here to rob you, but after the words you have read, and the prayers you have uttered, no power on earth could induce me to hurt you, or touch a thing in your house. But you must remain perfectly quiet and not attempt to interfere with me. shall now give a signal to my companions, which they will understand, an i then we will go away and you may sleep in peace, for I give you my solemn word no one shall harm you, and not the smallest thing belonging to you shall be disturbed." He then went to the window opened it, and whistled softly. Returning to the lady's side (who had not spoken or moved) he said, "Now I am going. Your prayer has been heard, and no disaster will befall you." He left the room, and soon all was quiet, and the lady fell asleep, still upheld by I that calm and beautiful faith and trust. When the morning dawned and she awoke, we may feel she poured out her thanksgivings and praises to Him who had defended " her "under his wings" and "kept her "safe under his feathers," so that she was not "afraid of any terror by night." The man was true to his word, and not a thing in the house had been taken. O! shall we not hope that his heart was changed from that day forth, and that he forsook his evil courses, and cried to that Saviour, "who came to seek and to save that which is lost," and even on the cross did not reject the repentant thief. From this story let us learn to put our whole trust and confidence in God. This lady's courage was indeed wonderful; but "the Lord was her defense upon her right hand," and "with him all things are possible."-London Packet. NO NIGHT THERE. "And there shall be no night there." How cheering to the Christian is this declaration of Scripture! How animating to his spirit the precious truth it teaches! No night there! Then there will be none of the dangers and perils of night. "No rude alarms of raging foes will disturb the serene peace of heavNo assa sin will improve the midnight hour to do his deed of blood, and no thief will break in and steal. For sin and sorrow will be unknown. en. * * Yes, our scripture reveals to us the full ad perfect security of heaven. No night there! then there will be no more need of slumber and unconscious repose. The fatigue and the exhaustion which compel us to waste so large a portion of our precious. lifetime in sleep will be unknown; but the spirit ever new ever young, will forever revel amid the glories of |