rect opinion
concerning it? If the man who merely proclaims this doctrine in the
usual quiet way of preachers, while he sees his fellow-men perishing
around, is guilty of criminal neglect, what shall we say of the
religious teacher who, without having devoted much time to the
investigation of the subject, exerts his powers and his influence to
persuade his fellow-men that it is all a delusion, and that the idea
of endless misery is utterly inconsistent with the goodness of God?
How many feeble outcries and warnings of those who are so terribly
rebuked by Mr. Foster, may be silenced and forever laid to rest by
his eloquent declamation against the doctrine in question, and how
many souls may be thereby betrayed and led on to their own eternal
ruin! Yet, wonderful as it may seem, Mr. Foster tells us that his
opinion on this awful subject has not been the result of "a
protracted inquiry." In the very letter from which we have so
frequently quoted, he says: "I have perhaps been too content to let
an opinion (or impression) admitted in early life dispense with
protracted inquiry and various reading." Now, is this the way in
which a question of this kind should be decided,--a question which
involves the eternal destiny of millions of human beings? Is it to
be decided, not by protracted inquiry, but under the influence of an
"impression admitted in early life?"

207 Surely a very singular doctrine to be found in a prophecy.

208 Institutes, book iii, ch. xxi.

209 Ibid.

210 Wiggers, ch. xvi.

211 Wiggers's Presentation, ch. xvi.

212 Institutes, book iii, ch. xxi.

213 Hill's Divinity, p. 525.

214 Id., p. 526.

215 Hill's Divinity, p. 562.

216 Institutes of Theology.

217 Institutes of Theology, vol. ii, ch. vii.

218 Institutes of Theology, vol. ii, ch. vii.

219 Whewell's History of the Inductive Sciences, vol. i.

220 Intellectual System, vol. ii, p. 349.

221 Theodicee, Abrege de la Controverse.

222 Ibid.

223 Abrege de la Controverse.

224 Reflexions sur le Livre de Hobbes.

225 Analogy, part i, chap. vii.

226 Remarques sur Le Livre de M. King, sec. xvi.

227 Origin of Evil, vol. ii, ch. v, sec. v.

228 Dictionary, Article Paulicians.

229 It is not exactly just to rank Hall among the Arminians. His scheme
of doc