SUBJECTS OF DISCUSSION.

I.

DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT THE COMING OF CHRIST TO JUDGE THE WORrld is future?

Mr. Franklin affirms and Mr. Manford denies.

II.

DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THE FINAL HOLINESS AND HAPPINESS OF ALL MANKIND?

Mr. Manford affirms and Mr. Franklin denies.

III.

DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT THOSE WHO DIE IN DISOBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL WILL Suffer endless puNISHMENT ? Mr. Franklin affirms and Mr. Manford denies.

THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION.

PROPOSITION I.

DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT THE COMING OF CHRIST TO JUDGE THE WORLD IS FUTURE?

MR. FRANKLIN'S FIRST SPEECH.

MR. CHAIRMAN:

I appear before you on this interesting occasion, in the defense of positions which have had the mightiest influence on the world of any propositions ever defended by mortal man. All philosophers, and men of commanding minds of almost all classes, have been sensible of the fact, that man is greatly under the influence of his hopes and fears; hence the Christian's hope is spoken of as "an anchor to the soul, entering to that within the veil and is sure," while it is most constantly asserted in the Bible, that "the fear of the Lord is. the beginning of wisdom," and "that in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted of him." He also places before man the infallible promises of a faithful Creator, inspires in him the only true hope, and, in the same way, he who places before man that which is really the terrors of the Lord, excites in him that fear which is the beginning of wisdom.

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We come not here to-day to enquire what the will of man is, nor to enquire what kind of a penalty to fix to a law of human contrivance; but we have assembled to enquire, like rational beings, what are the nature and character of that penalty which the self-existent and unoriginated Jehovah will be pleased to inflict on those who disobey his righteous law, and despise the blood of the everlasting covenant. We come not here to enquire what will be popular among men, or to enquire into the various worldly policies of our times; but to examine the revelation of the Lord Jesus relative to the condition of man after death.

Our propositions are such as all men are deeply interested in, and such as will cause every man to take his stand, either on the one hand or the other. All our propositions bear upon one great question, viz: Can man do anything in this life that will effect his condition in any way after death? — The gentleman who is my opponent on this occasion, does not believe he can, while I most solemnly believe that man's happiness in the world to come, will depend upon his conduct in this life. While it will be his settled purpose, to maintain the doctrine, that disobedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ in this life, can do him no good in that world, it will be my settled purpose to show that our eternal weal or wo depends on our conduct in this life..

I am aware that in taking this position, the atheist will stand just as much opposed to me as the gentleman who is my opponent at present. Indeed, it is his grand objection to the gospel of Christ, that it holds out a retributive state after death.

The deist also stands directly opposed to me; for, although he admits that there may be rewards and punishments after death, he does not admit that any person will be punished for disobeying the gospel of Jesus Christ in this life, or that any man will be made happy in the world to come, for obeying the gospel in this life. From both these parties I am to have no sympathies on the present occasion. This much of a disadvantage undoubtedly I will labor under in the present controversy.

That the views we entertain on the subject we are to discuss, in the presence of this people, will have a great influence on our actions in this life, I do not suppose any person will