Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation

Produced by Sperry J. Russ





TWENTY-FOUR SHORT SERMONS ON THE DOCTRINE OF UNIVERSAL SALVATION

By John Bovee Dods Pastor of the First Universalist Society, in
Taunton, Massachusetts.

Boston: Printed By G. W. Bazin....Trumpet Office 1832.

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SERMON I

"What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may
see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile;
depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm
xxxiv:12-14.

Self-preservation and the desire of protracting the momentary span of
life is the first principle of our nature, or is at least so
intimately interwoven with our constitution as to appear inherent. So
powerful is this desire, that in defiance of pain and misery, it
seldom quits us to the last moments of our existence. To endeavor to
lengthen out our lives is not only desirable, but is a duty enjoined
upon us in the scriptures, and is most beautifully and forcibly
expressed in our text.

We might here introduce many observations of a philosophical character
on _air_ and _climate, meat_ and _drink, motion_ and _rest, sleeping_
and _watching, &c._ and show how sensibly they contribute to health;
and we might furnish many examples of long life, but we pass these,
and proceed to notice the affections of the mind upon which our text
is grounded.

The due regulation of the passions contributes more to health and
longevity than climate, or even the observance of any course of diet.
Our Creator has so constituted our natures, that _duty, health,
happiness_ and _longevity_ are inseparably blended in the same cup. To
suppress, and finally subdue all the passions of malice, anger, envy,
jealousy, hatred and revenge, and to exercise (till they become
familiar) all the noble passions of tenderness, compassion, love, hope
and joy, is a duty that heaven solemnly enjoins upon us, and in the
performance of which our years will be multiplied. But we must guard
not only our moral natures from the ravages of the corroding and
revengeful passions, but also our physical natures by observing the
strictest rules of temperance in _eating, drinking, cleanliness_ and
_exercise_.

The book of God commands us to "be temperate in all things." The
observance of this duty gives us a firm constitution, robust health,
and prepares us to participate in all the innocent and rational
enjoyments of life. Here we may witness the goodness of the Divine
Being in uniting our duty, happiness and interest in one; and so
firmly are they wedded together, and so absolutely does each depend
upon the other that they cannot exist alone. They are alike laid in
ruins the moment they are separated. If we trace this idea still
further, we witness the same wise arrangement, and the same
incomprehensible skill and goodness of the Author of our being in the
constitution of our mental natures. In these also he has wholly united
our duty, happiness and longevity in one. Jesus says, "Love your
enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you, that ye
may be the children of your Father in heaven." Paul says--"Let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender
hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath
forgiven you."

Here then is our duty plainly pointed out. If we will exercise this
spirit of benignity to our enemies, subdue all our revengeful
passions, and indulge a spirit of love and friendship, of meekness and
cheerfulness towards our friends and neighbors, we shall not only be
happy as our natures can bear, not only revel in all the rational
enjoyments this life can impart, but we shall in the common course of
providence live to old age. All those, with very few exceptions, who
have lived to 80, 90, and 100 years, have been remarked for their
equanimity. They were mild spirited, kind, cheerful, and of such a
temperament, that neither misfortune, nor any outward circumstances,
that agitated the world, could disturb their heaven-born repose.

Thus we see that the path of duty, enjoined in the sacred scriptures,
is not only the path of peace and joy, but conducts to a good old age.
The goodness of the Divine Being is most strikingly exemplified in
uniting health and temperance, happiness and longevity, and our duty
to our fellow creatures, all in one.

Long life and good days, however, depend more upon the state of our
minds than upon almost any other circumstance. He who lives in fear
and trouble arising from any cause whatever; whether from
contemplation of endless misery in the future world, or from the
apprehension that his earthly prospects will be blasted and his
fortune laid in ruins--or if he is continually involved in quarrels,
broils and tumults with his neighbors, has but little prospect of
living to old age, and certainly no hope of seeing good days.