20
to a participation of the benefits of his death, in their restoration to holiness and happiness. Their scheme includes a reconciliation of the tenets of Calvinism and Arminianism, by uniting the leading doctrines of both, as far as they are found in the Scriptures: from which union they think the sentiment of universal restoration naturally flows.
DESTRUCTIONISTS.
Between the system of restoration, and that of endless misery, a middle hypothesis of the final destruction of the wicked, (after being punished according to their guilt,) has been advocated by many persons distinguished for their erudition and piety. They say that the Scripture positively asserts this doctrine of destruction; that the nature of future punishment (which in the Bible is termed death) determines the meaning of the words, everlasting, eternal, for ever, &c., as denoting endless duration; that the deliverance of the wicked, after receiving a punishment apportioned to their crimes, is an act of absolute justice; and finally, that of the mediatorial kingdom of Jesus Christ, there shall be no end.
SABBATARIANS.
The Sabbatarians are a body of Christians who keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, and are to be found principally, if not wholly, among the Baptists. The common reasons why Christians observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath, are, that on this day Christ rose from the dead; that the apostles assembled, preached, and administered the Lord's Supper; and it has been kept by the Church for several ages, if not from the time when Christianity was originally promulgated. The Sabbatarians, however, think these reasons unsatisfactory; and assert that the Scripture doth nowhere require the observation of any other day of the week for the Sabbath but the seventh day only. There are two congregations of this sect in London, and it is said they are numerous in America.
MYSTICS.
The Mystics are those who profess a pure and sublime devotion, with a disinterested love of God, free from all selfish considerations. Passive contemplation is the state of perfection to which they aspire. Mysticism is not confined to any particular profession of Christianity, but is to be understood as generally applied to those who dwell upon the inward operations of the mind, (such as the Quakers, &c.,) laying little or no stress on the outward ceremonies of religion.
