rely he could
not communicate to you, or any other being, what he did not originally
possess. From what source, then, did you derive so much tenderness and
love? There must, certainly, be some being in the universe in whose
bosom is rooted as much benevolence and love as you feel, or how could
it have been communicated to you from another? Now, where did you get
it? God gave it to me, says the objector. This cannot be, because your
doctrine proves, that you have more love than the God who made you! If
you insist that he has given it to you, has he not in such case, given
you more than he originally possessed? He has. If so, endless misery
may be true; for on this principle he has none left!

The scriptures teach that "God is love"; and all his works speak the
same language--saying, "the Lord is good, and his mercies endure
forever." But how good is he? The doctrine of endless wrath says, he
is not as good as you. You are but a small stream from an infinite
ocean of love; and yet this little stream is greater than the ocean
from which it issues, and rises far above its fountain head! Can this
be true? Impossible. O, do you not perceive how your own feelings,
which you daily experience, contradict your creed! You feel, desire,
and pray for the salvation of all men, and if you had the power, all
your feelings, prayers and desires would be carried into execution.
And yet your doctrine denies, that God, the fountain, in which all
your affections originate and live, will do it;--and at the same time
you say, that you have no love only what he gave you! What
inconsistencies, contradictions and blindness are here! Man, a small
drop, from the benevolent fountain God, is willing to do, what the
source from whence he came is unwilling to do! Then a drop of love, in
the human bosom, is more tender and benevolent than an ocean in the
God, who placed it there!

We all know, that the fountain must be more extensive than the stream
it sends forth--yea, larger, than all its running streams put
together. This we know to be correct, as well as we know, that the sun
enlightens the world. Let us then collect these little streams into
one. Bring, if you please, into one body, the love and benevolence of
men and angels, of cherubim and seraphim--stretch your thoughts to
unnumbered worlds, extract the love from countless bosoms, and
condense the whole into one being. How great, lovely, and adorable,
would that creature be! Then, let the ques