tion be put to him--from
whence did you derive all those noble qualities of love, mercy and
goodness? He replies, _from my Father God_! Now, we must grant, that
God far exceeds him in goodness, because this noble creature is but an
emanation from him--and the good desires of this creature would be
equal to the good desires of the countless millions of men and angels
in all worlds; and could have no other intentions only those, which
goodness and mercy dictate--and goodness itself can do nothing
contrary to its own nature, any more than ice can burn or fire freeze.
This creature would desire the happiness of all; and yet even he is
but a small rivulet flowing from the crystal fountain of life and
being! This creature would institute a government _perfectly
merciful_; and mercy would, of course, require, that the _disobedient_
should be punished to bring them to _obedience_, and perfect them in
the same state of glorification and love with that being itself.

"God is _love_," and it, therefore, follows that he is _love_ to every
creature he has made, and it is utterly impossible that he can do any
thing contrary to his own nature. "He cannot deny himself." He will,
therefore, do all that love dictates. It is consistent with parental
love to punish for the good of its offspring, but not to punish
unmercifully. But inquires the objector, does God punish for the good
of his creatures? We will let Paul settle this question--Heb. Xii.
Chap. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof _all_
are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons. Furthermore, we have
had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father
of spirits and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after
their own pleasure, but he for our profit that we might be partakers
of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be
joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceably
fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." Now show
us, if you can, any punishment which God inflicts, that contradicts
his paternal goodness. It cannot be done. He has threatened and
inflicted _everlasting punishment_ upon nations, as such, but not a
solitary passage can be produced from Genesis to Revelations, where he
has threatened any individual with _everlasting_ pun