TO THE READER: GREETING I offer the following apology to the Public, for the publication of the First Volume of THE LAYMAN'S LEGACY: The Sermons contained in said first volume, and a part of this second volume, were written for the press, previously to December 1838. Proposals for publishing said First Volume, were at that time before the public; and the work, such as it was, in its unpublished state, was, in a certain qualified sense, the property of the public. I also considered said first volume in the light of a pioneer; and a promulgator of truth, in a measurable sense. Having no personal or sinister views or ends to subserve; and considering my pilgrimage on earth as drawing toward its close; and being desir ous to avoid, both in appearance and in reality, whatever could savour of deception; I have concluded that the proper course would be to exhibit things as they were, in the past tense; and things as they are, in the present tense; and let the reader be benefitted, or otherwise, by my candid avowal of the truth, in all simplicity; by receiving, or by rejecting my testimony, as he should be moved thereto by the spirit of charity, or be influenced by the god of this world. I, therefore, have published my Fifty Sermons, in their proper order; and I shall leave them as my LEGACY to my Brethren of the great Human Family. In the first perusal of this book, the Reader is respectfully, and earnestly solicited, to commence it at the beginning, and to read on, each Sermon in its own proper order as arranged; without any reference to, or being influ enced by, an examination of the Table of Contents, or the Index to Subjects. My motive for this request, will, in case of a compliance, be discovered in due time, and properly appreciated. The subjects presented to the reader, especially that of a WORLD'S FUTURE DESTINY, has been that of my most intense study, and laborious research. In the seclusion of my chamber, retired, my mind abstracted from the world around me, and all my powers concentrated on the momentous subjects before us; from early morn till dewy eve ushered in the midnight vigils; month after month, I inquired, researched, examined, compared, and weighed this matter; until, in an imbodied form, I now present my faith, opinions, and views to the reader. The honest, candid, and liberal critic, will aid me; because he will aim for TRUTH. But the hypercritic may snarl-the bigot, who finds the dagon of his orthodoxy prostrate, may whine and execrate-the miscellaneous vengeance of sectarian wrath, may be poured out from the vials of popu lar prejudice; and all combined, will be regarded by me as less than nothing. There is one thing, however, that I shall esteem a matter of conse quence; not to the author, but to the reader of this book: A superficial reader's idiosyncrasy detests the drudgery of thinking. The sincere inquirer for TRUTH, who values truth, and estimates fiction and falsehood correctly, is earnestly requested to read the marginal notes carefully; to compare the whole; instead of prematurely deciding the whole question on the evidence of a part; whether the proof consists of testimony, general or particular facts, or arguments, etc. Read candidly, carefully; patiently investigate; and then judge for yourself. Reader, it is thy future destiny-the endless destiny of thyself; thy relatives and friends; and thy brethren, the great Human Family-that is the subject before thee. HENRY FITZ. NEW YORK, Jan. 1st, 1840. CONTENTS. "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."-MATT. vi. 6. III.-Paul's Doctrine and Argument. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead."-2 Cor. v. 14. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God; for he will abundantly pardon."-ISA. 1v.7. "If a man die, shall he live again ?"-JOB xiv. 14. VI.-The Resurrection of the Dead. "I am the resurrection, and the life."-JOHN xi. 25. VII.-Future Recompense and Punishment. "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, ta- king vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with ever- lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."-2 THESS. i. 7-10. VIII.-The Gospel Paradox, or, Immortality of the Soul. "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believ- "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost."-2 Cor. iv. 3. 336 XII.-The Persuasives of the Gospel. 'Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."- "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient "Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these God shall bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are van- "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."-MATT. xix. 14. XVIII.-The Parabola of the Prophets. "And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people."-ZECH. xi. 10. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also he went and preached unto 418 XX.-The Inheritance of the Wicked. "And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD."-EZEK. Xxii. 16. 434 INDEX TO SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. Arminianism, A measure or balance for, 26, 29, 31, 462 note, 465. The dogma of, contradicted by Paul, 27. Correctly defined, consists of bribery! 29, 30. A call on, 73, 111. Illustrated, 83-84, and impiety shown, ibid, 169, 450, 486. Monstrosity of, exposed, 494, 495. Alarm, Cause of, to sinners, 470. Ages, The seven, considered, 378. Athenians, The ancient, Paul's sermon to, considered, 98, 106. Astronomy the handmaid of Science, etc., 471. Ascension to heaven of the Man Christ Jesus, considered, 138-140. Angels, The fallen, considered, 366, 367 note. Opening of the, explained, 315. Book of Life, considered, 318 note. Book of Nature corroborates the written Book, 372. John the, Morality of, 20. Body, Man's, considered, and Scripturally examined, etc., 121-125, 131. Bondage of corruption, explained, etc., 133-135. Brethren, The phrase, The five, explained, 405–407. Blindness, Judicial, considered, 436, 437. Believers, The rest of, illustrated, etc., 456-460. And unbelievers, Christ's distinction between considered, 492. Clergymen, Orthodox, like their reward in this world! 39. Comets, electricity, etc., opinions and predictions relative thereto, 159. Covenant, God's, in Christ, considered, 483 note, 484, 495. Children a part of God's heritage, and Christ's inheritance, 415-417. Christ, Love of, a criterion of its existence in the believer, 40-45. The Head of every man, 62-64. Personality of, considered, 136-140, 154, 313, 332. The active agent, and not a passive recipient, etc., 138. Faith of, considered, note 189, 201 note. The heir of all things (men) 64 note, 334, 487. Pilate's opinion of, considered, 408. Clock, Simile of a, illustrative of the earthly man, etc., 100, 103. CLARKE, Dr. Adam, Opinions of, and opinions of him, etc., 159 note, 169 Impiety of, 436. note, 281 note, 420, 430 not CAMPBELL, Dr., Honest and honourable concession of, 395 note. Chemical affinity considered, 133, 143, 151. Catholic host, The falsehood of, exposed, 438 442. Crucifixion of Jesus Christ explained, etc., 135, 136. Condemnation, (Karakρipa) illustrated, etc., 157, 189. Christ's coming explained, 214 note, 216 note, 235, 242, 252, 302, 400 note. Paul's, exhibited in contrast with Calvin's, 40-50. Dreams, Opinions on the subject of, 176. A remarkable one of a German physician 177. DECREE of God considered, and the decree of orthodoxy, 481-484, 488. A first and a second, in relation with a first and second resurrec- Evil, Natural, or physical, God's design in permitting 65, 66. Pretended, manner of, etc., 53, 339. Evidence, Greatest possible measure of, considered, 92. Egyptians, The opinion of the, of the soul of man, 96, 104, 111. Education of youth considered, 379-382. Everlasting, Illustration of the term, note 386, 243. FATHER, Relation of, considered 33, 34, 35-37. Futurity, Ancient and modern Pagan's opinions of, how, and where derived Job's opinion of, 108-110. 94, 96, 103-106. Facts exhibited, showing the whole subject of origin of men's opinions, Females, Error in education of, considered, 381. One, and only ONE true, 178. Fables, The teachers of, considered, 465, 466. FIRE, the Refiner's, illustrations of, 222-228. Foundation, God's Son Jesus the only sure, 446-449. 91-93, 111. Greek criticisms, 18, 19, 46, 55, 64, 73, 99, 114, 116, 118, 123, 138, 185, 186, God, A consuming fire in Christ, 19. In Christ, a reconciling, and not a vindictive being, 48-50. Great gulf, The phrase explained, 404, 405. Ghost, Origin of the term, etc., 23. Teévvns, (Gehenna,) Etymology of the term, 395 note. Bungling attempt to foist the Jews', into the Pagan hell, 396 note, 409 note. NOT the location of the Rich Man in the parable!!! 409. |