meritorious female. Fully persuaded, that I could easily convince her of her errors, I entertained no doubt respecting the result of my undertaking. The young lady received us with much kindness and condescension, while, as I glanced my eye upon her fine countenance, beaming with intelligence, mingling pity and contempt grew in my bosom. After the first ceremonies, we sat for some time silent; at length I drew up a heavy sigh, and uttered a pathetic sentiment, relative to the deplorable condition of those, who live, and die in unbelief; and I concluded a violent declamation, by pronouncing, with great earnestness, He, that believeth not, shall be damned.
"And pray, sir," said the young lady, with great sweetness, "Pray, sir, what is the unbeliever damned for not believing?"
What is he damned for not believing? Why, he is damned for not believing.
"But, my dear sir, I asked what was that, which he did not believe, for which he was damned?"
Why, for not believing in Jesus Christ, to be sure.
"Do you mean to say, that unbelievers are damned, for not believing there was such a person as Jesus Christ?"
No, I do not; a man may believe there was such a person, and yet be damned.
"What then, sir, must he believe, in order to avoid damnation?"
Why he must believe, that Jesus Christ is a complete Saviour.
"Well, suppose he were to believe, that Jesus Christ was the complete Saviour of others, would this belief save him?"
No, he must believe, that Christ Jesus is his complete Saviour; every individual must believe for himself, that Jesus Christ is his complete Saviour.
"Why, sir, is Jesus Christ the Saviour of any unbelievers?"
No, madam.
"Why, then, should any unbeliever believe, that Jesus Christ is his Saviour, if he be not his Saviour?"
I say, he is not the Saviour of any one, until he believes.
"Then, if Jesus be not the Saviour of the unbeliever, until he believes, the unbeliever is called upon to believe a lie. It appears to me, sir, that Jesus is the complete Saviour of unbelievers; and that unbelievers are called upon to believe the truth; and that, by believing, they are saved, in their own apprehension, saved from all those dreadful fears, which are consequent upon a state of conscious condemnation."
No, madam; you are dreadfully, I trust not fatally, misled. Jesus never was, nor never will be, the Saviour of any unbeliever.
