Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation

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Twenty-Four Short Sermons On
The Doctrine Of Universal
Salvation

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Doctrine
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Title: Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal
Salvation
Author: John Bovee Dods
Release Date: November 21, 2005 [EBook #17122]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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TWENTY-FOUR SHORT SERMONS ***

Produced by Sperry J. Russ

TWENTY-FOUR SHORT SERMONS ON THE DOCTRINE OF
UNIVERSAL SALVATION
By John Bovee Dods Pastor of the First Universalist Society, in
Taunton, Massachusetts.
Boston: Printed By G. W. Bazin....Trumpet Office 1832.
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SERMON I
"What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may
see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile;
depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm
xxxiv:12-14.
Self-preservation and the desire of protracting the momentary span of
life is the first principle of our nature, or is at least so intimately
interwoven with our constitution as to appear inherent. So powerful is
this desire, that in defiance of pain and misery, it seldom quits us to the
last moments of our existence. To endeavor to lengthen out our lives is
not only desirable, but is a duty enjoined upon us in the scriptures, and
is most beautifully and forcibly expressed in our text.
We might here introduce many observations of a philosophical
character on air and _climate, meat_ and _drink, motion_ and _rest,
sleeping_ and _watching, &c._ and show how sensibly they contribute
to health; and we might furnish many examples of long life, but we
pass these, and proceed to notice the affections of the mind upon which
our text is grounded.
The due regulation of the passions contributes more to health and
longevity than climate, or even the observance of any course of diet.

Our Creator has so constituted our natures, that _duty, health,
happiness_ and longevity are inseparably blended in the same cup. To
suppress, and finally subdue all the passions of malice, anger, envy,
jealousy, hatred and revenge, and to exercise (till they become familiar)
all the noble passions of tenderness, compassion, love, hope and joy, is
a duty that heaven solemnly enjoins upon us, and in the performance of
which our years will be multiplied. But we must guard not only our
moral natures from the ravages of the corroding and revengeful
passions, but also our physical natures by observing the strictest rules
of temperance in _eating, drinking, cleanliness_ and exercise.
The book of God commands us to "be temperate in all things." The
observance of this duty gives us a firm constitution, robust health, and
prepares us to participate in all the innocent and rational enjoyments of
life. Here we may witness the goodness of the Divine Being in uniting
our duty, happiness and interest in one; and so firmly are they wedded
together, and so absolutely does each depend upon the other that they
cannot exist alone. They are alike laid in ruins the moment they are
separated. If we trace this idea still further, we witness the same wise
arrangement, and the same incomprehensible skill and goodness of the
Author of our being in the constitution of our mental natures. In these
also he has wholly united our duty, happiness and longevity in one.
Jesus says, "Love your enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and
persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven."
Paul says--"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil
speaking be put away from you, with all malice, and be ye kind one to
another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you."
Here then is our duty plainly pointed out. If we will exercise this spirit
of benignity to our enemies, subdue all our revengeful passions, and
indulge a spirit of love and friendship, of meekness and cheerfulness
towards our friends and neighbors, we shall not only be happy as our
natures can bear, not only revel in all the rational enjoyments this life
can impart, but we shall in the common course of providence live to old
age. All those, with very few exceptions, who have lived to 80, 90, and

100 years, have been remarked for their equanimity. They were mild
spirited, kind, cheerful, and