THE   ''CRITICAL   REVIEW:'  357

the  reviewer  begins  his  notice  by  saying :  ''  The  author
of  the  work  before  us  has  with  great  genius  and  learning
refuted  the  strongest  objection  that  ever  was  made  against
the  truth  of  Christianity.  The  doctrine  of  the  eternity  of
hell  torments  is  altogether  irreconcilable  with  the  idea  of  a
benevolent  Creator."  And  he  closes  his  review  with  this
encomium  of  the  author  and  his  work :  ''  The  learning  and
accuracy  with  which  the  author  has  proved  a  point  that
reflects  the  highest  honor  upon  the  Christian  religion
merits  the  applause  of  those  who  are  sincerely  attached
to  it ;  and  we  doubt  not  but  his  performance  will  from  all
such  meet  with  a  favorable  reception."

The  number,  bulk,  comprehensiveness,  and  ability  of
the  books  in  favor  of  Universalism  which  came  under  the
notice  of  these  two  Reviews,  and  the  uniform  attitude  of
the  reviewers  in  their  favor,  are  an  unmistakable  indica-
tion of  the  prevalence  of  belief  in  the  final  salvation  of  all
souls,  and  of  its  acceptance  by  many  intelligent  and  devout
persons.^

Coming  into  the  nineteenth  century,  we  are  embarrassed
by  the  wealth  of  our  material,  and  experience  more  diffi-
culty in  determining  what  to  omit  than  in  selecting  what
to  present.  Rev.  Messrs.  Richard  Wright,  John  Prior  Est-
hn,  LL.D.,  Theophilus  Lindsey,  Thomas  Belsham,  Lant
Carpenter,  LL.D.,  and  Thomas  Cogan,  M.D.,  were  promi-
nent among  the  defenders  of  Universalism  in  the  Unitarian
ranks.  Dr.  Carpenter,  in  reply  to  Dr.  William  Magee's
work  on  the  Atonement,  takes  occasion  to  say :  ''  Most
of  us  (Unitarians)  believe  that  a  period  will  come  to  each
individual  when  punishment  shall  have  done  its  work,  when
the  awful  sufferings  with  which  the  gospel  threatens  the

1  To  Charles  W.  Tonilinson,  D.D.,  who  has  given  much  attention  to  these
Reviews,  and  noted  many  of  their  criticisms,  the  author  is  indebted  for  most
of  what  he  has  said  of  them.
