A few days since, a friend put into our hands a sermon recently preached by an eminent clergyman belonging to the high school of doctrine. We have found in this sermon, quite as much as in the letter of our correspondent, the effects of one-sided theology. For instance, in referring to that magnificent statement of the Baptist in John i. 29, the preacher quotes it thus, "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of _the whole world of God's chosen people_." But there is not a word about "God's chosen people" in the passage. It refers to the great propitiatory work of Christ, in virtue of which every trace of sin shall yet be obliterated from the wide creation of God. We shall only see the full application of that blessed scripture in the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. To confine it to the sin of God's elect can only be viewed as the fruit of theological bias. * * * * * NOTE.--It is deeply interesting to mark the way in which Scripture guards against the repulsive doctrine of reprobation. Look, for example, at Matthew xxv. 34. Here, the King, in addressing those on His right hand, says, "Come, _ye blessed of my Father_, inherit _the kingdom prepared for you_ from the foundation of the world." Contrast with this the address to those on His left hand: "Depart from me ye cursed (He does not say 'of my Father') into everlasting fire, prepared (not for you, but) for the devil and his angels." So also, in Romans ix. In speaking of the "vessels of wrath," it says "fitted to destruction"--fitted not by God surely, but by themselves. On the other hand, when speaking of the "vessels of mercy," it says, "which _He had afore prepared_ unto glory." The grand truth of _election_ is fully established; the repulsive error of _reprobation_, sedulously avoided. A LETTER TO A FRIEND ON ETERNAL PUNISHMENT BELOVED FRIEND, I have been thinking a good deal of late, on the last verse of the third chapter of John. It seems to me to furnish a most powerful answer to two of the leading heresies of this our day, namely, _Universalism_ on the one hand, and _Annihilationism_, on the other: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son, _shall not see life_; but _the wrath of God abideth on him_." The deniers of eternal punishment, as you know, are divided into two classes, differing from each other very materially. The one professes to believe that all will ultimately be restored and brought into everlasting felicity; these are the _Universalists_. The other is of the opinion that all who die out of Christ are annihilated, soul and body--made an end of thoroughly--will perish like the beast.