Therefore the proposition we were to prove in the present article, _that the first Christians did not believe in the doctrine of endless hell_, remains peremptorily established. _Objection._--Since the fourth century the Church of Rome obtained the condemnation of the above Christian sects in five general councils. But if the above sects had composed the majority of the body of Christians, the Church of Rome would not have obtained their condemnation. Consequently the above sects did not compose the majority of the body of Christians during the third, the fourth, and the fifth centuries. _Answer._--We deny the minor proposition of this syllogism, which is: But if the above sects had composed the majority of the body of Christians, the Church of Rome would not have obtained their condemnation--and we prove our denegation as follows:-- Supposing that the United States be constituted into an empire--God forbid!--that the emperor would have the control of Church property, would side, say with the Presbyterian Church, or any other, claiming supremacy over the other Christian denominations; and that the emperor would assemble councils conjointly with that Church, would attend and even be vice-president of those councils, would enforce them with civil and military force, and also the execution of their acts condemning another sect arrayed before those councils, without permitting the other sects to vote in those councils, would it follow from this that all the other Christian sects do not compose the body of Christians in the United States? Certainly not.