Nay, nothing so much distinguished the spiritual truth of Judaism and Christianity from abominable heathenism, as this very discernment of God's purity, justice, mercy, truth, goodness; while the Pagan worshipped mere power, and had no discernment of moral excellence; but laid down the principle, that cruelty, impurity, or caprice in a God was to be treated reverentially, and called by some more decorous name.

Hence, I said, it was undermining the very foundation of Christianity itself, to require belief of the validity of Rom.ix.

14-24, as my friend understood it.

I acknowledged the difficulty of the passage, and of the whole argument.

I was not prepared with an interpretation; but I revered St.Paul too much, to believe it possible that he could mean anything so obviously heathenish, as that first-sight meaning .-- My friend looked grave and anxious; but I did not suspect how deeply I had shocked him, until many weeks after.
At this very time, moreover, ground was broken in my mind on a new subject, by opening in a gentleman's library a presentation-copy of a Unitarian treatise against the doctrine of Eternal Punishment.