that he did not feel this; but, when the mental excitement occasioned by the preparation for preaching, or by the writing of an article, or the presence of friends, was over, he sunk again into gloom. He would sit moodily before the fire, his arms folded, his head inclined toward the shoulder, his eyes nearly closed; and occasionally he would heave a sigh, and ejaculate some sentence of sorrow, as if he were in pain or discouragement. This state of things lasted for a year or more. His medical friends (Dr. Ingalls among the number) understood his case very well, and recommended to him only such remedies as would correct the action of the liver and stomach, and thus restore the tone of the mind.

The cause of all this was indigestion; and the cause of the indigestion was the excessive taxation of the mental powers. He had done too much in a short time, at an age when he could not bear what he had been able to bear in former years, and what he might perhaps have borne at sixty. Many of his friends felt a fear that he would not live to old age; but in the course of five or six years all these unfavorable symptoms passed away; and, having gone through what may be called the defile of middle life, he emerged into the bright and broad scene of his quiet old age, with naught but the clear heavens above, and the prospect bounded at the close of life with the gorgeous clouds of evening.

SECTION XXII.

EDITORIAL LABORS SUSPENDED.

We must not close the present chapter without stating that Mr. Ballou's connection with the Universalist

Magazine was suspended at the end of the second volume, June 23, 1821. His reasons for this change he described in the following words:

"As this number concludes the second volume, it likewise terminates the present editor's particular charge of the Universalist Magazine. A hope being entertained that, instead of an individual, a number of able brethren will lend their special aid to this work in future, it is believed that the present editor may, without injury to its usefulness, discontinue a concern and a labor which, together with his other professional duties, have evidently tended to impair his health. In taking this leave, he is induced, by many considerations, to tender his most grateful acknowledgments to patrons and correspondents who have so liberally supported this humble means of instruction, and have largely contributed to render its columns interesting to sincere inquirers after truth."

He had lost no part of his interest in the cause of divine truth. Universalism, to him, was a heavenly doctrine; he loved it no less than he did in his youth. In all the changes of life, its sorrows and disappointments, and amidst all the opposition he was called to bear, his attachment to that doctrine remained unabated. The last paragraph of his valedictory shows this:

"Still feeling an undiminished ardor for the promotion of that heavenly doctrine, so honorable to God, so consoling and edifying to every true believer, to which this paper has heretofore been devoted, the editor's best wishes will still accompany its future numbers to those who shall lend it their patronage and religious attention; nor will he withhold a mite which he may be able to contribute, which may be thought to be serviceable in promoting that truth in the love of which he hopes to increase while he lives, and to the spread of which he has devoted his strength and his years."

CHAPTER XI.

MR. BALLOU'S LIFE DURING THE FIRST SUSPENSION OF HIS EDITORIAL LABORS.

FROM JULY 1821 TO MAY 1822.

SECTION I.- THE FUTURE PUNISHMENT CONTROVERSY.

We have shown, in the preceding chapter, the manner in which Mr. Ballou had managed the Magazine, in regard to the doctrine of future punishment. He had not obtruded the subject upon the public officiously, neither had he been unwilling to express his opinion whenever it had been necessary. He had regarded that matter as not belonging to the essential points of Universalism, and had stated that there was no reason why the different classes of Universalists should not go in harmony; and while he had been editor of the Magazine the gentlemen who afterwards pushed this subject to extremes had not attempted to do so. But, shortly after he resigned his connection with that paper, the contest begun. He was succeeded in the editorial charge by a man who was utterly unfit for the duty; who understood very little of Universalism, or of a wise course in regard to the denomination. In fact, there appeared, in the very

first number that came out under this man's charge, an article which brought on a controversy.* In the next appeared a reply, signed "Stater," who was Rev. Edward Turner, of Charlestown.† Mr. Ballou felt it his duty to reply to "Stater." But "Stater," who was willing to discuss the subject with the correspondent, was not ready to discuss it with Mr. Ballou :

"If I may be permitted, I will say that, in my opinion, that controversy lies between E. A. R. and me only. H. B. and myself are not before the public. I am willing, in a regular way, to meet his remarks; nay, if I know him, we have already written on this subject, even to verbosity. At present, therefore, I shall content myself with replying, in the next number, if my piece shall be found admissible, to E. A. R.'s charges in the last, that my sentiments are erroneous,' and that the doctrine of 'future misery is one of the chief causes of so much controversy on matters of religion, and is very inconsistent with the faith of Universalism.'"‡

There came out, about this time, a work in favor of Universalism, entitled "Final Restoration," by an author [Kenrick] assuming the name of "Philo Bereanus,” in which certain reasons were offered in favor of the doctrine of future punishment, that seemed to Mr. Ballou to be fallacious; and he accordingly replied to them, by the indulgence of the editor of the Magazine, in a brief article. The book referred to caused several articles to appear, some in favor of and some against that doctrine.

*See the article signed "E. A. R.," Universalist Magazine, volume III., p. 1. The true name of this writer was Rae.

Idem, pp. 6, 7.

+ Idem, p. 27. § Idem, pp. 83, 97, also 125, 129, 131, 133, 153, 162.

There was an effort made at this time to establish a belief of the doctrine of future punishment as a test of Christian fellowship; and it was principally on this account that Mr. Ballou took a prominent part in discussing it. He said to "Philo Bereanus: "

"So important do I view the subject of our discussion, that I am entirely opposed to having it rest on human conjecture or imagination; nor am I willing to call anything evidence in this case, but the plain word of God. If you, sir, or any one else, be disposed to believe in opinions, respecting a future state, which you acknowledge are not the subjects of scripture testimony, and, at the same time, do not make those opinions a matter on which you rest Christian fellowship and brotherly communion, I have no disposition to say aught against it. But, if you, or any other person, come forward with any sentiment, which is set up as a term of Christian fellowship, and contend that such a sentiment is an indispensable article of the Christian faith, and that a denial of it is deism, and an inlet to every species of immorality, it is then time to call for the divine authority on which this doctrine is founded. I am satisfied, dear sir, that you do not consider the doctrine of future punishment as above described, and therefore I can very quietly acquiesce in your discontinuing this correspondence."*

Then came up another phase of this controversy, begun by a writer signing himself "Esop." He was replied to by Rev. Paul Dean, in favor of future punishment, over the signature of "Christian Universalist," which was assumed to distinguish believers in future punishment from the other class. To add to the general

*Universalist Magazine, p. 162.

For "Esop's " articles, see pp. 92, 125, 135.

For the articles of "Christian Universalist," see 113, 123, 131 See also an article from H. Ballou, 2nd [B*****], p. 130.