1832-12-01-Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate-Benevolence of Dr Elys Prayers

Benevolence of Dr. Ely's Prayers

Source: Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate, v3 n48, 1 December 1832, pg. 382.

Benevolence of Dr. Ely's Prayers

Dr. Ely has lately taken a jaunt to Huntingdon and other places in the interior of Pennsylvania, to attend protracted meetings and see that all his subalterns are faithful and true. He passed through and stopped at Reading on his way. In a late number of the "Philadelphian" he gives us a sketch of his journey, and among other things describes a Mormon prophet now imposing on the ignorant and credulous part of the Reading community. He says this impostor pretends to predict future events, and declares that "when he can find two other persons as perfect as himself, he intends to raise the dead." After some further remarks on the absurdity and wickedness of his pretensions, the Doctor very charitably adds, "The Mormon prophet of Reading will have his day, and then will come his night. God grant that it may be the blackness of darkness forever!"

What a prayer this, for a Christian minister to offer up to the Most High! The benevolence of the good Doctor's heart would not allow hm to pray for the enlightening, the conversion and the reformation of his poor fanatical impostor. No! He prays that he may be covered with "the blackness of darkness forever," by which, no doubt, the Doctor (with nearly all Orthodox divines) understands and means unending misery in hell This, however, is perfectly consistent with the principles of Calvinism. Dr. Ely, doubtless, believes that the misery of the damned in hell will add greatly to the glory of God and the happiness of the saints in heaven! and that he shall hereafter contemplate on the unspeakable and endless torments of this poor miserable Mormon prophet with infinite pleasure! In this the Doctor is perfectly consistent, and his prayer accords well with his faith. But how can he explain this prayer and this part of his theory consistently with his professed benevolence and love of souls, and his great solicitude to keep up and carry on protracted meetings for the conversion and salvation of sinners, we know not. For if the endless damnation of sinners adds to the glory of God and the happiness of the saints, why not try to get as many into hell as possible? The more of a good thing the better: and we should think the more souls the Doctor could manage to get into hell the greater would be his happiness in heaven, according to his theory. Nor is it any easier reconciling his theory and prayer for the Mormon prophet's damnation, with the apostolic exhortation and sentiment, than with the Doctor's great anxiety for the conversion and salvation of sinners. For St. Paul exhorts that prayers, supplications and giving of thanks be made for ALL MEN—"for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Now Paul would have prayed for the enlightening and salvation of this deluded and benighted Mormonite; but Dr. Ely prays that "the blackness of darkness forever" may be his portion. What must be the feelings of that heart which can thus pray, and deliberately pen for publication such petitions to the Supreme?

S.