DELIVERED AT THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF UNIVERSALISTS, AT ITS ANNUAL SESSION IN CONCORD, N. H. ON THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH SEPTEMBER 1832. PORTLAND: SEP 13 1887 LIBRARY Elon Francie ADVERTISEMENT. Ir has been suggested by several Ministerial Brethren and others, that the publication of these discourses, delivered at the late Universalist Convention, in a small neat volume, would be very acceptable to the Universalist public; and might, among other laudable efforts, aid in extending a knowledge of gospel truth, as understood and inculcated in this denomination of Christians. A copy of the several sermons having been obtained, they are now, in the hope of their extensive usefulness, respectfully presented to the public, by its SERMON 1. BY SYLVANUS COBB. DEUTERONOMY XXX: 15. See, I have set before theo this day life and good, and death and evil. THE love of happiness is common to all men, and is inseparable from a conscious existence. Man's very existence as a conscious and intellectual being, must be destroyed, in order to destroy his love of happiness. While he has power to exert himself, his exertions will be aimed, in general, at the promotion of his enjoyment. I know that some learned divines denominate this self-love, and these exertions for the happiness of one's self, altogether vile and wicked. They say that men cannot conduct acceptably in the sight of God, but when they act upon disinterested principles, having no regard to self. However men may theorize on such a principle, it cannot be reduced to practice. For, I repeat it, a love of happiness is inseparable from human existence. And it is on this principle in the constitution of human nature, that the scriptures |