Rev. T. E. Ballard's First Affirmative
on the Second Proposition
SECOND PROPOSITION.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments teach the final
holiness and endless happiness of all mankind.
Affirmative - T. E. Ballard
Negative - John R. Daily
We can do no more than give a general outline of Mr. Ballard's
arguments from notes taken during the debate. He dwelt at some
length on the sovereignty of God, basing an argument on the
purpose, pleasure and power of God. He read as proof Acts 17:22-28,
and argued that all are the offspring of God. He then read Eph.
1:910, and argued that the purpose of God is to finally "gather
together in one all things in Christ," meaning all the human
family. From 1 Tim. 2:4, he argued that God will have all men, the
entire human family, to be saved. As further proof of God's
sovereignty he read Isa. 14:24, Dan. 4:35, Isa. 46:9-14, Prov.
19:31, Job 23:13, Eph. 1:11, and Prov. 19:9. He quoted Prov. 21:1,
"The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of
water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." He made a universal
application of this text and argued that God controls the hearts of
all men causing them to do whatsoever they do, just as the waters
of rivers flow downstream in obedience to the law of gravitation.
He next argued that if any are not finally holy and happy it will
be because God don't want them to be, or because he wants them to
be and can't have it so; and that the former position impeaches his
goodness, while the latter denies his power. He said that when God
created man in His own image he knew the final destiny of all, and
argued that he would not have brought him into existence if he knew
that countless millions would go into endless hell. He quoted Rom.
8:20-21, and argued that it taught that God made man subject to
vanity in the original creation, and thus created in him inherent
evil which caused him to sin, and that the entire creation would be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty
of the children of God.
His next argument was based upon the universal fatherhood of God. He argued that God is the father of the entire human race, that the real man - the spirit - was his immediate offspring and that the body was created as a mere tenement for the spirit in this world. He quoted as proof 1 Cor. 15:22, "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive;" Ezek. 18:4, "Behold all souls are mine;" Eph. 4:6, "One God and Father of all;" Mal. 2:10, "Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?" Matt. 6:9, "Our Father which art in heaven;" and 1 Cor. 8:6, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him." This was one of Mr. Ballard's strongest arguments and we wish we could give it as he delivered it. He insisted that these passages prove that God is the Father of the universal race, and that he would bring all his children through a course of disciplinary training to a state of final holiness and happiness.
His next argument was based upon God's universal government. Texts quoted as proof: I Chron. 29:11-12; Ps. 98:1; Ps. 22:27-28, Ps. 24:1; I Cor. 7:4; Rev. 19:6; and Isa. 45:22-25. These passages prove the realm of God's reign to be universal. Mr. B. dwelt with much fervor on the last, arguing that every knee shall finally bow to God and every tongue shall confess to his glory, and that this means that all shall be brought to love and serve Him. His next argument was that the law of God was a law of love,
that it was fulfilled by Christ and would be fulfilled by all when they are brought to love God. Texts quoted as proof: Deut. 6:4-6; Matt. 22:36-40; Rom. 13:10; Gal. 5:14; Matt. 5:17-18, and Isa. 55:8-13.
His next argument was founded upon the Justice and Mercy of God. Texts quoted as proof: Deut. 32:4; Ps. 89:14; Ps. 57:10; Ps. 145:9; Micah 7:18; Ps. 136: Eph. 2:4; Rom. 11:32; 2 Tim. 2:13; Luke 6:35-36. Mr. Ballard showed great power in delivering this speech which occupied one hour.
Copyright c. 2003. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
