Comfort, S. End of the Argument for Free Believing: A Review of Rev. Mr. Austin's Nineteen Arguments, in a Debate with Rev. Mr. Holmes, held in December and January, 1847-8. Auburn: Wm. J. Moses, 1853. First Edition. [10420]
Signed copy, "with the respects of S. Comfort" on the ffep. Faded blindstamped publisher's cloth, 116 1/2 x 4 3/8 inches, 200 pp., light foxing, tight. End papers a bit soiled. Good. Hardcover.
This is a review of A Debate on the Doctrines of Atonement, Universal Salvation, and Endless Punishment: Held in Genoa, N. Y., from Dec. 28, 1847, to Jan. 4, 1848, between the Rev. Messrs. Holmes & Austin. Auburn: Alden & Markham, 1848. Comfort tackles the arguments made by the Universalist minister Rev. John Mather Austin (1805-1880) of Auburn, N.Y. He states that his opponent, Rev. David Holmes (1810-1873), was not effective in the debate.
Comfort states that the side presenting a novel doctrine - universalism - bore the burden of proof, and that Holmes should have dealt with Austin's proofs rather than offering proofs of the opposite position. "...had Mr. H. confined himself, as he should have done, to the work of analyzing, weighing and sifting the arguments adduced, instead of gratuitously marshaling his own fifteen 'negative' arguments - no matter how cogent - and fortifying his position, of which he should have held the quiet possession, till driven from it by the argumentative ordnance of his polemical assailant - had he done this, his logical generalship at least, if not his courage, would have appeared to better advantage." Comfort herein analyzes, weighs and sifts, as he thought should have been done in the debate
Silas Gildersleeve Comfort, D.D. (1803-1868), b. Deer Park, NY, a Methodist class leader, itinerant, author, and pastor. His gravestone in Endicott, NY says that he was for 48 years a Methodist Episcopal minister. He was named for his maternal grandfather, Silas Gildersleeve (1748-1826) a wagoner in the American Revolution. “He was converted at the age of nine, became a class-leader at eighteen, a travelling minister at twenty, and in 1827 entered the Genesee Conference. Then began in earnest his student life, studying on horseback, by torchlight, amid the confusion of families, always rising at four o’clock. Thus the dead languages, science, general literature, Biblical criticism, and systematic theology were thoroughly explored by him. During his forty-five years in the ministry he served sixteen years as presiding elder, wrote several valuable volumes, and contributed largely to the first periodicals of the church.” – M’Clintock & Strong, Supplement vol. XII, p. 45.
