Difference in the Belief of
Partialists and Universalists

By E. E. Guild, "The Universalist's Book of Reference" (Boston, 1859) 376-77.

The words "Universalism" and "Universalist" in this article refer to "Christian Universalism" and "Christian Universalist" and not to "pluralist Universalism" or "pluralist Universalist." (See the article What is Christian Universalism? for the differences in these terms.)

All the various denominations of professing Christians may be classed under three heads: Calvinists, Arminians, and Universalists. A chart of the agreement and the difference in the religious opinions of these three classes on the most important doctrines of Christianity may be delineated as follows: --
CalvinismArminianismUniversalism
There is one God. There is one God. There is one God.
There is one Mediator between God and men, and that Mediator is the very and eternal God himself. There is one Mediator between God and men, and that Mediator is the very and eternal God himself. There is one Mediator between God and men, and that Mediator is "the Man Christ Jesus."
The one Mediator gave himself a ransom for a part only of mankind. The one Mediator gave himself a ransom for all. The one Mediator gave himself a ransom for all.
All those for whom the Mediator died will be saved. A part only of those for whom the Mediator died will be saved. All those for whom the Mediator died will be saved.
God's purposes in the creation of the human race embraced the final holiness and happiness of a part, and the endless misery of the rest. God's purposes in the creation of the human race embraced the final holiness and happiness of all mankind. God's purposes in the creation of the human race embraced the final holiness and happiness of all mankind.
God's purpose in reference to the final destiny of his creatures cannot be defeated. God's purpose in reference to the final destiny of a part of his creatures will be defeated. God's purpose in reference to the final destiny of his creatures cannot be defeated.
God has the power to make all his creatures holy and happy. God has not the power to make all his creatures holy and happy. God has the power to make all his creatures holy and happy.
God wills the salvation of a part of his creatures, and the damnation of the rest. God wills the salvation of all his creatures. God wills the salvation of all his creatures.
God's will in reference to the ultimate destiny of his creatures will be done. God's will in reference to the ultimate destiny of a part of his creatures will not be done. God's will in reference to the ultimate destiny of his creatures will be done.
God can save all mankind, but will not. God would save all mankind, but cannot. God can save all mankind, and will.
The object of Christ's mission to our world was to save a part only of mankind from endless misery. The object of Christ's mission to our world was to save all mankind from endless misery. The object of Christ's mission to our world was to save all mankind from their sins.
Christ will succeed in accomplishing the object of his mission. Christ will succeed in accomplishing a part only of the object of his mission. Christ will succeed in accomplishing the object of his mission.
All for whom Christ died will be saved. Some for whom Christ died will not be saved. All for whom Christ died will be saved.
A glorious and happy destiny awaits a portion of the human race, and a most inglorious, unhappy and miserable destiny awaits the rest. A glorious and happy destiny awaits a portion of the human race, and a most inglorious, unhappy and miserable destiny awaits the rest. A glorious and happy destiny awaits every individual of the entire human race.
The Conclusion
Universalism is altogether preferable to Calvinism. Universalism is altogether preferable to Arminianism. Universalism is infinitely preferable to either Calvinism or Arminianism.

Arminianism is supposed by thousands to be a much more consistent and reasonable system of theology than Calvinism. But who cannot see that both systems result in precisely the same thing? Arminianism damns as many as Calvinism, and the Arminian's hell is equally as horrible as the Calvinist's. What boots it then, reader, whether you go to an endless hell by the irreversible decree of the Almighty, or by the use of an agency which God gave you, and which he knew you would use to your own destruction? In other words, what difference will it make with you whether you are lost, and lost forever, because God cannot save you, or because he will not? The truth is, that between Calvinism and Arminianism there is not one cent to choose, but between either of these systems and that of Universalism the difference is infinite. An no man can fail to see that Universalism is infinitely the best.