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Untitled Article
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
DR . PRIESTLfeY , AUD THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE , To the Editor of the Monthly Repository . Sir , Though my views on some important points of doctrine , materially differ from those of Dr * Priestley , I hold that gen ^ tleman in such high estimation ^ from what I personally knew
of him , as well as from many of his writings , that I am always hurt when \ see or hear any reflections thrown out to the disparagement of his character . I lately cast my eye upon a passage of this kind in a periodical work * , which ( as it has a very extensive circulation , ) may contribute to strengthen a groundless prejudice against a worthy man in the minds of multitudes . The paper is entitled " Hope in death to be derived from the gospel only ! " The writer quotes Mr . Joseph Priestley ' s let * ter containing an account of his father ' s death * in which he relates that the Dr . recommended to him a pamphlet written by a
Mr . Simpson , On the Duration of Future JPiinisfiment ; saying , " It will be a satisfaction to you to read that pamphlet . It contains my sentiments ^ and a beliel in them will be a support to you in the most trying circumstances , as it has been to me . We shall all frieet finally : we only require different degrees of discipline Suited to our different tempers , to prepare us for final happiness . "
From hence this writer infers—that Dr . Priestley expected that both he and his son would go to hell ; and that the only hope he had of their meeting in heaven , arose from a persuasion that the sufferings of the infernal state would be of short duration * From this view of the Dr ' s . state of mind , the writer argues the evil of his system , and the superior value of his own , as affording nobler consolation in a dying hour .
Now , Sir ^ I strongly suspect sonic gross misrepresentation of Dr . Priestley ' s language or meaning . I am satisfied that he not only considered " the gospel as the only ground of hope" beyond the grave ^ but that he entertained such a persuasion of his own future happiness at the general resurrection , as carried him above the fear of death , and of any temporary punishment previous to that grand period , I must confess , however , that the manner in which the Dr * s . conversation in his last hours is
stated , is such as would not give a person , who is prejudiced against his sentiments , the most favourable idea of them , or of the state of his mind in the view of his dissolution . Not being * possessed of Mr . Simpson's pamphlet , nor acquainted with the * Evangelical Magazine for March , p . io 8 .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1806, page 132, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1722/page/20/
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