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example be cited of a distinction without a difference ?) The miracles of Jesus . His remission of sins . His office of presiding at the final judgment .
The miracles of Christ fa ] l infinitely short of proving his divinity , inasmuch as Moses and other preceding prophets had worked stupendous miracles before him ; and as he
encouraged his apostles by an assurance that they who believed ( or felt an unwavering faith ) in him , should be able to effect greater works than his : which I consider as disposing of this branch of the subject .
The power to forgive sins would have a more formidable aspect , had not Jesus himself supplied an answer to the assumption founded upon it by committing the like , and even an extended power to his apo&lles in the
declaration , f ** If ye remit the sins of any , they are remitted unto them If ye retain them , they are retained /' As their authority to remit sins was that which he conferred upon them , so was his own in like manner
derivative—as he was uniformly anxious to impress upon his hearers—from his Father . The power , therefore , to dispense with the penalty of moral transgressions , though an original attribute of the Deity , is no more a proof in one instance , than in the other- of the
commissioned possessor of it being super-human Presiding in judgment upon the human race is , indeed , an awful and ihagnifioent prerogative ; for , to what feeing but the Creator , to whom alone all are responsible , could such a
jurisdiction be assigned ? Let the words of our Saviour answer that question also , who ( not to dwell in this place on the Father ' s having committed all judgment to the Son % ) animated his apostles with the prospect of "
sitting on twelve thrones , judging the twelve tribes of Israel . " $ Even this high prerogative , therefore , being communicable , must be rejected as a proof of divinity accompanying the possession of it . A question of some curiosity , at * John xjv \ 12 . f John xx . 22 . J John v . 22—27 . § Matt . xix . 28 .
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least , if not of some importance , anses out of this designation of the apostles . The promise was given to the selected twelve , including Judas the traitor . It was , in its terms , positive and
unconditional ; but , are we not to presume a condition implied , * and that the glorious appointment was forfeited by the subsequent treachery of Judas ?
• The question also occurs , whether Matthias , who succeeded Judas in the apostleship , succeeded to the promise : otherwise , one of the thrones would be vacant . I touch these matters but gently , and with a view to the consideration
of them by some of your Correspond dents , better qualified than myself to discuss their bearings . in the way of postscript , ( premising a reference to my exordium , No . VII . ) 1 would observe it to be ' somewhat
remarkable tlint Jesus had intimated the defection of one of the twelve , t just before his ordination of them to the office of judging the tribes . It would be very gratifying to have this singularity explained .
BREVIS . Permit me a few words upon a very different subject . In your last Number [ p . 558 ] Mr . Luckcock has introduced an extract from Mr , Russell ' s ( the resident at Hsdrabad ) letter
announcing , first , that the Fort of Nowah had been taken by assaultj and , secondly , that ihe greatest part of ( lie garrison , upwards of 500 men , had been put to ( he sword . Mr . Russell commences with ** 1 have the
pleasure to inform you ; ' * and Mr . Luck cock ventures to infer that he contemplated the massacre with pleasure ; than which there -never was a more outrageous inference . Had he written , " 1 have the pleasure to inform you that the Fort wa . s taken , and that the garrison was i > ut . to the
sword , " Mr . Luckcock ' s premises might have justified tlir inference ; but the contrary appears . He communicates , with pleasure , t lit" taking of the Fort , with a full slop ; and proceeds , as was his official duty , to state-the afflicting , consequence , which * For ajn implied exception , see I Cor . f Luke xxjL 21—30 *
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& 16 Brief Notes on the Bible . Na VIII .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1819, page 616, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1777/page/28/
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