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Sir , Islington , Aug . 7 , 1823 . IN reading the Rev . Mr . Irving ' s impressive volnme , entitled , Orations for the Oracles of God , and an Argument for the Judgment to come , I find that he descants very copiously upon the eternity of hell-torments . It is indeed , a favourite topic , pervading the work from its commencement to
its conclusion . He , however , advances nothing more than the usual arguments , and deems the contrary belief , that of universal restoration , pregnant with mischievous consequences . He no doubt writes under the full conviction of the truth of his sentiments .
and of-course discharges this part of his ministry with fidelity . It is pleasing notwithstanding , to meet with his memorable conclusion , which shall be transcribed .
" Now when reason taketh this picture under her deliberation , I know not what confusion she feels , but surely sh ^ is distressed . She thinks it pitiful that a brief , transient space of time like life , should decide and determine these terrible conclusions
of eternity . She could wish a taste of it , and then a chance of escaping from it . And oh 1 it would please her well could she indulge the fond hope of seeing all yet recovered and restored to happy seats . Hell cheated , the Devil himself converted , and the universal world bound in chains
of love and blessedness ! It seemeth more than terrible to think of wretches swimming and sweltering for ever in the deep abyss , preyed upon by outward mischiefs and distracted by inward griefs , tortured , tormented , maddened for evermore ! There is a seeming cruelty in this quietus of
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torment , in this ocean of sorrow and suffering , which shocks the faculties of reason , and distresses the powers of belief . " ( Pp . 393 , 394 . ) As the Christian orator is thus
visited with the compunctious feelings of nature , he may be led to exercise his reason , and review the articles of his belief . And it is to be hoped that a critical and attentive perusal of the New Testament , will lead him to form a creed more accordant with the
benevolent character of the Supreme Being , and more auspicious to the best interests of mankind . He deems what he is pleased to denominate the Oracles of God , the fair subject of examination , intelligible to the
common reader , and calculated to lead men into a knowledge of all truth . The Bible is not a dead letter , mysterious and unintelligible , needing another revelation from God to make it plain and useful . The preacher thus expresses himself forcibly on the
sub-J " — O ! I hate such ignorant prating , because it taketh the higk airs of Orthodoxy , and would blast me as an heretical liar if I go to teach the people that the word of God is a well-spring
of life , unto which they have but to stoop their lips in order to taste its sweet and refreshing waters and be nourished unto life eternal . But these high airs and pitiful pelting words
are very trifling to me , if I could but persuade men to dismiss all this cant about the mysteriousnessand profound darkness of the word of God , and sift
their own inward selves to find out what lethargy of conception or blind of prejudice , what unwillingness oi mind or full possession of worldly engagements , hath hitherto hindered them from drinking life unto their souls from the fountain of living
waters . But if I g o about to persuade my brethren against the truth of experience , against the very sense and meaning of revelation , against iny own conviction , that they may read till their eye grows dim with age
without apprehending one word , unless it should please God by methods unrevealed to conjure intelligence into the hieroglyphic page ; what do I hut interpose another gulf between man and his Maker , dash the full cup or spiritual sweets from his lips , ana
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4 S 8 Dr . Evans on Passages in Irving ' Orations .
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uneasiness , or restless craving of a sick person . Orest . 232 . And that the sense attached to Kccrocys , approach , Orestes , 148 , ( it should be 149 , ) is an oversight . If this were the meaning , the following
word 7 rpo < ri& * is mere tautology . I think the sense is speak lota : lower your voice : epeovqv understood . Under SiacpQaLpoj , to the senses depraved or perverted , disordered in mind seems wanting in addition . Orest . 297 . GELLIUS .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1823, page 458, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1787/page/26/
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