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    tion and wrath , tribulation and anguish , upon every soul of man who doeth evil " but modern

    divines have discovered , that by means of a panacea , administered within a few days or hours before death , the most depraved of men may throw aside all fears of a

    future judgment , and leave the world in perfect confidence of a blessed change ; to the great comfort and edification of all who witness his happy end , as it assures them that

    the work of repentance requires little time or labour , and consequently that they need not be in haste to give up their darling sins , in order to set about it .

    The commonly received notion , that there are two places appointed for the final destination of the ; whole human race , one of exquisite and never-ending felicity , and the other of eternally-enduring torments , is still encouraged by

    many who cannot be supposed themselves literally to believe a doctrine so contrary to all our ideas of retributive justice . Which of us , on leaving this wbrld ^ can hope , without a miracle , to be

    immediately fitted for the first , and what finite offender can deserve the last ; indeed , to suppose either of these extremes , would be to deny that any man will be deait with according to his works- The animating assurances which we have

    of the infinite love and goodness of our heavenly Father , may lead us to indulge the most sublime and glorious hopes of what may be at * tained by his true worshippers , in the course of that eternity which the resurrection will open to their view : but no man can look to his

    Maker , even as &Ju $ t being , who believes him capable of consigning a ^ part of his creatures , hk erring

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    children , to exquisite and neverending torments . If we for a moment suppose this to be the mind and intention of God how different , how opposite is it to that of his beloved Son , who , in his last

    agonies , besought forgiveness for his cruel murderers ; and knowing " what was in man , " urged their ignorance in extenuation of their crimes * Supposing this , how different , how opposite are they ,

    whom the scriptures pronounce to be one ! But though it appears to me little less than blasphemy thus to deny that God is just and merciful , I am fully persuaded that he will give to every one according to his works , " and ** by no

    means let the wicked go unpunished /' Recent circumstances have forcibly led me into these considerations . On visiting a poor neighbour , who had two daughters living in a discreditable manner in her

    house , and urging the necessity of a change in their conduct , if they hoped for salvation , I was seriously answered by the mother , that ci God loved sinners , and could save the greatest as easily as the least , and perhaps would save them sooner than those who

    thought themselves righteous / ' I was both shocked and astonished , and asked her , if God was thus favourable to the wicked , why the

    rich man in the parable was described to be , after death , in a place of torment ? She instantly replied , 46 Because he did not call upon the Lord to save him /* How ,

    according to the present style of teaching and preaching , are such sentiments and opinions to be eradicated ? And while thfcy p revail , how is tihe religion of Cnrist to " take away the Bins of the world i "

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    304 On &eatk-bed Ucpehtm . ee *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1813, page 304, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2428/page/20/