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smre ^; I trust , therefore , I shall be pardoned for giving publicity to the gratitude he was ever
anxions to manifest to those who rendered Kim any service . Your insertion of this letter in your next number will oblige Yours , &c . MICHAEL MAURICE .
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On Future Punishment . Sir , A , question of high importance has long u been agitated by Christians , particularly by that class who are I believe the general reaiders of the Repository . It is of no less importance than the future destiny of the human dead . And as I ftai ' very erroneous arid um > crintural notions are
entertained by the great bulk of Chnstiaiis , and doubt and perplexity by some others , if you will allow me to occiipy a page or two of your valuable Miscellany , I will examine the subject ; arid endeavour to
shew wfeat appears to me the true meaning of the scriptures . - Bet it will probably be discussed to most advantage by laying down one or two preliminary observations . First , That as it is a doctrine of revelation contained in
the Christian scriptures alone , we must refer to them , and them only , for all authority in support of any opinion we undertake to defend . Second , Although it is readily allowed , that all figurative texts
may be fairly interpreted in doubtful cases by such as are acknowledged to be plain , it cannot be admitt # < l > that texts not figurative fth&U he mad so , and referred for xplawfcfic&v ffot ^ to ^ plaiiv texts of scfijptcire , but to inferences and
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deductions said to 1 | e drawn froia thence . On the subject of * the future
destiny of man , there is one point , and one only , on which all seem willing to a ^ ree ^ vvtaich is that the reward of the righteous will be in > mortality and everlasting happu ness : here we are all satisfied
with the plain language of scrip , ture , and it is only when applied to punishment that some are so anxious to . explain it away as figurative . On the punishment of the wicked there seem , to prevail three -opinion ? : ' the 1 st , that the wicked will be punished wilh end . lcbs torments . ^ 4 he 2 nd , that their puhishrhent will be only temporary and remedial , and that finally they will be restored to
endless happiness ^ i The 3 rd , that the wicktd wilt be utterly clestroyed by the second death , and that therefore , their pqni&hinent will be eyerlastins . * '
Let us now enquire into ^ he evidence adduced in support , pi these several opinions ; for so nn }<; b kdo they differ frqra each othe ^ r , that but one of them can be truef If the voice of majorities is to determine the question , the first must be the true opinion ; but
here let it be observed , that neither numbers nor antiquity can avail any ' thing , ' unless it can be proved to be the plain and positive declaration of the Christian
Scriptures ; for a doctrine so shocking in itself , and so blasphemous against the divine character ^ nd perfectiotfs , should not be admitted on . any evidenceshqf *
• it ? * Whenever the , wor ^ s Qvetla& and eternal are u ^ ed ^ p jV $ hi « le ^ er , tt « y are intended to mean endless , , '
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640 On Future PunisJttnent .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1813, page 640, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2433/page/16/
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