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    $ * R , CHichester , Jan . 3 , ftttT . WBUR Correspondent R . JL . ( XI . ¦ ? Jt 700 ) has made it necessary for me to occupy ( with your permission ) a small space in the Repository with a defence of my interpretation of the passages adduced in the lecture at Worship Street , on Nov . 28 th , to prove that the final happiness of all men is a

    fact predicted in Scripture , If I interpret the signature aright , this is not the first tinker that I have had to thank my friendly opponent for his favourable opinion and useful suggestions . His remarks and my sermon have however much the same fate , for I am not more convinced by the one than he was by the other . Our debate lies within a

    very narrow compass . We agree in expecting ultimate universal felicity , and only differ as to the mode in which it is announced in Scripture . He believes it as an inferential doctrine , " while to * me it seems to be promised explicitly . His remarks furnish one presumptive argument in my favour . If the doctrine in question be " a most rational conclusion from the known

    character of the Deity , from the observed tendencies of Providence , and from many very plain declarations of Scripture , * it is highly probable that jomewte or other we shall ffnd it

    expressly taught . I know of no tenet which possesses such claims to the rank i&ia Christian doctrine , and yet remains unrecognized and unsanctioned by the direct assertion of Scripture . It would be strange indeed that on so important a s&tvjfect reason should speak plainly $ md revelation be profoundly silent . R . L . has dismissed Matt . xxv . 46 ,

    f&ther too hastily . On the term renfleffed everJ&sting , we have no dispute : bat he trHould have shewn that the ftotfft # Ny * em fterfespokeft of is indefinite , * fi # rftay Bgngftfltef corrective ' or

    viu-* &ive . ^ impson ' s Essays ( Vol . I . p . 56 ) may perhaps con vi rice him that koXc " ^ cng ttiearis not punishment in gei ^ eral / but bihrfffiiive ' pnnishtrierit or chastisemen t ^ b \ a * ff sd ^ in what does asserting that ffiK ^ icfHff * shall e ; o into correction ,

    inmctlcl Vt ^ iifT # foose plans never fail , ^ pP ^ r 16 rri assclhfrtg that they shall be TOrrec £ e& ? The prediction of a refdrmirig ^ roce " ss must be equivalent to % prediction of its happy result , unless © rnftipmbfree can be barTled . On Rom . viii . ] g—23 , it does not ** suffice to say that the world itself may

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    be delivered- fronr th «* bondage < rffcbr ^ ruption , being universally blteflsed ' witri the liberty of God ' s children , during a long period of paradisaieM haprJtnefes , in which the wicked who are * $ ted shall net be partakers . " The */ w < mM , ** in ver . 20 and 23 " , obviously ineamst f \ it

    mankind in all ages ; in ver . 1 ^ 9 cannot possibly mean exclusively thdse who shall be living during the miitennium , or be raised for its enjoyment : why then should it receive in vef \ 21 thh limited and strange interpretation ^ The term occurs four times in as many verses : twice it must mean manicind universally . The writer seems to * be

    speaking of the same thing throughout ; and nothing but the absolute absufcdfty or evident falsehood of the posftt@n should prevent our being satisfied ifcfth this plain declaration , that all ' * m ^ de subject to vanity" shall at length possess ' * the glorious freedom of the

    children of God . ' * R . L . agrees wWh me in understanding this last phi ^ is ^ to mean a state of purity and happiness . It is not " quite a gratuitous assumption that the end in 1 Cot . xv . £ 4 , ^ signifies something beyond the resurre ^ ina and the judgment . * Paul intto « fcf # s it as a subsequent period- ^— "

    Afterwards ( si-fcc , deindey postea , deHnceps , Schlevs&ilr ) will betheend , " Ajfjid he assigns a reason for its not ittirnediately followrng the judgment , v % z « that Christ must reign Ciil he ha ^ re p ^ it all enemies under his feet , including the second death which awaits the wicked . The moral enemies of Christ

    are death , sin , and misery : Hdw , c < without torture , " can * then being ' * put down , " mean any thing else but the universality of life , holiness , and joy ? While impurity and misery prevail in any part of his creation , how

    can the pure and blessed God be-all IT 5 ' f in all r i Phil . ii . 10 , 11 , i& certainly a ^ declaration of the glory conferred ugon Jesus Christ , in reward of his huruuity and obedience unto death ; " but th ^ e are passages from , which \ ve rurw learn that his reward was something iani ^? e than being made the Judge < jf rija ' p ^

    kind . He was lifted up from the earth that he might draw all men , unto him : he tasted death for every man : he died for all , for the wbolc world . 1 * he condemnation , the sufferings , or even the unwilling homage oT tl ' ic wick ^ . ? , can be no recompense to his t > cnevol ^ fit

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    Mr . Ib&titieply to E . L \ on Wifr ^ rnentjbV ^ V&kfC ^^ s 3 ^

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    VOL . XII . F

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1817, page 33, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2460/page/33/