On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
mean to insinuate that you entertain that opinion . Previous to the promulgation of the Christian religion , so confused and dark were the expectations of a future life in the minds of men , that it may
be fairly and confidently asserted , that there was no satisfactory evidence that man would live again after he was dead , and consequently there could be no evidence of his future destination ; it is from the revelation by Jesus Christ , as contained in the
New Testament , that life and immortality are brought to light , and that there are any declarations about the future destination of mankind : to the Christian Scriptures , then , and to them only , are we to appeal for information on this highly interesting subject .
Had they been totally silent on the future disposal of man , I should have most readily joined with you in drawing a deduction from the character of God , that eternal torments could not he true ; but I apprehend , that though it should Jbje clearly proved that neither universal restoration nor eternal
torments be true , that it is most clearly and distinctly revealed by Jesus and his apostles , what will be the final destination of mankind after deatfe . In our appeal therefore , to the New Testament , I cannot propose a rule that I think ought to be adopted in this kiquiry , better than your own , or ex ~ press it in better language .
" I suppose it will be allowed ( you say ) that the language of Scripture is employed for better purposes than to deceive or mislead } and though when figurative language is used we are to beware of literal interpretations , yet where the language is plain and literal , where the expression is such as to
convey only one ideaf one sentiment which cannot possibly be construed into a metaphor , it is right to understand it agreeably to its common , accepted signification . ' Agreeing to abide by this rule of interpretation we will , if you please , go into a fair but brief examination of the future destination
of mankind , as declared in the New Testament . I may venture to lay it down as an axiom , because 1 believe it is not disputed by Christians , that a t > road distinction is made through the Christian Scriptures , between the 4 ^ itta-
Untitled Article
tion of the righteous and the wicked after death ; that the former tvill o ] t >» tain eternal happiness and immortality , and the latter will be punished : the only doubtful point of dispute is , what will be the punishment of the
wicked . In examining the New Testament , keeping our rule constantly in view , for 1 cannot believe you would wish to depart from it to join those who , to support their hypothesis , boldly declare that the words death—loss of life—utter
perditioneverlasting destruction—are not to be understood in their common acceptation , but haye some other meaning } under such a mode of interpretation , every inquiry into the meaning of the Scriptures becomes so vague and uncertain , that an hQnest , but
judicious searcher after truth , would do well to close a book from which he could obtain nothing but sounds without sense , and words without ideas ; but with yoq , Sir , I can never
believe that the language of Scj-ipture was not intended for a better purpose than to " deceive or mislead" us . I will , therefore , beg your attention to a few plain passages which appear to me decisive on the subject .
The language of St . Paul , through most of his Epistles is , that the wicked will suffer deaths-will perish will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power 5 on the contrary , that the righteous will obtain life everlasting life—immortality : these declarations are not to be found in
only one or even a few detached texts of doubtful interpretation ; it is the burden and plain ^ tenor of his lan > guage through alFhis Epistles , wherejever he has occasion to mention th « subject ; and in the plainest language , if plain words are to be taken in their
common acceptation , in their plain meaning . St . Paul , in his Epistle to the Romans , says , " If ye live after the flesh , you shall die , but if through the spirit ye do mortify the deeds of the bodr
you shall live . Speaking of their being the servants of sin , he says , ** for the end of those things is death , " and goes on , ** for the wages of sin is death , but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord , ' * Through all his other Epistles he de-
Untitled Article
Letter to the Rev . Thomas Madge , on final Restitution . 699
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1818, page 699, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2482/page/35/
-