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    to be proved ; and reasons , from the supposed certainty of everlasting pu ^ nishment , C to many , " as he allows , ** great difficulty , as it is certain from our natural notion erf the attributes of God , that no man shall be punished beyond his deserts , " ) ta the

    justice of the Deity : whereas , all legitimate reasoning is never from doubtful points to known and established truths , but always proceeds from known and established truths , to uncertain and doubtful points . We must acquire and frame the best ideas we can of the

    justice of God , and thence deduce and regulate our ideas of the nature of future punishment . Again : because " we know little of the circumstances , or various uses of future punishment , which we are sure will be well and wisely ordered ; " doth it follow , that we must be equally persuaded of its eternal continuance ? Or ,

    that a certain truth , and , at least , a doubtful proposition , rest upon the same ground ? Because neither wise Heathens or Christians know , nor ever pretended iC to determine , the period of the sufferings of the hitherto

    incorrigible ; " that , therefore , they will have no period at all ? Or , because glori * tied saints and rational beings in future worlds , may be justly supposed to contemplate the wicked , in a state of adequate and limited punishment , without

    painful emotions 5 that * they may be supposed also , to contemplate them in an eternal priswi , and bound in the chains of everlasting darkness and despair , with the same degree of tranquillity ?

    The mildest idea we can justly frame of future punishment , is that of a state in which the suffering exceeds the emjoyment : now , every negation implies something positive ; thus , the negation of health , implies indisposition or sickness ; of vice , virtue ; of happiness ,

    suffering or misery ; and vice versa . The eternal negation of happiness must , therefore , even allowing for different degrees , be eternal unhappiness or mi- * eery . " Place me in Arabia / ' says a great writer , < c separate from my friends , connexions and stated employ **

    ments , and I shall be miserable V * How much more may this sentiment be applied to the moral delinquent in that awful state of separation , prepared indeed , not indeed by the vengeance , but bv the vindictive justice of the

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    Almighty , where , in the figurative language of Scripture , " their worm dieth not , aad the fire is not quenched "! However lenient theiir immediate su& firings , the sense and forebodings of their never-ending duration , must

    gradually produce the most acute and tormenting impressieaari * Now , to think that the smallest , offenders , who ( fey the mouth of truth itself ) are to be beaten . only " with few stripes , " shall nevertheless continue m this state

    for ever ; is to suppose that the Almighty Father of the universe , " who hateth nothing which he hath made , " will finally disinherit those of his rational offspring " , for comparatively slight offences , who might , probably ,

    upon further trial , become faithful and obedient children ; b » t , how can we believe this ? Certainly , whatever we may think of the doctrine of AthanasiuSy of unconditional decrees , or of Tranmb&tunMation—auricular

    confession , a visible , infallible head , pilgrimages , monkery and subordinate image worship , are nothing to it . Perhaps it may be thought that we shall succeed better , if wei reverse the picture .

    Let us then suppose a character , compounded of every vice , in its highest possible aggravation : of the most brutal voluptuousness anil sensuality , the most rapacious covetousness , the most intolerant pride and ambition , the most furious anger , the most savage

    cruelty , the most implacable revenge , the foulest envy and maMgnity , the most daring aad blasphemous impiety . Suppose him , also , to be possessed of immense power , enabling him to execute his designs and purposes to a prodigious extent : in a word , a tyrant

    and oppressor of the first class ; combining in his own person all the worst qualities of human nature , and utterly destitute of every thing excellent and praise-wouth y y add to aH this uninterrupted healtja and prosperity , and the years of an antediluvian : that is ,

    suppose—H&n utter impossibility , an absolute chimera of the imagination— a being that ne ^ er hath existed , does not now exist , nor ever will exdjst , at least in the present worid . Were it possible that such a ori £ could exist , it would be onl y foir a short season y be would either fall by his awn woes , by the j [ ust resistance of kris subjects , by the jealousy of surroundings gwetfBwaeftts 01

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    338 Modern " Orthodox" Notion of Future Punishment *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1820, page 338, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2489/page/14/