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
power of * apit $ ? gr tl * e sentence »; war whole or in i > airV&s inay seem fit to his infinite wisdom ^ Surely tWa is a degree of presumption and arrogance scarcely to be expected from those who ar « the most strenuous advocate * for the doctrines of rffcee # tfaee , and of a& unconditionalandjini&hedsalvation 1 But it is not contended here , that the
awards of a future judgment will be remitted hi a single instance , but only that we have abundant reason to be persuaded , that not , in a single instance , they will be infinite and everlasting .
" A being who merits infinite punishment is a being infinitely . culpable , and consequently infinitely wicked , and a being infinite * Thus is the sinner , a mortal man , a being so weak and finite , by this argument transformed
into an infinite being 1 Thus we see the fallacy ot an argument which leads to such absurd and irrational conclusions / ' * To close this part of our subject , the infinity of the Deity includes the exercise of all his attributes ; but
having treated of some of these in a negative point of view , rather pointing out what they do not lead us to expect from them , titan what they do , we shall defer our reflections on thtfse important and positive realities of which they may induce us to entertain
the hope and expectation , m their illustrious harmony and union with the Divine goodness , till we shall have briefly considered the last particular above-mentioned , namely , the suppo sition , that the victim * of future pa *
nishment will continue to sin > as well as to suffer , for ever , and so the one will prove a natural consequence o £ the other * Some pious persons , sensible of ike invalidity of ike common arguments
on this subject , hswe endeavoured te calm the tumult of their minds by reasoning : thtyi with themselves 5—We have every reason to beEeye » that ? t » H « raental iWltiea of the righteous * fat * future state * will be abiuwiatttly unp proved and eakorged , and making eon-^ ° ual proffreee tawarde perfection . — " The soul will proceed from strength to strength ; ba atill adding virtue U > virtue , and knowledge to knowledge ; * Petitpierre .
Untitled Article
sjnne fo ? ever with new a <^ 3 a | cte $ <* f S ^ ry , and brighten t& all eternity ! " * N # ;| b it mot probable that tftete a » y bet ^ analogy We , ask to ? ih&mffexvMR og futuriiy ; tfeia * ttas may b < 3 the he& to enable us to unlock the prison ** daois o ( Hades , and funy to ! Satisfy 119 of the wuitjr of the Divine ? disp « aww **
tions' ? Though we cauoot bfJiiCTe thBt the Deity wffl punkh to all efernky , merely for the sins of time ; yetyif the condemned criminal go on la add f in to sin , and rebellien to rel > ell ^> n j if his vices and evil passions sho ^ d b ^
expanded and multiplied ; if , the more stripes are laid upon him , the greater will prove the aggrtwation of Ma guilt —then , in such a ead % it may be consistent with the moral character of
the Deity , to peraiit him to remain for ever in that miserable state ; perpetual succeeding sin * Will justify per * petttal micceeding pu » i » hmenCs f ated his sufferings are rather t& be regarded as natural consequences ,, than as positive appointments .
These opinions have been espoused by eminent and pious men ; and frequently urged as motives to virtue ^ but we sJbould not hastily : adopt natural ^ moral , or theological systems , m whole or in part , merely because they whole or in part , merely beefera&e they
have the sanction o £ gteat names sum high authorities : eertairtlyy in ariotfber view , such sentimente haVe an aspect tremendously horrible ^ stadrtling : tte by its ovvn deformity , and almost nat ^ ir&lly tending to render tlt ^ human mind diabolical , even in the prospect and contemplation ! ** Imagine such a state
you may , but you ca « ncvar seriously believe it , tior reconcile it t 6 God asm goodness / ' f For ^ whence do wt acquire tbi » dreadful idea of the expansion and increase of tbe depraved rWakies and
peipsHmg of mankind in a future ' state ? -r ^ Beef ^ se the virtues of tte good ^ 4 rW > exp «» d < Hi and inGrteaa ^ d ? TM « i $ a miserasWe argument indeed ! It w &Mpp € feing similar effects from cfontmry OPllftt ^ . Virtue i » progre » sive in Him very nature . Sin is the dise&ef of tbe ami * and ris there isy for the iptiOBt part ^ to bodily dirordcraf a natural ten deww of the animal economy to ybcGfy itself or td ' &ssi&t thd operatfdn of pvoper medifcine ^ aoi 1 $ Jbh ^ re also in _ Jt ^_ Mi * lt > ' It ti I 11 I ' fri n ' jiiw 1 fir I t 11 ifkihiiii Alfthmttt 1 kihri if * Addieoiu f BteBDp NevvtrOn .
Untitled Article
Modern € t Orthodvtf \ N ^ ion of Ftktiere PitnithMene * 48 ft
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1820, page 465, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2491/page/21/
-