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as an end , is a malevolent feeing . But Cvil that only cures itself , is simple evil . Here , then , again we perceive , that to support the doctrine of a benevolent causation of ^ vtl , it must be believed that sin will produce , to the
subject of it , a positive additional advantage beyond what could result from an uninterrupted course of virtue . A little reflection will convince any one , that if evil does not produce a kia > h *> r crood . it is mire evil : and to higher goodit is pure evil ; and to
, choose pure evil , we are told , is the property of a malevolent being . But if it be said that evil produces a higher good , it must do so either to the subject of it , ( that is , the sinner will be the better for his sin . ) or it must
procure this higher good to other creatures ; but this is a supposition which , we imagine , the favourers of this final restitution could by no means allow , for there would then inevitably follow the ideas of partiality , of the subordination of individual interests
and of the Divine sovereignty . Indeed , it would be impossible , after such an admission , to resist even Calvinism itself . " In pages 553 and 554 of the Review , there is some reasoning ( on the acknowledged principles of human nature ) that might seem almost unanswerable . I hope you will authorize
me to present it to the serious consideration of your readers . Towards the close of the article the Reviewer observes : — " We must briefly remark upon that part of Dr . Smith ' s volume , in which he adduces and discusses the
evidence of Scripture upon the subject in hand . He employs many pages to ver y little purpose , as we think , in a critirxil examination of the terms aion , iiioiiios , apollumi , olethros , thanatos , and kolasis . No-peculiar obscurity appears to attach to any one of these
words . The power of language is by no means solely or chiefly derived from the individual signification of words . The intention of a writer or speaker is primarily ascertained on the ground of the conventional , sense of words taken in combination . The
conventional sense of certain phrases and modes of expression , is , of course , n * ° re determinate than that of individual words : if it were not so , as all words have more or less extent of meaning , thought could never be c muanicated . If we must ever be retrograding from the obvious conven-
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tional intefcti © h of a sentence , to the power of the words of whkfh it consists , language will be deprived of its faculty to convey any determinate proposition ; it is resolved into an enigmatical mass , in which all
meanings may float , indifferently and at large . Now , this is the very treatment to which the language of the Bible is every day subjected by theorists /'— " God , in speaking to men by man , as his instrument , must unquestionably be understood as
submitting his message to the established usages of human communication . On this principle it is affirmed , that the Divine veracity and our correlative responsibility , are involved in the rule , that t )* e opinion or intention which we should not fail to attribute to a
profane writer , using such or such expressions , are , without reference to the nature of the doctrine therein implied , to be received as the opinion or intention of the inspired writer who does employ them . In proportion to
the infinite moment of revealed truth , is the importance of adhering to the principle , that inspired persons s ' poke and wrote under the presumption that they should be heard and read as otfcer men are heard and read : so that when
they employ those imeompotmded forms of speech , which are ordinarily understood to convey an absolute sense , they also shall be allowed to intend an absolute sense , " &c . &c . I fear trespassing on your pages , Mr . Editor , and , therefore , cannot do justice to the Reviewer ' s reasoning . I should be happy to have your permission to present to your readers more of what appears to myself a very formidable argument on the
interpretation of Scripture phraseology . Bearing in mind the almost unquestionable contientional meaning of the terms used by our Lord , and his knowledge of the circumstances of his hearers , can we make the supposition that Jesus would ifce the
language he did use in spe&king of the future destinies of men , knowing the truth of the doctrine of Universal Restoration ? The Reviewer justly remarks , p . 558 , " The passages of the gospel , whose apparent sense it is attempted to invalidate , should be perused under thfe supposition that our Lord , who is surely free from the imputation of a sinister design , ttt-
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Eclectic Review on Dr . S . Smiths ' Illustrations . " 85
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1822, page 85, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2509/page/21/
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