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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.
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On the Papen of Pkiladelphus ** relating to Futu ^ Punishment . 63 &
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analogy without anticipating the existence of suffering in the future life as the effect of unr ^ pented guilt , —the bestowment of rewards , and the infliction of punishments , with perfect impartiality , in exact proportion to the degree of virtue or of vice which
belongs to each individual character , —* -I do not see that the theory of the Divine Government which we are led
by reason to form is opposed to that unfolded in the Scriptures : €€ Say ye to the righteous , that it shall be well with him ; for they shall eat of the fruit of their dQings . Woe to the wicked ! it shall be ill with him : for
the reward of his hands shall be given him / ' Isfc . iii . 10 , 11 . God " will judge the world in righteousness /* Acts xvii 31 . God ** will render to £ very man according to his deeds /*
&c . Rom . ii * 6 , et seq . The dictates of sound philosophy and the plain declarations of Holy Writ concur to assure us that " it is an evil and a bittef
thing to sin against God / Even oil the most favourable supposition , admitting that the sufferings of the wicked will have a purifying tendency and effect , ( and , I frankly confess ^ that I know not how , on any other theory , we can both
cc assert Eternal Providence , And justify the ways of God to inan / ' ) the prospect disclosed to us should excite alarm in the sinner , and rouse the righteous to zealous exertion .
When the awful language of the New Testament denouncing bodily endurance on the impenitent is softened down as much as possible , granting that it is but a figurative mode of representing the realities of the spiritual world to our imperfect
apprehension , there are still the tortures of the mind , the raging fire of evil passion , the overwhelming force of sinful habits , the goadings of an accusing conscience , the horrors of remorse , and the pangs of repentance to be endured . He who has felt in any
degree the wretchedness which sin produces in this world , he who has witnessed with a feeling heart the misery which it brings on the sinner , will not be inclined ( unless lie denies a future state altogether ) to entertain doubt as to its baneful operation in the world to come . There will , no doubly be ( Treat dif-
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ference according to previous circumstances , in the future condition of those who leave this wortd unprepared for the pure happiness of heaven . " He who knew not his Master's will / ' and therefora did it not * " will be beaten with few stripes /* will need a comparatively gentle course
of discipline . The communication of that knowledge which in this life was withheld , would be likely to exercise on his mind an immediate , powerful , and happy influence . But alats for him , who knew his Masters will , and yet did things worthy of stripes , " him to whom the majesty and the loveliness of the l > ivine character as
exhibited in the works of God and in the gospel of Christ have been displayed , and who , notwithstanding , lived and died without cultivating the fear and love of Ood - Can we be surprised that such men should incur a dreadful condemnation , be beaten
with many stripes , and having resisted in vain the grand motives presented tb their minds , be subjected td ** tribulation and anguish / ' to a discipline of tremendous severity , Mid be placed in a situation of eternal
disadvantage ? These arfe * indeed , prospects painful to the pious &ftd benevolent mind ; but it is Of little use to close our eyes to them . We cannot by this means even avoid the uncomfortable reflections to which the
existence of evil gives rise . Suppose it could be proved that there will be no future suffering , suppose that the language of the New Testament were shewn to be consistent with this hypothesis , the object aimed at would not be attained . He who thinks that
future suffering , although corrective , is inconsistent with the superintendance ** of a truly benevolent Being /* and hence persuades himself that it will not be inflicted , will still be dissatisfied . When he notices ' * the miseries which ' in an infinite variety
* ' flesh ife heir to / ' ' ( Cand the existence €€ flesh ife heir to / and the existence of which can neither be denied nor doubted , ) he will be sometimes tempted to doubt whether such things could happen under the government of a
truly benevolent Being , and Ivill continue to experience uncomfortable reflections . For these * doubts and painful emotions , whether suggested by the existence of evil at present or by the anticipation of future evil , there is
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1824, page 535, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2528/page/23/
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