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Reply to Difficulties in the Uniturian Scheme of Atonement . 59 $
Untitled Article
- I will jmt observe by the way , that though Unitarians believe that the reason stated by Efsrar ^ for t hei r rejection , of tlie doctrine of Atone- ? ment is quite sufficient to justify that rejection , yet many other objections remain : there is much besides in this
doctrine both irreconcileable to their reason and revolting to their feelings . It is not necessary to point out tlieae objections , as we have now only t ^ 4 o with the questions proposed by youtf correspondent . 1 sk Your correspondent asks , ~ " Is
it not as inconsistent with the ^ justiee and equity of God to permit that an innocent person should suffer for the benefit of a criminal , as that he should suffer in his stead ? Or , if the injustice in the former case be not as great ( in degree ) as in the latter , is it not equally an injustice ? " #
That suffering- should earist at all , under the government of a perfectly benevolent Being , is certainly a difficulty ; but we see that he has ordained it to be thus from the fall to the present time , and th ^ rfc is every reason to believe that the partial dominion of evil will not sooa have an end . But we have
experience enough of the orerflowirig kindness of our . Heavenly Father to be assured that the infliction of evil is intended to fulfil some benevolent purpose : and this assurance is much strengthened , by the conviction daily impressed upon us > of the good arising out of suffering , both to the sufferers themselves and to others . The
consequences of suffering are never con * fined to its object alone ; and that others should aerive benefit from it , is in the usual course of God ' s providence . Punishment sustained by the guilty , serves as a warning to others .
The sorrows of the righteous exalt the hopes , confirm the faith , awaken the conscience , or alarm the fears , of those around him . In many ways besides do the sufferings of one secure benefits to others ; but in no single instance do we find that an innocent
being has borne the whole punishment of a guilty one . In the usual infliction of evil , we can see , in some measure , how good may arise from it ; but in this case we cannot even discern how any purpose is to be answered by an appointment apparently so unjust . What connexion is there between the suffering of an innocent
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person , and the absolution of a criminal ? How is the letter a consequence of the forme *? Tliere i » difficile in both suppositions : of two difficulties , let us choose the least . If we chose the greatest , the other would remain : let us then reject it altogether . The case seems to me
to stand thap | The # orld was ( for what reason ^ it , < pne § rns < not . us t <> inqtiire ) in a state of sin iand niiseiy at the time of our Saviour ' s appearance upon earth : it vr # s to be r& ? deemed froin this state l > y his mission and death . Now j ^ U& appears tlie the
most consistent with what we know of t ^ b usual co urse of ^ Divine goifceiftoej ^^ iraio * cent person should die to appease tlie wrath of th ^ yejfy ifeipjfJ ? h *> made us to sin , and him to suffer ; should take upon himself the punishment due to the sins of all the ciii ^ inals of thai
and of all succeeding times , provided that they should have faith in him ( the connexion between such a sacrifice and such absolution not being discernible by us > $ -r-ojr that this innocent person should die ( being made perfect by his Sufferings ) to set the strongest seal and give the most perfect ratification to . the" new covenant
by which God declared his intention of redeeming his people ? This ratification of the new covenant is to establish and confirm such faith in men as shall enable them "to work ; out their own salvation / ' instead of having it wrought out for them by the suffering of an innocent person , at the easy price of faith in him . 2 d . €€ Does not the moral government of the world present similar instances of seeming injustice—nay , even of vicarious sufferings ?** No * I cannot allow that it does : not even
the high authority which your corre ^ spondent quotes can make me think so . When some persons help others out of the consequences of their vices and follies , they do not bear the punishment instead of the vicious and
foolish , though they may participate in their difficulties- We may by * the law of nature" " afford them assistance" * with very great pains and labour and sufferings to ourselves 3 "
we may 4 € by personal suffeyt ^ g " " contribute to the relief of o / 00 jjj ; f but we do not sustain their sorrows for them ; they do not lay the burdeu
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1824, page 599, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2529/page/23/
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