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684 A Friendly Correspondence between an Unitarian and a Calvinist .
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to be merciful , because God is mercifuL * In saying that the doctrine of the restitution of all things , or ( as elsewhere expressed ) that Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for all , ^ is a testimony for its proper season , I understand , not that the testimony should be reserved and suppressed , but that it will not be generally received and believed ^ until the proper season arrives . ^ Our Lord commanded his disciples to preach the gospel to
every creature , § although he knew that it would be rejected and abused by many of them to whom it was preached . I feel quite confident that the display of the mercy and goodness of God , in the most unreserved and universal terms that language
furnishes , so far from tending to harden the heart and rendering men careless , is calculated , ab ' ove all things , to work their reformation . || Of course there are good and bad modes of doing every thing ; and a preacher would be
very deficient in his duty , who , while he represented the willingness of God to pardon offenders , did not 5 at the same time , point out the indissoluble connexion of vice with misery , and the awful consequences ^ of perseverance in a sinful course . This will
be much more effectually done ** by saying , after our Lord and Master , that he who , knowing his master ' s will , disobeys it , shall be beaten with many stripes ; and he who ignorantly
offends , with few stripes ; and with the general tenor of scripture , that God will reward every man according to his works , without respect of persons , than to vociferate the words , eternal damnation , ff and to apply
* The scripture holds forth the damnation of the impenitent . -f Who truly apply to him . X Totally inconclusive . Man can perceive nothing aright ^ until awakened and converted .
§ So it is ; and every one may have it that is willing . This I totally disbelieve . Men must be taught the evil of sin . A reformation may be effected in the outward manners , while the heart is blind to its fallen state .
^ f yet very consequences are , through the blindness of men , by reason of the fall , mi perceived . ** This is not denied . tf When the sentence Ls pronounced
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the same endless duration of punishment to all descriptions of sinners ; thus making the distinction * of character vain and of no effect . You say , " Let the Judge of quick and dead solve these questions ;" -f which you proceed to propound , and
which are eight in number . I cannot presume thus to challenge his direct X interposition for the decision of the matter in dispute . We have Moses and the prophets , Jesus and his apostles , and they are sufficient authorities for our guidance . § Nor need we doubt that if , in the temper of little children , (| we seek for instruction , we shall obtain all that is necessary for
reproof or consolation . The result of my inquiries is , 1 , " That although the same word is used to designate the duration of rewards and punishments , it does not follow that happiness and misery will be equally interminable , ^ f Because the scripture
abounds in declarations respecting the character of God and his purposes in creating mankind , which are directly opposed , to the doctrine of endless misery . ** Because the same authority intimates that there will be degrees of
punishment ft exactly proportioned to degrees of crime . Because the Almighty has condescended to challenge men to inquire into the rectitude ^ of his conduc t , and has enjoined it upon them to imitate it . I wHl add , that it appears from
scripture that rewards , §§ as such , will cease , at the period when , after havingsubdued all things unto himself , the Son shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father , that God may be all in all . In the mean time ^ the rewards of believers are described by our Lord and
the meaning ( say Aonian if you please ) will be understood . * I have uot denied the distinctions . f * Because we are not competent of impartial judges . X He will decide . § But we must have sight given to us to perceive . || It would be well if we did . —Open mine eyes ! ^ f It must be feared . ** No penitent is subject to this . -f--f- I have not denied this . XX Our people are as well satisfied with respect to this rectitude as yo . ui ' people are . §§ I have this .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1824, page 684, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2530/page/44/
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