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his apostles as Consisting in the enjoyment of power and authority;—they are to rule over cities ; to be kings and priests ; and the first-fruits of God ' s creatures . They will not surely
be destitute of subjects * over whom to reign , ntir of a people for whose benefit to officiate . How beautiful , and , worthy of the Ruler of the universe does this scheme appear ; and how well calculated to excite in us
an eager desire to obtain a crown of righteousness ! -f * 2 . The only way of ascertaining the intentions of God is , by studying his word . * If he had intended " that sinful man should apprehend § interminable displeasure as the consequence
of a wilful rejection of divine mercy , " he could have expressed himself in terms not to be misunderstood . (| He « ould , for instance , instead of using a word which is applied to things which have had an end , or must have an end , have said that punishment would be
without end . In this case , the Sacred Scriptures would have avoided the use of a single expression which could possibly weaken the force of so tremendous a denunciation ; they would not have held forth manifold
expectations which are altogether inconsistent with such a horrid design . % Nor would Christ or his apostles have preached a single sermon without reference to the impending fate of impenitent sinners . **
3 , As to the comparison between the characters of Calvinists and Universalists , I must say that you do not see and know enough of the latter , either of their persons , or actions , or writings , to be competent to draw a just comparison . They are but a little flock at present , and comparatively unknown to the religious world . I
* We are not told that these subjects will comprehend impenitent sinners . t" We have still higher motives . X After we have obtained sight and light ; and for this we must pray ; else study is unavailing .
§ Yes , apprehend . II They are so understood by the best peop le . IT Man and God see differently . * The damnation of the impenitent unbeliever was to be preached every where .
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A Friendly Correspondence between an Unitarian and a Calvinist . 685
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have the happiness , however * to know that since the period when a few * ' of us used to meet at Parlianaeni-Courjfc the number has been greatly mul ^ - plied , and that the effect of the labours of our writers f is to render other sects less and-less prone to
copsign their fellow-creatures to endless perdition . Their tone of late years is -very . much ^ softened down ; J and in another generation or two , I doubt not , the testimony alluded to in the beginning of your paper , will be genierally , not to say universally , received ;
Upon the whole , I am pleased with the complexion of the times as respects tolerance and Christian charity . § But , after all , the proper answer to this third question is furnished me by Paul : " Judge nothing until the Lord
come , " ( that is to say , nothing that is not palpably obvious , ) ce wKo will bring to light the chidden things of darkness , and make manifest the counsels of all hearts ; and then shall every rnani ) have praise of God . "
5 . The evil of sin consists in its being the certain cause of suffering ; * f tUe excellency of holiness in ensuring happiness . " Without holiness , no man can see the Lord ; " ** and of all the sources of happiness , none can be compared to that which results from a sense of divine favour .
6 . Do you seriously think that the passage in Isaiah , to which you refer , can be fitly urged in defeasance of the positive command of Je 3 us Christ to love our enemies ? -M * This feeling is
compatible with an abhorrence of their actions , and an acquiescence in the justice of God in visiting their transgressions with punishment ; but whereever sin abounds grace will
super-? There are myriads of imawakened professors of Calvinism . + By gaining their assent , you gain nothing . J This has no weight with one who is fully convinced of the evil of sin . § All this is the refinement of unconverted man .
|| Who is entitled to it . ijf An afflictingly awful and fatal mistake ; and in my judgment the foundation of the whole . Full conviction of sin can alone annul this sentiment . ** Admitted of course . i-f They are abhorred as God ' s enemies , not our * .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1824, page 685, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2530/page/45/
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