On this page
-
Text (3)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
Sir , As it is much the fashion to speak af the doctrine of The Atonement as a vital , fundamental , cardinal doctrine of Christianity , I wish to inquire a little into the doctrine to which such an importance is attached . As maintained by those who hold the above language , the doctrine , I apprehend ,
is this , that God the Son , dwelling in the man Christ Jesus , made an infinite satisfaction for sin to the justice of God the Father . I ask , then , is this doctrine expressly taught in the Christian Scriptures ? Can it be conveyed to the mind in Scripture langmtye ? Isjt not manifestly a human interpretation of a phraseology which is found in the Christian records ? Is there a single passage in the New Testament which expresses any thing ianta * mount to this vital doctrine ? And yet , as the reader will observe , it is
capable of being distinctly laid down in the compass of one short sentence If this is a fundamental principle of the Christian religion , it were to be wished that the apostles had understood it as well , and defined it as clearl y ^ as the orthodox of modern times . How uauch controversy might have been spared if they bad not left this vital doctrine to be collected by inference From expressions to which various other interpretations may be given When will the practice cease of establishing gratuitous , not to say absurd *
theories on the language of Scripture , and then dignifying them with the appellations of vital and fundamental doctrines of the gospel ! But the orthodox Christian , no doubt , will ask , what is the meaning of those passages of Scripture in which the death of Christ is spoken of in connexion with the forgiveness of sin } Were I to give him my interpretation of them , he would not accept it . It is , however , sufficient to reply , that whatever be their true interpretation , his interpretation cannot but be false , as it involves assumption upon assumption . To say nothing of the doctrine of three
persons in one God , it assumes what is manifestly not true , that the sin of a finite being deserves an infinite punishment ; it assumes what can never be proved , that infinite justice is something altogether distinct from infinite benevolence ; it assumes , in contradiction to the whole analogy of judicial inflictions , that justice can be as well satisfied by the sufferings of the inno « - cent , as by the punishment of the guilty . ; and unless , for the sake of consistency , it be maintained that the divinity suffered , it assumes that an infinite value may be attributed to the sufferings of a man .
It will be no wonder if the advocates of such a doctrine should also be cidvocates for the prostration of the understanding to the mysteries of the gospel . But when it is demanded of me to prostrate my understanding to the mysteries of the gospel , I am at a loss to understand what the demand implies . Am I to believe , that I do not see that to be an absurdity or
contradiction which I do see to be such ? Or am I to believe , that what I do see to be a contradiction or an absurdity may not be such in reality , and ought , therefore , to be received ? One thing , however , is certain , namely , that this demand involves an acknowledgment that the doctrines contended for are irreconcikable to reason . Let them be shewn not to be irrational ,
and the prostration of the understanding will have no place . I will not ( Jwell upon the consequences which have followed from this prostration of the understanding in religion , but will simply state , that as the evidences of Christianity amount only to the highest moral probability , it will be impos-
Untitled Article
( 159 )
Untitled Article
MR . COGAN ON THE ATONEMENTTo the Editor .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1828, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2558/page/15/
-