Mercy and judgment: a few last words on Christian eschatology, with reference to Dr. Pusey's "What is of faith?"

Front matter

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Chapter I

PREFATORY AND PERSONAL, pp. I-I5.

PAGE ‘* Eternal” Punishment not denied - : : od The Sermons on ‘‘ Eternal Hope” H “ < E a AL Treatment of disputed questions in the pulpit . ° . «3 Alleged vehemence of. tone : F ° . . . ne 5 ‘* Above what is written” . : : ; : : ° nS Modifications of popular opinion. : . ° ; . any | Supposed ‘‘inconsistencies”’ : é 3 ‘ < an 9 Explanation of terms which have been misunderstood . ° 10-12 ** Antinomies ” of Scripture r F : . ° ° tee: Concluding remarks . F : : . . . : 13-15

Chapter II

THE OPINIONS OF MANY FATHERS, SAINTS, AND DIVINES IN ALL AGES, HAVE BEEN MORE HOPEFUL THAN THOSE OF

THE CURRENT TEACHING, pp. 16-57.

Four unauthorised accretions to Catholic eschatology . Si tom Le The Author’s agreement with Dr, Pusey. : ‘ é 18-20 The Author’s agreement with many who in all ages have embraced ‘the larger hope” . : : ; : : : kK Rees: ‘St. Clemens of Alexandria . ; whee Eusebius of Gaul, St. Ambrose, St. Amgustine, St. es ea {4.22 St. Methodius, Theodoret, Sibylline Books, St. Isidore, Johannes Scotus Erigena, Theophylact . £ é . 3 . ee

ON

ON

TABULAR ANALYSTS.

St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Curio . ;

Weigel, Suarez, Episcopius, Petavius

Jeremy Taylor, Henry More’ : , ° d

Cudworth, Bishop Rust : - ° 5

Bishop Burnet, Spener, Dr. White, Si Isaac Newton °

Bishop Butler, Bishop-de Pressy

Archbishop Wake, Dr. Isaac Watts, acer Dr. Jatneonk Macknight, Schleiermacher

Dr, Chalmers, Perrone, F. W. Roneran nae Alford

Canon Kingsley, Rev. Dr. Guthrie, Dean Milman

Opinions of living and recent Divines .

Many Divines have gone farther still

Opinions tending to Universalism . :

Similar opinions among Nonconformist and ies Divines

Opinions concerning Conditional Immortality

CHAPTER IH,

PURGATORY; THE DESCENT OF CHRIST INTO HELL;

PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD} MITIGATIONS; AND

MILDER ASPECT OF FUTURE RETRIBUTION, pp. 58-90.

Varying views of different schools ‘¢The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory ” The Twenty-second Article .

“‘ Doctrina Scholasticorum” . , 5 3 m St. Gregory the Great . ; ary. : Mediaeval visions and Dante’s /uferno . :

The Scholastic doctrine of Purgatory . : 2 f Rejection of ‘‘ Purgatory” by the Reformers

Negative teaching of the Reformers

Hooker, &c., on the ‘‘ Romish doctrine of Purcatcey? The Intermediate State 2 : : : : ; The Probatory Fire. 4 “ : Late formulation of the doctrine ey Pavey’

Opinion of Cardinal Wiseman on Purgatory .

PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD . é Belief that the dead benefit by the prayers of the deri

THE

72°75 72

ON

TABULAR ANALYSIS. x1

Prayers for ‘‘ the lost ” : : ‘ : Early legends . : i : , . : z Play The Burial Service : ‘ : ‘ : . : “aay

THE DESCENT INTO HELL. : ‘ ‘ Opinions of the Fathers : 3 ° ° Growth of opinion é : ; A 5 a! ; - a9 The Articles ’ 5 ‘ ,

ON THE DOCTRINE. OF MITIGATIONS 2 3 ‘ : 81-89

Refriget ia. : , ° RH Emery Sur la Mitigation des Pane des Danis ; ‘ aa o2 Views of St. Augustine ; ; : : ° : . 82 Views of St. Chrysostom . : "83

Prudentius, Bishop Lupus, John of Datkacnis Sati Estius 84. St. Thomas Aquinas, Theophylact, Pope Innocent iil, te Third Council of Florence ; : ae OI Bishop Mark of Ephesus, Gotteschalk, Bee hiaseae 1° 86 The Schoolmen, St. Francis de Sales, Leibnitz . ‘ oT Bishop de Pressy, Legend of St. Brendan . é ‘ moo

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HELL . P : ; - 89-90

CHAPTERKAL.

WAS THERE NOT A CAUSE? pp. 91-136.

Exaggerations in popular teaching ; : ; spi QTs) 92 A duty to repudiate them . : ; ; . ; wes The danger involved in them : : : ; - ot 3 Their prevalence . ‘ 5 : 4 : ‘ x ~ 94 What is true : , : : A “ : . 5° 95 What is false “ : . 96 Sin of dogmatising about Hinge preteaied a | falsely raferred: 96 Specimens of unwarranted teaching . - 97-108 St. Cyprian, Minucius Felix, St. Augustine, St, Ciearins ae G2 Venerable Bede, Vision of Tundale, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventura, Fray Luis de Granada . : : ‘ 98

Sir Thomas More, Calvin, . : : , é mike ete:

xii TABULAR ANALYSIS.

- St. Ignatius Loyola, Jeremy Taylor, Nieremberg, nae Romanus, St. Francis de Sales . : : ‘ + 100 Barrow, John Bunyan, Baxter, South . : : A . 101 Thomas Boston, Dr. Young, Jonathan Edwards . ; . 102 Alban Butler, Whitaker, Wesley, Dean of Gloucester . Pt1Os

Bishop Oxenden, Dr. Gardiner Spring, Mr. ee Bonhour, Wesleyan Catechism :

: : . 104 Keble, John Foster.—Dante’s Juferno .

Seta Catan kOS Rusca, Drexelius, Pinamonti. A : . ; : - 106 Father Furniss, Wesley ; : ; “ : ‘ + OF Opinions of Wesley . ; ° : : ; - 108 Evil of such unauthorised deteisnens Saal is ee hy ee ea ES

1. They discredit religious truth A 3 : : - I09

2. They make good mendespair . : : : 5510

3. They harden men’s souls : : : ; . IIO Exultation of the blessed in the Eaeoents of the lost . otek EE St. Thomas Aquinas, Peter Lombard, the German Dogmatists,

Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Hopkins .

‘ ° pie & *¢ To love mercy ” ; , : : : cals 4. They sadden all life . : ° ae aa eV) 5. They make men turn from God . . ; ; : pa hs 6. They cause religious intolerance and cruelty . * - 116 7. They are the chief source of infidelity . : : fe -118 They do not arouse the wicked . ° ° re ee - aI19 They endanger all religion : ‘ ; 2 . 120

They are unsanctioned by the ancient creeds, and not revealed

in Scripture ; : é ° 4 < S2t ** Mawkish sentimentality” . 3 “ ; ee 2 Sense of pity in man’s heart . ‘ : r ° s. 123-T25 Mental and physical sufferings . ; ; Ge 63

Terrible pictures of mental agony in Dr. Pusey, Cardinal

Newman . ° - ; - : : . : - 126 Bishop Wilberforce . Q ; m rs?

Mr. Moody . - 128 Teaching of the Holy Spirit : - ‘ re Aa) trie Perversions of Scripture : : ° . : . 130 Growth of a sense of pity . : ; ‘ i ee eh oe Change of sentiment ; : . . > 132 Legends of St. Christina ae St. Carnie < ° : 133

Moral teaching of the poets . ; “ . ° ee 34° 135 Remarks on the preceding pages . ° ;: . ° ae | 36

TABULAR ANALYSIS. xiti

CHAPTER.

THE SECOND ACCRETION TO CATHOLIC DOCTRINE—THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MANKIND ARE DOOMED TO END- LESS TORMENTS, pp. 137-155.

PAGE The second accretion . : ‘ ; = j A ae ey

No ‘‘ matter of faith” . ; i P : ; . 138 Theologians and Church newspapers . : : : - “139

The damnation of the majority commonly taught . ° - 140 Damnation of unbaptised infants . : : : é weEAt Calvinistic opinions . . : : : . 142 Cardinal Sfondrati, Articles af I eee ‘ : : SerAZ

Opinions on the damnation of the heathen, St. Francis atin Calvin, Westminster Assembly, &c. . : ‘ : - 144

The Eighteenth Article, Dr. Emmons . “ : ° A 9.

The best heathens condemned : FE : $ . 146

Appeals from Missionaries . , ; ° ° . S147, ae there few that be ols ? ; : . ° = . 148 ‘*Patrum mira consensio” . - 149

Cornelius 4 Lapide, the elusive: Gunite De Amiplitudine 150 Du Moulin, Recupito . : ‘ . d . se Eos Arguments of Recupito ; ‘ : ; d F rae 154 Massillon, Dr. Pusey . a : - - y - 155

CHAPTER. VI.

IS THERE NO SUCH THING AS A TERMINABLE PUNISHMENT BEYOND THE GRAVE? pp. 156-175

The third accretion . : ; : - : : . 156 ‘© Acstate-of sin”. . : : : ‘ : : ey fA state ofr orate) oh. : : ‘ : : : . 158 Experiences of deathbeds_ . ; : : : - 159-161

Deaths of young soldiers . : : : ; - aaa (oh Deaths of schoolboys . : A : p a 162 Dying ‘‘in a state of sin” . : : . . » 163-166 Dr. Pusey and Dr. Newman. : : ‘ . 167

Dr. Pusey on the wee. of deathbed arent ; - 167, 168 - “* Per una lagrimetta”’ . . , : : . ° . 169 xiv 3 TABULAR ANALYSIS.

PAGE What repentance is. : ; : : : res (6) The destiny of intermediate sults : pay oad Various opinions . : : : ° ° : . valve The popular opinion and the true opinion . : : Be The answer reticent, but not vague ‘ A , ea h7 5

CHAPI TE Ray if:

IS FUTURE RETRIBUTION NECESSARILY AND INVARIABLY ENDLESS? pp. 176-179.

The fourth accretion—‘“‘ Hell necessarily endless for all” . 176 Explanation of terms . : , : A ; : Pa yb) Dr. Pusey’s views accord with my own. : : 2 . 178 Universalism ; : 5 : . ; : : 1179

CHAPTER, VATT.

JEWISH ESCHATOLOGY AT THE DAWN OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA, pp. 180-221.

Service rendered by Dr. Pay ‘ ; . 180 My ‘‘palmary argument”: ‘‘Gehenna”’ did Hot mean a vies of torment necessarily endless . ‘ 4 ‘ . I81 Our Lord normally used Jewish words in lanes senses . me fo Outline of Dr. Pusey’s arguments : : ; : . 182 What I did, and what I did not, assert. : ‘ soles ‘* Gehenna” in many respects the reverse of “ Hell toe . 184 It ought to be transliterated, not translated . ‘ é . 184 Souls might escape from Gehenna ; : ; : . 185 I. THE APOCRYPHAL Books . ’ : : ; . 185-192 The Book of Enoch . : : : : . - 186-189 Its date and want of authority . : . . 186 Dr. Pusey’s quotations irrelevant to aisrove that Gehenna could mean a normally terminable punishment - 187, 188 Jewish belief in annihilation . ; , : . #189 The Fourth Book of Esdras . , ; 5 : . 189-190 Its character and teaching : : ° ; ° - 190

The Apocalypse of Baruch . 3 ‘ ; : . » IgI

TABULAR ANALYSIS. xv

PAGE The Psalms of Solomon ; ; : ; : - HIOE The Fourth Book of Maccabees. A ‘ : 3 EP 82

Silence of Second Book of Maccabees . 3 Brae oF 2192

II. THE TESTIMONY OF JOSEPHUS . : : : . 192-197 His account of Jewish eschatology , { : : * £93 An untrustworthy witness. : . 194

III

Opinions of Abarbanel, Dr. Jost, Rabbi Katek; Hitibdrvet . 194 Opinions of Dr. Pocock, Archbishop Usher, Mosheim, Chasles,

Dr. Traill, concerning Josephus : : ; : . 195 Tfis Graecising and unscriptural phrases ‘ ‘ : . 196 THE TARGUMS . 7 A : . 197-199

Dr. Pusey’s quotations do it prove his point or refute mine . 198

Two decisive quotations to show that the Targumists regarded

Gehenna.asterminable . ‘ ‘ : : : . 199 Summary of the Jewish argument, so far . Y 4 . 200 OPINIONS OF THE TALMUDISTS . ° ° ° - 201-211 Rosh Hashanah and the Tosafoth. : - : ‘ . 201 Baba Metzia : : : : : ‘ d <4 202 Many Talmudic paeengte ‘ : i203, 204 Maimonides, Albo, Abarbanel, REuBbinic febendé : . . 205 Modern Jewish authorities. . : : : 3 . 206, 207 Summary of Jewish opinions - : 2 : . 208 Mildness of even the few severer Rabbis : . 4 . 209 The recognised Jewish creed : é : : : . 210 Demonstrated conclusions. ! . : : : - 251 Dr. Pusey on Rabbi Akiba . : : : si 228 What Akiba may have added to the common view d Sake Impossibility of Dr. Pusey’s opinion about Akiba. : . 213 My statements on the subject unshaken in a single particular. 214 ‘*Gehenna” not to be rendered by ‘‘ Hell” . : : nf 205 Asserted views of ‘‘ the majority” of Christians . sf) 2EGQ, 217 The majority are constantly mistaken in their views. 2io

Our Lord’s words repeatedly misunderstood during His life . 219

And fatally and repeatedly misunderstood by the majority during long ages in many instances. ; : ; - 220

** Obvious” meanings . : : ¢ ; : ; .. 22

Xvi

TABULAR ANALYSTS.

CHAPTER IX.

‘THE OPINIONS OF THE FATHERS, pp. 222-295.

PAGB Dr. Pusey’sCatena : : . ° ~ S wa222 Authority of the Fathers in exegesis . : : : <y223 The opinions of many of the Fathers identical with my own. 224 Sense in which they-used Scriptural phrases, &c. 2225 Greatness of those who leaned to the more merciful view . 226 The Fathers indecisive on the subject . : - ° e227 Brief summary of Dr. Pusey’s Catena . : : « 228-230 Its real significance much exaggerated . ; A : 30 Opinions of Tertullian, &c., of little value . : 23h, 232 The Apostolical Fathers 4 ° : : A ess They differ from the popular view : : ° i234. Lflermas : . : . ; : ° : ° + 234 St. Justin Martyr : ; « 235-238 Two principles of interpretation jonnred by Dr. Bice . 238, 239 Views of St. Lrenaeus . fe A - 239-242

Views of St. Clemens of Alexandria: He. often je to Universalism . ° ° . . . . - 243-247 Arnobius believed in anhitilalion - 4 4 : - 248 St. Athanasius. ° 5 . : . 3 . 248 St. Gregory of eee: he often leans to Universalism 249-252 Deep significance of this fact - . . 253 Greatness and orthodoxy of St. Gregory of Nedentes : © 254 His saintliness and authority ; : 255

St. Gregory of Nyssa: he was an indieputable Universalist ‘ ; a ; : . ‘ - 255-259 His ‘‘ oeconomy” . : . ° : 256 His Catechetical Oration : . . : R ; Karey His Book on the Soul . : ; MK ° “ . 258 His Oration onthe Dead... ‘ . : ; - 259 His absolute orthodoxy : ‘ ; 2 . ; . 260 Immense weight of this evidence . . : . ‘ . 261 Opinion of ‘‘ the Church ” . ° « 262 Diodorus of Tarsus and 7; dace of Mopedestin : . - 263 Their eminent greatness “ : : : . - 264 Their acknowledged services ° : : . - 265

TABULAR ANALYSIS. xvii

PAGE Theodore of Mopsuestia. . . : ° “ P . 266 His high authority : F 2) 267,

These great Fathers unfairly intcvepresented ad Senden, 267 WDidyius Of: Alexanareye mr pe yt on dy 410 wt) a Etats 9 268 His admiration for Origen . ‘ : : : ? . 269 Admiration of St, Athanasius for Origen . 3 : ~ 270 St. Chrysostom . ‘ ‘ ; ; : - : 27k

His real leanings . 4 : : . : ‘ ‘ 4) 272 His prayers for those who died in sin . : : . 2273 His ‘* Accommodation” : . , a aed Comparison of St. Chrysostom mel Jeremy Tayioe : - 275 Current phrases and deliberate opinions ° : ’ - 275 Dr. Young, Dr. Watts 5 4 E ; aba 276 St. Peter Chrysologus . ‘ : a) eae: : : 27h

Opinions of the Latin Fathers . 2 : : so 297-205 St. Ambrose : : 3 ‘ . . : 3 2279

His views on-death . ° ° : ° ° : . 280 Bent of his mind. ° . . . ° ° . . 281 St. Ferome . ‘ : ‘ . . . : . WiZOE On vefrigeria, &c. : : . : . . . = oe His remarks on Pelagius . : . ° . ° . 283

Believed that all Christians would be saved . - = . 284 The Synod of Diospolis ‘ 2 : ° ° ° «295

His current phrases and his express opinions. ° . . 286 He often leans to hopeful views about man’s future ° % 287 St. Augustine, ; : : : : ; . 287-205 Believed in a remedial fire . : . . . . 288 Mildness of his tone in arguing on eschatology ; : . 288 His perplexities and uncertainties. . . : ° . 289 His incessant hesitations - ° ° » 290 His chief objection was to the cakyabilitg of devils : a Ot His assertions . é : : E 202 His imperfect Riots: of eek ; : 3 2 ¥ 298 Extreme feebleness of his ‘‘ arguments ” on the subject . - 294 Milder and less dogmatic passages : E : - 204-295

Exaggerated estimate of his authority . ‘ . : - 205

NoTE on “ ACCOMMODATION” . X é ? : . 296, 297 xviii TABULAR ANALYSIS,

CHAPTER X;.

ORIGEN, pp. 298-329.

Greatness of Origen’... / «s:- we tee ats Compared with Augustine . : My uccae

His early years His saintliness, and the noWle error ret his vault

Bitter jealousy of Demetrius . : : . Gross calumnies against him . : ee ‘* A victim of episcopal envy” . ; : His Hexapla ; : ‘ . : .

His vast services .. .

His unequalled greatness

His “martyrdom” — .. . °

Deplorable ‘tone in which he is poten bf P Tragedy of his lot in life and after life .

Eulogy on, by St. Vincent of Lerins . : Pathetic story of him . -

His enemies, —Demetrius, Marcie Ephonias 5

Methods employed to discredit him

His eulogists and friends, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Panis 316 - 317 philus

St. Athanasius, St. Fae of ieee St. ie

PAGE

. 298 . 299

. 301 302 - 303 . 304

- 306 18307

308 309 310

- 313 Theophilus of Alexandria, Methodius, Eustathius, Apollinaris

315 - 315

St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Didymus, Pierius, St. Hilary of

Poictiers

Sohn of Jerusalem, St. ere of Natsie, asthe of bak . Eusebius of Caesarea, Titus va Bostia, St. Firmilian, St.

. Victorinus St, Ambrose, Rufinus, St. Sahn.

St. Augustine, Palladius, Isidore, Sedulius, Evagrius

Theotimus of Tomt, Bishop Haymo, Socrates, Sozomen .

Erasmus, Bishop Huet, Cave, Baronius, Tillemont,

Doucin, Bishop Butler, Canon Westcott, &c. .

Genius of Origen. i : : ;

His many-sidedness 5 ; Errors respecting him . P : : .

His depth : °

End of the Age of the Weer Fathers 3 Causes of the dislike of Origen

. 318

TABULAR ANALYSIS. xix

CHAPTE RSX] ORIGEN AND CHURCH COUNCILS, pp. 330-348.

PAGE Origen’s ‘* Universalism” the fragment of a great scheme . 330 His current phrases and his real teaching - - : P2331 His real orthodoxy é is 26332 The Church has never Aonderanel oaile Caireaisme « (333 The four first Councils. 5 ‘ , A ‘ A a0 Significance of their silence . 4 » ‘ R r 334 Position of even Universalists not chanensed , ; ; 334 General Councils . : é : ° ‘ : «1335 The term ‘‘ Origenism ” does not n ecessariWy or usually refer to eschatology . : 3 : 2) B30es Silence of Doucin in his Wistvie ye 4 Onidensene é : Re ey What it was which ‘‘the Church” is supposed to have condemned . 5 P . : ; a CY

Universalism as regards mankind never sdsaniay. ieee, 338

The ‘‘ wretched synod” of Diospolis . 2.339 The condemnation of ‘‘ Origen hy - ; : > 340 Egyptian Synods. : ; : z* SAI Even Epiphanius never charged Grea with ‘tals onesies 341 Prevalence of Restorationism even in the fifth century . - 342 Disgraceful career of Theophilus of Alexandria . : - 343 At first he was an avowed Origenist . ° ; : - 344 Acknowledged baseness of his motives. - . : - 345 His intrigues against St. Chrysostom . < - : - 346 His conduct at Constantinople . : ; ; : «i. 347 His disgraceful book, and his open inconsistency . ; - 348

He did not challenge Origen’s eschatology . - . - 348

CHAPTER XII.

THE FIFTH OECUMENICAL COUNCIL, pp. 349- poe

Asserted condemnation of *‘Origenism” : ° - 349 Intrigues of Theodora . ; : : : ‘ : - 350 Letter of Justinian to Mennas_ 3 F : » 351 What the ‘‘ Home Synod” SS , H 5 “S51

Their own definition of what they meant by “‘that monstrous Restitution” . : ° : . : . ‘ » 353 xX

TABULAR ANALYSIS.

PAGE It was not even Universalism g ; = F ° - 354 The Three Chapters . ; acaies : - 355

The Fifth Oecumenical Council never daneee **Origenism” 356 Reasons for doubting whether it ever mentioned the name of

Origen: *~. Ag Rei Aa hd ter Ore neta - 357, 358 Silence of the Atts, &e. ; ; ; ; ; : Cu SSe And of contemporaries : . 4 ; ; - 358 But even if his name was mentioned the Council did aot con-

demn his eschatology. : : ; : x - 358 Low authority of the Fifth Comal + 3 5 ; » 359 Its decision has no bearing on the question . . ° - 360

CHAPTER XIII.

PRINCIPLES OF SCRIPTURE EXEGESIS, pp. 361-409.

Passages worth notice . . . : ° . » $365, 362 Preliminary remarks . : ‘ ; : : : - 362 A mis-quoted text. . . + Lees . ° - 363 True axioms of fiterpretition ; 4 . . 5 - 364 Scripture not to be confounded with fallible inferences . » 364 False meanings attached to words. . ‘ : . - 364

Misuse of ‘‘texts ” ; : : : A ° ° #305, Misinterpreted parables. : 4 ° . ° : » 365

False inferences from ‘‘texts” and words . ; ; . 366 Gross errors deduced from Scripture . . : . pnaO7 ‘‘ Rabble-charming phrases”. : : . : . Pe Influence of the word ‘‘ damnation” ., : F : » 309

It does not exist in the Bible é 5 : 5 . pes) Influence of the word “‘ Hell” , Passe a4 5 : = 371 What it connotes . E ° ° ° . spar Used for ‘* Sheol ’—the are * orld é ; : . ey ys Hor §* Hades: i*'*. 4 : A . : : : eve Used for ‘‘ Tartarus” . F 5 . ney ee, é eke 4 Used for ‘‘ Gehenna” . 5 rate acne 3 g 4 . azo *¢Gehenna” in the Old and New Gone aes ; 4 5394 True meaning of the word . : , . SF gt «7375 Confusion introduced by the word ‘‘ Hell” . : : +376 Its misleading character ‘ ; : . : . ~ 477

TABULAR ANALYSIS. xxi

PAGE The word aionios . ies “ : : 5 : 370 Its true meaning . : . ie . . . - 379 By itself it never means ‘‘ hates : P 1/379 Use of the word in Josephus, the Greek Fathers, ee . <£380 Use by Justinian and Caesarius ~. : ‘ . . mate Dr. Theodore le : : ° : ° ‘ e302 ‘¢ Endlessness ” might have been een by many phrases, of which not one is used of Gehenna . : ae: 2 303in. False assertions on the subject . 3 7 : - 334 Phrases for ‘‘ endlessness” are not used in this application . 385 Contrast between current, and Scriptural, expressions . 300, Many phrases by which ‘‘endlessness” might have been described . : : : : « (307371300 Aizonios in the Greek Patties : - . - : . 389 In Augustine and Jerome . ‘ . ° . : » 390 In the New Testament : : é : : - 391-394 Its true sense . . : . . rae - 395 In St. John and St. Paul ; - _ ° - - 396-398 In other writers ees A ~ ° 2 : - 399

Authorities quoted . “ . ; ° : » 400-403 In the Lexicographers ‘ : ° : a » 403, 404 ‘* Unquenched ” (asbestos) . : 405-407 **Punishment ” (4o/asis) : ° ° . » 407-409

CHAPTER XIV.

THE GENERAL TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE RESPECTING FUTURE RETRIBUTION, pp. 410-443.

The nature of God

: : : ; d 2 - 410-412 As revealed in Christ ; ‘ 3 3 - 413, 414 God’s Infinitude of merciful fereiveneee : , - 415-418 Unworthy arguments against ‘‘the larger hope” . peers 14) The Atonement . P A ; : ; 3/420

_ The Saviour of all : : ; : ‘ . 421 ** Will ye speak wickedly fot God? ae . 1 422 ** Universalism ” and ‘‘ Conditional Eaotealiyy 3 - 423-427

General glance at the eschatology of the New Testament 428-431 Sophisms refuted . F : 5 : ; - 431-434 xxii TABULAR ANALYSIS.

PAGE

Reticence of the Old Testament . . : : - 435-437

Eccles. xis 3, ‘**The fallen:tree” . : ‘ d » 437-439 Is, xxxiii. 14, ‘‘ Perpetual conflagrations” . > : » 440 Is. Ixvi. 24, ‘‘ Corpses, worms, and flame” . : - 440-442 Conclusion . : ‘ : : : : : ; « 443

CHAPTER XV.

TEACHING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ON FUTURE RETRIBUTION, pp. 444-480.

How texts are to be interpreted . : 3 5 - 444, 445 kl Shs oS? . . . ; , : : ‘ . 446 Parables of sudeeeuee : . : é - 447, 448 Matt. v. 22, ‘‘ The Gehenna of fire” ; : ; - 448-450 Matt. v. 29, 30, ‘* Cast into Gehenna’”’. ; bk ae » 450 Mark ix. 41-50, ‘‘Gehenna, worm, and flame” . ~ 451-454

Mark iii. 29, The danger of ‘‘aeonian sin”. : - 463-465 Eschatology of St. Paul ‘ ; ; : . 465-468 Eschatology of the Apocalypse . ; - 468-474 Bishop Horbery’s ‘‘ Upwards of a hundred texts” ; - 474 Terrible abuses of Scriptural misinterpretation . - 475-477 Passages of the New Testament . . ‘ : - 477-480

Conclusion

Statement of the Author’s eschatological belief . - 481-485

MERCY AND JUDGMENT.

MERCY AND JUDGMENT.

CHARTER I,

PREFATORY AND PERSONAL.

‘* We know our place and our portion: to give a witness and to be condemned ; to be ill-used and to succeed. Such isthe law which God has annexed to the promulgation of the truth: its preachers suffer, but its cause prevails.” —-Dr, NEWMAN, 7Z7yacts for the Times, iv. p. 1x.

AGAIN and again it has been asserted or implied— even by those whose character and position should have made them more careful in their statements— that I deny the eternity of punishment.

‘Once more, and once for all, I desire to render such false witness inexcusable by saying on the very first page of this book that I have never denied, and do not now deny, the eternity of punishment. And, to avoid any possible mistake, I repeat once more, that though I understand the word eternity in a sense far higher than can be degraded into the vulgar meaning of endlessness, I have never even denied, and do not now deny, even the possible endlessness of punishment. In proof of which, I need only refer to the pages of my-own book—E£vernal Hopfe—standing as they do unaltered from the very first.

In the month of November, 1877, during my ordinary course of residence as a canon, I preached -a sermon in Westminster Abbey on 1 Peter iv. 6, 5 B ee MERCY AND JUDGMENT. [CHAP.

“For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead.” At that time-there had been some discussions both on the nature of Eternal Happiness, and on the question, “Is life worth living ?”’ Accordingly on October 14 I had preached on “What Heaven is” ; and on November 4 upon the value and preciousness of human life. But since I desire always and above all things to be truthful and honest, it was impossible for me to attempt the refutation of that cynical pessimism which treats human life as a curse and as a mistake, without entering into the awful question of future retribution. While in common with all Christians I believed that there would be a future punishment of unrepented sin, and even that it might continue without any revealed termination so long as impenitence continued, it appeared to me that, on that subject, many of the conceptions constantly kept alive by current teaching were derived only from mistaken interpretations of isolated texts, and were alien from the general tenor of divine revelation. I knew it to be the popular belief, sanctioned by ordinary sermons, that the vast majority of living men would pass from the sorrows, miseries, and failures of our mortal life into inconceivable, hopeless, and everlasting agonies. I gave some specimens of that teaching, and in order not to prejudge it, those specimens were chosen, not from the writings of the vulgar and the ignorant, but from the pages of great men whom I love and reverence—from Dante and Milton, and Jeremy Taylor and Henry Smith. I endeavoured to show, as far as could be shown in the narrow limits of a sermon addressed to a mixed multitude, that much which had been said on this subject was unscriptural and untenable. In that sermon, and in one delivered on November 18 upon the question, “ Are there few that be saved ?”’ it was my object to prove that the current belief went far beyond what was written, and tended to force upon men’s minds a view of God's dealings with the human race which it was almost, if not utterly, impossible to reconcile with all that is revealed to us of His mercy and of His justice, and with the whole meaning of the Gospel of Salvation.