Discussion of the Conjoint Question

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Excerpt from Discussion of the Conjoint Question: Is the Doctrine of Endless Punishment for Any Portion of the Human Family Taught in the Scriptures, or Is the Doctrine of the Final Holiness and Happiness of All Mankind? If this be the truth it is important that it should be known, if biblical students for 1800 years have failed to discover this doctrine, which, it is contended, was the doctrine taught by Christ and his apostles, - if this discovery was reserved for the wisdom of the present age, we may bless ourselves that we live in such auspicious times, that the lines have fallen to us in such pleasant places, for the discovery of truth should always be a matter. of thanksgiving. But before we congratulate ourselves too highly, let us pause a few moments and examine the claims of such new teachers to our confidence in their doctrine. We are commanded in scripture to "try the spirits, and see if they be of God, " for we are told that "false teachers shall arise." If any man bring to us any other gospel than that preached by Christ and his apostles, we are bound to reject it. Let us examine, therefore, and see what was taught by him who "spake as never man spake, " and those who were instructed at his feet. Was there any such thing known in the time of Christ and his apostles as the doctrine of endless punishment? and what was the conduct of these teachers in reference to this subject 1 Were they found opposing it, or did they take such a course as would lead the believers in endless punishment to conclude that this was their doctrine also? These inquiries I shall endeavour to answer on this occasion. I. Was the doctrine of endless punishment believed by both Jews and Gentiles in the days of Christ and his apostles? In answer to this question it is sufficient to say, that Universalists themselves admit that the doctrine of endless punishment was extensively believed by Jews and Gentiles at the time of Christ's ministry. The following are some of their testimonies on this point. "The Pharisees it is well known believed in the endless punishment of human souls." Lectures by W. M. Fernald, p. 79. "It is generally admitted that the Jews, in our Saviors day, maintained the Pagan notion of immortal happiness for the righteous, and undying pain for the sinner." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.