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Writers declare, as plainly as a few Words can declare, that with regard to these last there is no Repentance in Hades? When Mr. W. meets with such Declarations as these, he tells us that he is obliged to understand them with respect only to great and enormous Sins; such as prevented the Hopes of Amendment in Hades, &c. p. 62. But howsoever he may be obliged to understand them, to make them consistent with his own Hypothesis, they are easy enough to be understood in themselves, in a sense perfectly consistent with that other Opinion concerning the Gospel's being preach'd in Hades, to those who had lived in the Ages before it.

CHAPTER VI.

THE USE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE DEFENDED ABOVE.

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S nothing will excuse the Prolixity with which I have treated this Subject, but the Moment of it, I think myself concern'd to shew that this is an Article of some Weight; and not a Point of small, or ill, Consequence, as some affect to represent it.1 Mr. Whiston, for instance, tells us, p. 102. that "This proper Eternity of Hell-torments, is no funda"mental Doctrine of Christianity." His Reason is, because it is "intirely omitted in all the five original Catalogues that we have of those fundamental "Doctrines." Where, supposing the Report to be true, the Argument is inconclusive. For though he is pleas'd to dignify them with the Name of Catalogues of fundamental Doctrines, every one who looks into

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1 It is not easy to tell what Mr. W. distinctly means. If the Eternity of Punishment be no Doctrine of Christianity at all, as the whole Purpose of his Book is to prove, there is no Occasion to shew that it is no fundamental Doctrine. But if his Meaning be, that supposing it true, it is still not important Doctrine, it seems to contradict what he says, p. 104; where his Argument plainly implies that if it were true, it would be a "most important Article." And therefore he argues against the Truth of it, because This most important Article is so hastily pass'd over by the Apostles; that is, his pretended Apostles in the Constitutions. Here the Importance of it seems to be plainly acknowledged.

them will be satisfied that they are no such thing. Creeds were never design'd for compleat Catalogues of Fundamentals; and the original and oldest Creeds are least of all so, being generally the shortest. As Heresies sprung up in After-Ages, Creeds became larger and more explicite, to be a Guard and Security to the Faith. Several Articles omitted might be of equal Importance, but as they were not equally opposed and deny'd, there was not the same Necessity to insert them in those short Summaries of Faith. It is therefore no just Inference, that because an Article is omitted in the oldest Creeds, it is consequently not fundamental.

But how after all, and in what sense, is the Point in question omitted in the Creeds or Catalogues mention'd? No otherwise than the Perpetuity of the Joys of Heaven is omitted; that is, neither of them is express'd particularly, but such general Terms are used as, when explain'd according to Scripture, imply both. The Resurrection both of the Fust and Unjust, The Judgment, and the Retribution;—must in all reason be understood agreeably to Scripture-Ideas; and then they will comprehend the Resurrection unto Life, and the Resurrection of Damnation, John v. 29. Judgment unto Justification, and Judgment to Condemnation, and the Retribution consequent thereon, when the Wicked shall go into everlasting Punishment, but the Righteous into Life eternal; Matt. xxv. 46. It is however of no great Consequence, and hardly worth disputing, whether these Constitution-Creeds

1 See Dr. Waterland's Lecture-Sermons, p. 321, &c. Remarks upon Dr. Clarke's Exposition, p. 73, &c. Importance, &c. p. 244. Critical History of the Athanasian Creed, p. 285. Discourse of Fundamentals, p. 40.

contain our Doctrine, or not. For tho' Mr. W. reckons them of most sacred, they are evidently of very uncertain Authority, which is next to none. There are plain Marks of their being later than the Age they pretend to, even in the very Chapters referr'd to by Mr. W. by their opposing Heresies which did not rise till afterwards, and using Phrases unknown to the Apostolical Age.1 But so far as their Authority is of any weight, they cast it all in the present case into the right Scale. For they decree positively for the natural Immortality of the Soul, and they declare that there are some impious Wretches who will never be forgiven, neither in this World, nor in the World to come. And what the just and natural Consequence is of these things laid together, I leave any unprejudiced Man to judge.

"The last and most imperfect Catalogue, Mr. W. says is, in the Epistle to the Hebrews;" viz. Ch. vi. I, 2. To which I answer, first, that it is no Catalogue of Fundamentals at all; but a short Summary of the Elementary Doctrines, the first Principles as it were of Christian Knowledge, without which they could hardly be so much as Babes in Christ. In the next place I assert that this Catalogue, perfect or imperfect, contains the Doctrine in dispute; for кρíμa αἰώνιον, and κρίσις αἰώνιος, never signify any else in the New Testament. I return him therefore his

1 Vid. Constitut. Lib. vi. Cap. 11. & Lib. vii. C. 41. Cum Not. Cotelerii & Clerici in loc.

2 With the Passages just referr'd to, compare the following, Lib. vi. Cap. 10. Lib. i. C. 6. Lib. v. C. 6. Lib. vi. 18, & 26. Lib. vii. C. 32.

3 See this prov'd in Dr. Waterland's Discourse concerning Fundamentals, p. 43, &c.

Argument, and observe that this must be an Article of some Importance, since it is found in so short a Summary even of the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ. What Mr. W. next relates is of no great Consequence, supposing it all just, viz. that Creeds (so I understand him to mean) generally omit the direct mention of the Punishment of the Wicked on purpose; as of small Consequence, in comparison of the Article of the Happiness of the Good. Another Writer likewise observes, "We every day repeat in our Creed, I believe in Life everlasting. The Compilers certainly "forgot to add, I believe in Death everlasting. This "Omission may, at least, convince us, that they did "not look on that Article, as an essential Point."1 Here, not to mention that some Creeds of very great Antiquity, such as those of Irenæus, as is allow'd by Mr. W. himself, do enlarge on this Article; I maintain that the Argument is of no weight. For the Creeds which omit it, do not omit it for this reason, because it is of small Consequence, or because the Compilers look'd on it as no essential Point; but upon other accounts, and principally perhaps because it is sufficiently implied in what is express'd, viz. The Retribution, the Life of the World to come, or the Life everlasting. I am sensible Mr. W. will not admit of this, for he blames Bishop Pearson, and some others of our modern Comments for including this Punishment in the Article. I know not what Comments he means, but I will take the liberty to cite the Words of two, which overthrow all he suggests to the contrary. The Resurrection of the Dead, is in order "to that final Judgment, which shall pass upon all "Mankind as soon as they are raised. The Effect of

1 Letters concerning the State of Souls, &c. p. 384. in Not.

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