lasting times," that is, before the times of the ages, or before the ancient dispensations.

Let us now, with this key, proceed to the particular examination of the texts which have been adduced. The first from Isaiah," who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" is itself decisive of the whole controversy, as it shows that everlasting is a wrong translation of the original word; and though the question is expressed in these strong terms, it has no connexion with future punishment, but relates to an event of short continuance and long since past. The prophet is speaking of the distress of the Jews upon the king of Assyria's marching to Jerusalem, and he contrasts the confidence of the righteous in these times of danger with the apprehensions of the wicked. Bishop Lowth translates it thus:

* προ χρόνων αιωνίων.

"The

"The sinners in Zion are struck with dread; Terror hath seized the hypocrites: Who among us can abide this consuming fire? Who among us can abide these continued burnings?" That is, the consequences of Jerusalem's being taken.

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some

On the same principles the text in Daniel ought to be translated to continued life, and some to shame and continued contempt."

To be cast into everlasting fire in Matt. xviii. 8. means into lasting, durable, or continued fire, or the fire of that period. Hell-fire in the next verse is in the origi nal into the valley of Hinnom of fire. To explain this phrase, it may be proper to observe, that the Jews had no word in their language to express the place of punishment of the wicked after the resurrection. Probably the idea did not often occur to them; when it did, they

called it the " valley of Hinnom," which was a place out of the walls of the city where a fire was kept constantly burning to consume the filth of the city, and where in former idolatrous times children had been offered in sacrifice to Moloch. But it is added in Mark ix. "into the fire that never shall be quenched," and repeatedly," where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." Let it not be forgotten it is immediately added, "For every one shall be salted with fire."

Now with respect to these texts so formidable at first view, they are evidently metaphorical", and they compare

Although the

often so tre

" Calvin allows them to be metaphorical. See Com. in Es. Ixvi. and Inst. lib. iii. cap. 25. sec. 12. modern Calvinists, as they are called, are mendously copious on this subject, yet is the doctrine seldom referred to by Calvin himself. And after all, not ́withstanding some strong expressions in his writings, I cannot help thinking that the most convincing evidence we have of his habitual belief in it, is the presumptive evidence which arises from the circumstance of his having been so active an instrument in the burning of Servetus.

the

the future punishment of the wicked to things which are in their nature temporary, and which at this period have long since ceased to exist. The allusion is here made to the prophet Isaiah. They shall go forth and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." Is. lxvi. 24. "Which words evidently relate to the utter destruction of the enemies of God's church, whose carcases should be devoured by worms or burnt by fire: neither should the worms cease to devour, nor the fire. to burn, till their carcases should be utterly consumed." Broughton.

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Depart from me, ye cursed, into. continued fire prepared for the Devil and his angels," suggests another idea, that into this fire the Principle of Evil, with his Servants and Messengers, would be

cast, probably that Sin and Temptation would be here consumed. But of this

more hereafter.

"These shall go away into everlasting punishment," has been shown to mean, the correction of that period; and if it be objected that the same word is used to express the life of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked, let it be observed, that it is not on this passage solely or principally that we ground our belief of Eternal Life-that this passage alludes to it, but does not positively declare it.

The phrase in Mark, which speaks of the punishment of the sin against the Holy Ghost, should be translated "hath never forgiveness, but is liable to lasting condemnation, or more literally to "the judgment of that period.".

The text in Thessalonians which says

that