On this page

• Text (1)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• 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

    * hat be fonceives to be real life , J SaaPP tn ^ s ?^ 06 TOode , As tq 2 S »» # r $ & ? widowers , and widows Sen ? judging ? W » P ^ ^ * wom > * Lm tfc ' p ^ sW of th i * " description I iiaotfV Aoyever . mvjph affected at the ^ j ^ l SfDe ration , / eW and reflection not

    Aviate their & « ef , and they are jpeh fetched objects as , this gloomy najnter draws . tneni . Many of them Meed , not altogether relishing the solitude" in which they are left , have " ^ objection to repair Jrieir loss by another imion > a' proof by j , he way Sat Aey were not led by experience to entertain ,, such formidaple , terrific ideas of matrimdny as your

    Corsemondent Y- N . I shall not enter Into the argument to which Ije refers of Mr ^ Lindsey pothers , that the comparatively Jew instaic ^ s of * suicide ^ furnish a proof ( jfrn ^ mkip ^ in general not being unhappy , 1 $ 9 ni $ who are weary of their mprtal existence are no doubt restrained frqm rushing on death for relief ,

    fromleareft ^ e consequences here , aft ; er , which " mantes them rather bear those ills they have , than fly to others they know not of . " I cannot however agree with Y . N . in thinking , that if s . elf-murder was . " not

    disreputable , arid if a general conviction prevailed that this world ends all numan feeling , hundreds of thousands would . thus die . " Happy for mankind the experiment is not likely to be made ; but even in this supposable case , the love of life is I conceive

    so strong and arflent , and there is such a natugtl dread of losing that existence and those ajctive powers we possess , as would prevent those hundreds of thousands of whom he speaks , from effecting self-destruction , The wisdom which Y . N . applauds of those philosophers who said «* the best thing possible was never to . be born , and the

    next best to die the hour of one ' s with , ' wfll be very differently appre-CI # ed , I presume ,, , b y xnost of . my r eaders who believe m the infinite * vl ^ o « i and goodness of our Creator , « w the pure doctrines of the

    Christ-; ao revelation , teaching us that man " destined for an immortal life , for T . ^ ov meii t of which he is fa rju&ned with the means of preparing , in ^ s ^ ate of trial apd probation . t « % - design of this paper is chiefly y-Jpt i . ihe leading objectipris of w « .. t # . % e di \; ne gQvprnment re-

    Untitled Article

    specting the present constitution of things , I shall not enter on the statemerit of the majiy and forcible proofs both positive and presumptive of the prevalence of happiness over misery

    in this varied scene , introductory to a future and more perfect state of oeing . For that satisfaction on this point which the present writer has himself received , he takes leave earnestly to recommend to Y . N . the attentive

    perusal of the chapter , " on the Goodness of the Deity , " in Dr . Paley ' s " Natural Theology , " Mr . Lindsey " the Divine Government , " and more especially " Illustrations of the Divine Government " by T . South wood

    Smith , a work which was judiciously reviewed in the Monthly Repository for August , and which may be justly ranked among the most masterly productions of the age , on this important subject .

    Many useful reflections and much moral improvement may be derived , from the inquiry proposed by Y . N . Whether happiness or misery really preponderates , it becomes us as men and professing Christians , to learn , with the Apostle Paul , ** in whatsoever state we are to be therewith content , "

    as the appointment of a Joeing whose wisdom cannot err , whose providence is universal , and whose , goodness is infinite and unchangeable . In forming a due estimate of human life , let

    us guard against mistaking the exceptions to the usual course of things , for the general rule , and deducing our inferences from the former instead of the latter . This it appears to me Y . N . has done , which has led him

    to his gloomy conclusions . It has pleased the Supreme Lord of the universe , to act by general laws ( excepting peculiar cases of miraculous operation } : and that this mode of

    government is the wisest and best of any conceivable plans , Dr . Priestley adduces many solid arguments to prove , in the first volume of his * * Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever . " It is evident , however , that

    this constitution of things , must be attended with unavoicfable partial evils . The same element of jire for instance which is of incalculable utility to the world , will sometimes consume the comfortable habitations of men and occasion great distress . Are we therefore justified from the latter accidental circumstance , in reasoning

    Untitled Article

    JHr . Howe in Answer to Y . N * s Objection to the Divine Government . 5 S 3

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1816, page 583, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2457/page/19/