1729. 8vo. (Lud. Ant. Muratori, de paradiso regnique coelestis gloria, non expectata corporum resurrectione, justis a Deo collata; ed. 2. Venet. 1755.)-Gotth. Ephr. Lessing's Education of the human race; (in German,) 1780. 8vo.--J. G. Schlosser's Conversations on the transmigration of souls; (in German,) Lips. 1781–82. 8vo.

SEC. 206. Resurrection and general judgment.

All the principal christian sects, acknowledged a resurrection, and rejected chiliasm. Yet this last doctrine had many friends; among whom were Amos Comenius, Peter Jurieu, Thomas Burnet, William Whiston, and others. Philip James Spener, and his adherents, taught a refined chiliasm; or the expectation of better times. The characteristics of the resuscitated bodies, gave occasion, for many investigations. According to the most common opinion, men will again possess the same bodies, or at least, the substance of the same bodies, which they had in this life. On the contrary, the Socinians, John le Clerc, aud Godfrey Less, believed in the formation of entirely new bodies. Joseph Priestly placed the resurrection of men, immediately after their death.* Most of the modern German divines, consider the resurrection, as merely a figurative representation; by which the immor-tality of the soul, is so pictured forth, as to be intelligible to persons unaccustomed to reflection. On the general judgment, likewise, many questions have been raised;. and attempts have been made, to ascertain the time when it will take place; but the most recent theology finds in it, only the drapery of the doctrine, that God will render to both good and bad men, a perfect recompense.. Notices. Henr. Corodi, Critical history of Chiliasm; (in German,) vol. III. and IV. Zurich 1794. The resurrection of the dead, according to the instructions of the New Testament. An extended essay; (in German,) by Fred. des Cotes; Kirchheim Bolanden 1791. The palingenesia of men, according to reason and scripture; (in Germ.) by Ern. Fred. Ockel; Mietau and Königsb. 1791. 4to..

*No: he believed the soul to be material; and to die and rise again, with the body. Translator.

SEC. 207. Salvation and damnation.

The various speculations concerning the place, and the condition, of the blessed and the damned, scarcely deserve to be desbribed. Of more importance is the inquiry, respecting the duration of future punishment; on which subject, all the variety of opinions, that existed in former times among christians, still.continued. Yet the prevailing sentiment, and that which was expressed in the Augsburg Confession, and in other Creeds, was in favor of the eternity of future punishment. This was evinced, not only by proofs from the holy scriptures, but also on rational grounds. The Socinians, however, held to a punishment, which would terminate, with the annihilation of the damned. Besides, there were always some, who advocated a full restitution, of all men, to virtue and blessedness; among whom, John William Petersen, Thomas Burnet, William Whiston, Maria Huber, and Petitpierre, were the most distinguished. Many theologians have begun, to soften down the common representation. John Tillotson and Godfrey Less, admitted, that God had threatened everlasting punishment to the wicked; but they doubted, whether he would execute his threatenings, in their full extent. James Vernet believed, that the goodness of God, in remitting punishment, ought not to be circumscribed. The Wolfian philosophy was, at first, employed to evince the eternity of hell torments; but it afterwards, led to a confutation of this doctrine; by advancing the principles, that the justice of God, is merely his goodness, directed by wisdom; and that the grand object of divine punishments, is the reformation offenders. And hence, J. A. Eberhard, B. Basedow, and J. F. Grüner, held forth the reformation and salvation of the damned. Others, have either left the question wholly undecided, or have referred the eternity, mentioned in the scripture, only to the place of punishment; or have stopped at the never ending disadvantages, which the neglect of repentance in the present life, will bring along with it in the life

to come.

Notices. William Petersen,) Μυςήριον ἀποκαταςάσεως πανTwv, i. e. the mystery of the restoration of all things; (in German,) Offenbach 1701-10. III vol: Fol. Lewis Gerhard, Systema droxatasarɛws, i. e. the complete idea of the everlasting gospel, concerning the restoration of all things; (in German,) 1727. 4to. The eternity of hell torments, inquired into and considered; by W. Whiston; Lond. 1740. 8vo. Les systemes des Theologiens anciens et modernes conciliés, par l'exposition des differens sentiments sur l'etat des ames separées des corps; (par Mar. Huber,) à Londres 1729. Three Tracts on hell punishments, with a short account of what happened to M. Petitpierre, in the county of Neufchatel; (in Germ.) Francf. and Lips. 1763. 8vo.

Joh. L. Mosheim, Thoughts on the doctrine of the termination of hell torments; (in German,) Coburg 1728. 8vo. S. I. Baumgarten, Vindiciae poenarum aeternarum ; Halae 1742. I. E. Schubert, Rational thoughts on the eternity of hell torments; (in German,) Jena 1753. 4to. (I. R. G. Beyer,) On the punishments of the damned, and their duration; (in German,) Lips. 1782.

THE END.*