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αρχή,

xix. 4; John i. 1, 2: the extremity, or outermoft point, Acts x. 11; xi. 5: rule and dominion, 1 Cor. xv. 24; Luke xx. 20: the perfon in whom the power is lodged, Luke xii. 11; Rom. viii. 38. Chrift calls himself Rev. xxii. 13. The conjunction xα has more than twenty different fignifications. These inftances, out of the great number that might be produced, are mentioned only to fhew that we have no reason to be furprized if fome of the words and phrases which are applied to the duration of future punishment or happinefs, admit of more fenfes than one, and that the meaning of a word in any particular inftance must be principally determined by the fubject and connection in which it is introduced. An inftance in which the fubject and connection compel us to put a very uncommon fenfe upon the word awvi occurs Ephef. ii. 2, the courfe or manner of this world; κατά τον αιώνα τ8 κοσμό τετε.

2. That fenfe of a word in which it is most frequently used by an author, and by writers in a fimilar ftyle, should guide us in explaining the meaning of it in any cafe in which the fubject, and connection, or other parts of the book, do not countenance any other interpretation.

3. That fignification which would have been the plainest and most obvious in the time and place in which any book was written and published, is to be preferred to any other, where a word or phrafe is not evidently and purposely used in fo highly figurative a fenfe as to be intended to be obscure.

4. Doubtful and figurative expreffions must be explained by thofe which are clear, diftinct, and without any figure.

5. Words and phrases which are employed to express the duration of future happiness or punishment, if the connection in which they stand, or other expreffions in scripture on the fame subject, do not determine their fignification, must be explained by the fame or fimilar words and phrases applied to other fubjects that are not matters of debate, if fuch can be found. Otherwise each party would give an interpretation favourable to his own fentiment, which would be to affume the point in difpute, instead of proving it.

6. That explanation which is most agreeable to the general tenor and fpirit of the New Testament, should be preferred to any other.

7. Any fense of a word or phrafe, that does not agree with natural religion, and with other acknowledged truths, fhould be rejected. Upon this principle, Proteftants reject the Roman Catholic explanation of the phrase, "this is my body." Every fingle truth must be confiftent with every other truth,

of whatever kind.

These things being premised, let us now attend to the different terms and phrafes relating to the duration of future happiness, and of future punishment, which are employed in the New Teftament, and endeavour to investigate the true and precife meaning of them.

CHAPTER I.

Expreffions relating to the Duration of the Future Punishment of the Wicked.

SECTION 1. Αιων and αιώνιος.

O whom the blackness of dark

2 Pet. ii. 17; To }

Jude 13. ever, or, for an age.

nefs is reserved, is alwva, for

Rev. xiv. 11. The fmoke of their torment shall

go up, is alwvas alwvwv, for ever and ever, or, for εις αιώνας αιώνων, ages of ages. This is probably taken from Ifaiah

xxxiv. 10.

Rev. xix. 3. Her fmoke (the great harlot's) goeth up, εις τες αιώνας των αιώνων, for ever and ever, or, for ages of ages. See Ifa. xxxiv. 10.

Rev. xx. 10. They (the beaft and the false prophet) will be tormented day and night, εις τες αιώνας των alwvwv, for ever and ever, or, for ages of ages. Ifaiah xxxiv. 10.

Matt. xviii. 8. It is better to enter into life maimed, than having two hands or feet, to be caft, as To wug To awríov, into everlasting fire, or, fire for the age.

Matt. xxv. 41. Depart from me ye curfed, as To Tug To aιwviov, into everlasting fire, or, fire for the age: Matt. xxv. 46. And these fhall go away, S xoλaσ alwviov, into everlasting punishment, or, chastifement for an age.

Mark iii. 29. But he who fhall blafpheme against the Holy Spirit, hath not forgiveness, is Tov alava, for ever, or, for the age; but is liable, awg xpiσews, to everlasting punishment, or, punishment for an age. Griefbach mentions xoλaσews as one of the various readings here.

2 Theff. i. 9. Who fhall fuffer punishment, even oλelpov aιwvior, everlasting deftruction, or, death ολεθρον αιώνιον,

for an age.

The above are all the inftances, I believe, in which awv and alwvios are applied in the New Teftament to the duration of future punishment. Now, in order to ascertain the exact meaning of these words, and what length of duration they signify, let us first confider how they are used respecting other subjects in the New Teftament, and in the Greek tranflation of the Old. The feveral texts will also be examined in their proper places.

I. A.wv is applied to present time, this life, or age,

or world.

Matt. xii. 32. Shall not be forgiven, 8TÉ EV TYTW Tw alwv, neither in this age, or, world, nor in that which is to come.

Matt. xiii. 22. He who received feed among thorns, is he who heareth the word, and the anxious care, T8 αIwVos T8T8, of this world, &c.

Matt. xiii. 39. The harvest is the end, 78 alwvos, of the world, or age.

Matt. xiii. 40. So will it be in the end, 78 aivos TET8, of this world, or age.

Matt. xiii. 49. So will it be in the end, 78 alvos,

of the world, or age,

Mark iv. 19. And the anxious cares, Taivos, of the world, in Griefbach's note is 7878.

Luke xvi. 8. For the fons, T8 alvos T8T8, of this world are more prudent, &c.

Luke xx. 34. The fons, 78 aivos TETE, of this world marry, and are given in marriage.

Matt. xxviii. 20. Lo, I am with you always to the end, T8 aivos, of the world, or age.

Rom. xii. 2. Be not conformed, or fashioned according, Tw aw! T8TW, to this world, namely, in its vicious customs.

1 Cor. viii. 13. I will not eat flefh, is tov αiwvα, εις τον αιώνα, for ever, or, during the whole of my life.

1 Cor. x. 11. These things are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends, Twv aιwvwv, of the ages are come. Awv fcripturæ eft vulgatiffimé, fæculum Judaicum. Quo fenfu Circumcifio, Pafcha, ritufque alii Mosaici dicuntur effe sig alwva. Sic difcipuli quærunt a Chrifto περι της συνελειας 78 aivos atque refpondet ille de excidio Hierofoly

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