Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. THE "FOUR POINTS IN THE POPULAR IDEA OF HELL." At the outset of his essay, Dr. Pusey tells us that he felt it "would be useless" to bring forward any amount of "evidence that the eternity (of course, he means endlessness) of punishment was held as matter of faith hy the martyrs of the three first centuries, and also by the Fathers generally, and that the denial of this truth has been condemned as heresy by the Fifth General Council," unless he could succeed in "removing the impressionwhich Dr. Farrar's impassioned declamation" against what he calls "the current opinions about hell" is calculated to make. Now, we need not stay to dispute whether this "impression," or rather these several "impressions" (for Dr. Pusey proceeds to mention four or five), were the result of "Dr. Farrar's impassioned declamation," or of the essential character of that doctrine about which he spoke: the important point is, What are these " impressions "? and how far has Dr. Pusey succeeded in " removing" them? Meantime, I mark with great thankfulness Dr. Pusey's frank admission, that unless these "impressions " are "removed," all " evidence "in support of the doctrine, which produces them, would be "useless." This is a very important admission, and carries much 12 Impression to be removed. in its train; for if it should appear that these impressions cannot be " removed," then Dr. Pusey (with those who follow him) must needs, on his own showing, admit that all the "evidence" he has produced in support of the doctrine he now maintains, is "useless," and that the doctrine itself must be given up. But what must these "impressions" be which can avail, in Dr. Pusey's mind, to render such " evidence " as he adduces "useless "?--Evidence from the decrees of...
