When Sunday I saw in the “new this week” links of Anglicans Online the 1854 The Word “Eternal” and the Punishment of the Wicked: A Letter to the Rev. Dr. Jelf, Canon of Christ Church and Principal of King’s College by Frederick Denison Maurice I thought it might be a case of another Anglican divine that believed in universal salvation. After all, Archbishop Tillotson — whose grgrgrgrgrgrgrgrand-daughter I attended college with — always makes those “believed in the universal restoration so we’re OK” lists in the nineteenth century.
And he was, of course. And is someone worth reading more of, besides.
But I only got so far reading his letter, and now it is Friday, so I thought it timely to write. His letter says more to me about intellectual, academic, and Christian freedom; the diligence one must have to use language properly; and, at last, the twin zeal needed to defend one’s opinions mightily, even if unpopular, and the gravity need to face the consequences.
A man and model for our age, too, I think.
