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    ^ enBe of * he . Diving power j * n < 3 presetice * a stronger confidence in the rectitude and kindness of his proceedings * . and more expanded conceptions of his nature , my object will be fully attained . < £ .

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    -5 fc 6 ¦ Oj » Mr . t * HchcocV& Remarks mi Proutdence .

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    On Mr . Luckoock ' s Remarks on Providence . " Deorutn providentia , mundus admi * nistratur ; iidemq . corisulunt rebus humanis ; neq . sol urn universis , verum eriam sinjrulis . " Cic .

    Sir , June 26 , 1823 . IN adverting to the commonly received doctrine of a Providence , general and particular , ( for generals are made up of particulars , ) it maybe observed first , that it is impossible

    in this case to prove a negative . The omnipresence and omniscience of the Deity being universally acknowledged , . his superintending providence appears to be a necessary consequence ; otherwise , you must suppose universal

    presence conjoined with infinite inactivity , which notion seems a species of refined epicureanism . It is true that we know nothing of the manner of the Divine Omnipresence , but we prove the fact by the same arguments

    from which we prove his being . When pMlosqpliers represent the Deity as the saul of the world , # s filling universal space , or as comprehending all things within Jumsel £ ft is evident that tjiese are very imperfect

    illustrations of a aubjiect , to wliica no human language is adequate , because they are ideas borrowed from the qualities or properties of matter , which are not q . apiicftble -to the Supreme B ^ ipg , and vmoze peculiar and distinguishing characteristic it is , that he , is an infinite of

    Spirit . Bei& ^ ps the syiivbol tbte uucient Egyptians in their liierogtyjxhics is , in this-view ^ , the . beat . adapted to . our present fctypxelwisions . ^ key represented the , figure of &n eye wifli

    a sceptrq , as ia & conspicuous p % xt of . the heavens , to denote the uuiv ^ ts ^ l dominion and providsn . ee of tW Altfoighty . As the ^ ye of a maa upon ^ n , # xteoiai ve plain , and much vos > t $ -HR 9 J 1 ^^ in « n ^> Aaa cfearly di ^^ rn ^ MS / m ^ Rll ^ fP&w , to every wQint 0 which Jfo ^ tmy b $ said to be xamixic

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    jneasure present * as the eye or kpn of an angel may be easily concaved tb extend much fatther in its opcratSou , and to take in a more prodi gious scope , so the eye of the Almighty ( speaking after the manner . of men ) pervades universal nature . It is

    immediatel y and intimatel y present in every point of space , ancl throughou t every moment of duration . This sublime principle is inimitably set forth by the royal poet in Ps . exxxix ., and iu another place he observes , The eyes of the Lord are in everv nlace . beholdof the Lord are in every

    placebehold-, ing the evil and the good . " How then can he be supposed as inattentive to the works of his hands , to the laws of nature ( so called ) which he hath ordained , or to the moral conduct of his rational offspring ! But it is asked , Which manifests

    the greatest skill * a watch occasionally to be wound up , or one endowed with a perpetual motion ? When the latter cutiosity shall have been produced , we may possibly answer this question . In the mean time we shafl

    observe , that though the material universe is governed in general by fixed laws , we cannot deny to its , great Author the power of departing from or suspending those laws upon particular occasions . It is upon this

    principle that we believe in the miracles of the Jewish and Christian dispensations . And with respect to what are called the laws of n ^ tfure , or the general economy of the Almighty in the government of the universe , it may perhaps be questioned without

    irreverence , whether Omnipotence itself can so impress ia ^ ert matte r ( winch , however modified and organized , is matter stil ^) as to proceed in one uniform course for thousands of years without any material deviations or irregularities . Dr . S . Clarke ranks

    this idea only among the possibilities , for it is allowed b jy all divines , rational and Irrational ( tue casuists of the Romish church excepted ^ that the Divine poyrer is not to b £ £ oH 3 'Mere ( l ae extending * . to ^ palpable aibaurdities

    and qoutwdictiOTUJ , qt &o natural iay ) O £ sibilitie $ , qt r $ tfhejr > tkat su <* tluqgs are jiqt proper objects < tf ppwpr , swd therefore jaot to t > e ; precticated of tUe Piv ^ n ^ . Jfow , A « munftauc ay stem , tUougU emulated for a ^ uuch loxi ^ er durat ^ n tU&n m

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1823, page 516, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1788/page/20/