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Untitled Article
ing a few observations oh the subject . I atti BOt vain enough ta suppose that my limited conceptions can throw the faintest light upon the great original question M the origin of evil /* or effect any thing towards an elucidation of its difficulties : imt there is
a wide difference between endeavouring to trace the fallacy of human rea- » socring-, and scanning the unsearchable ways of that Eternal Mind which , by the declaration of the Scriptures of
truth , are past finding- out . Well mig * ht our immortal bard suppose an angel ' s mighty thought unequal to the task ; ana make even these superior spirits vrhen reasoning high ,
' ? Of providence , foreknowledge , will and fute ; Fix'd fate , free-wHl foreknowledge absolute ;" To find " No end in wandering mazes lost /'
These perplexing questions © f " fixed fate ^ free-will , " I ana aware are in some measure distinct from ,, and have only a relative bearing on the primary one 5 although they must be intiraate-! y connected with the existence , if
not the origin of moral evil in particular . But how easy is it ( if I may be allowed the digression ) to shew in a few Wards , that in themselves ^ they ire for above the measure of the
human understanding ; not oaly from the contradictory arguroeftto adduced by the strongest rainde * but by a pimple statement of the opposing conclusions , weeesaarily attached to either system ! For instance , to reconcile % he free * agency of man , with the strict and unlimited ommscienee of
the DeiUy > appears to our finite minds an impossibility , a eoatradietion in terms ; © or have all the arguments of the ablest men upon the subject yet made it coororeh&iisible . While to reconcile the Necessarian hypothesis with moral accountability * mUat I think be allowed Cin spite of the
meat tiig $ iuotta attempts to prow that they ark oot ogeeagarify ioKOBsisteat with each other ) to be equally hnpos * * ibte and afcmrd . Da away with the mOnal - rB » i >^^ 9 ibi lity of man * and where appeiif * the eonsisteni ^ of thoae litroog ag * pe <* J& tor httmeyot hope ftttd few , csodbuked in the- exhortution 8 f tbft thcent ^ irijig « and the prouaiae *
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of scripture ; and where the impa rtiuL ditatributioa of the EH vinefavours to the creatures of his hand , who gives to every roan according to his deserts ? Admit his free agency , and where is the Divide eontroul over the affairs of this lower world ? Where then shall
\ ve rest ? No where eaa we , but in the assurance that these mysterious points are far above the range of human thought , and known only in the secret counsels of the Most EUglu Perhaps the most ingenious hypothesis , ( and which has . been so ably stated by Dr . Southwood Smith , in bis Illustrations of the Divine Governis
ment ^ which supposes the Deity to have a perfect cantronl over the moral creation , through the medium of secondary causes , by so regulating the state of the material work ! ,-fca to ensure a consequent effect upon the moral : but surely this as completely destroys the . free agency , and consequently the Just responsibility &i Bryan , as uny other Necessarian proposition . But to return . That a
knowledge of tkeir former existence , if » ot the past experience of imtural and moral ill * with tbe necessary state of trial : and discipline connected therewitb > may be an essential means of enhancing that future blLs 3 which we
may reat assured will ultimately l > € the portion of all , it is very easy to conceive £ and that the all-wise aod benevolent God permits or ordains botfc for this end , ( for tlie end with him must be benevolent , be it what it
ntttty >) ia not only a rational , but I think a safe conclusion : but to suppose it beyond the power of the Almighty to o ^ xunte raet and ultimately expel the sinful passions ^ the follies and the crimes , resulting from ignorance aud miscalculation , m any one created being throughout tlie endless lyea oi eternity * wii&n at tlie same tiuoo the declaration of his will , his Chastisements and hia rewards , have ? all this declared end in view * is to ia * dulge a supposition , to which many be
t ^ ndral confiequences must necesfawtiIy attached . Mrslv it leads us to phuee no confidence in many of ti \ e * pije * fl promises xif his ^ sacred word j xvbacU asmtred us that a titue will eom * ± when sigb » and toars sh ^ U ^ I fcnowtt no morfcy wiubn hist » aktf ; & 8 ^ li be brought forth tvith e ^ crls ^^ Sr-
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596 On some recent Hypotheses yfih * Origin of EviL
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1823, page 586, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1789/page/26/
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