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    The difficwJ |; yfa | kendl ^ g ^ e ^( H » : rence qf jmKTOi ^^ , in $ ie 2 $ J& chapter of J ^ t . Matthew * in senses $ > f different es $ e $$ , ai ^ $ r % d to by Mr . H ., will not ia , mw degree affect the

    force of the preceding observations ; but , in my apprehension , it is < su fficientl y answered by remarking , ; th | t this identical term is used in a similar manner , that is . with two different

    significations in the same ; sentence , ia other parts of the Sacred Writings . CiiEiucus Cantabrigiensis .

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    Lewes , Sir , Dec . 8 , 1823 . TTr ^ EELING myself in some measure Jl called upon to answer the objections advanced by your correspondent Mr . Spurrell , ( p . 649 , ) to a

    position of mine , that it is beyond the finite powers of man , to reconcile the Divine Prescience with the perfect freedom of the human will y and judging that a total silence on my part

    might be construed either into a want of argument or neglect ; I am . induced once more to intrude up 9 fi the columns of your valuable miscellany , though not without fearing lest the speculative and abstruse uiscussiops

    lately introduced should be considered as having already occupied too many of its pages . As to the point in question , I cannot conceive but that the more profoundly and intensely the mind dwells upon the subject , and the more it endeavours , by close reasoning and

    philosophical deductions , to bear down every obstacle and reconcile the two principles at issuer the more strongly must the conviction be felt , that a degree of intelligence widely differing in its powers from the limited conceptions of man , must be necessary

    to the comprehension of their compatibility with each other . A moral agent , according to the Libertarian ^ > has the free and uncontrolled choice of two or more courses of action . He will doubtless admit , ( itfdeed . he must admit , to be

    consistent with lus own principles , ) th ^ t there is fin uncertainty as to which of the different ca ^ ix ^ s that a # ent will jjurfi ue . Now < whatever ( is uncqrtmn may or way ^ ot t ake glace ; this no one <* & deny . fjjut is not aj , foreknowledge ot wh ^ t m * y never occur , a

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    < Urectjcon ) tradietion , m fejmftfcj Vl&& 6 9 y ^ hjT ^* munfy w&efbsir & > £ > & fcte a < $ - Qf •^ uaorai kgrnhzm + ^ t ^ tber ev ^ t ^ mmtiWce * $ ^( g-4 ! 8 $ & * a ^ id all tl ^ at , chaiu of causes , ; a * id ef * f ^ ts ( far there can faiw effect without a capsej which , lea 4 to a

    necessary Result , must be necess ^ fyi t ^ I conceive it wilt be pa | easy tmh&io say the least ) to co ^ trpveft ^ ny of the fgregoing propositions ; b ^ itf iia ;^ - knowledging th § ir v validity , whw ; fe admitted but the vprysum and substance of philosophical necessity ; as

    well as the incot $ p > qtjibilitu of , the j > vine Jorejir ^ wleage wiih t / ie unnQntroiled agency of man ? I must confess , Sir , for my own part , that - ike reasoning on which the doctrine of Necessity is founded , ( although attended with much difficulty as to

    moral accountability *) appears to me more solid and unanswerable , than any that can be adduced in favour of the Libertarian system . Man cannot act without a motive ; his motives must invariably have their origin in the circumstances by which he is surrounded , and over which he can have

    no possible controul : while his facialties of retrospection , comparison and anticipation , considered by the Libertarian as proofs of a self-determining power , may be shewn by similar deductions , to form prominent links in that chain of causes and effects , which

    in every period of his existence necessarily determine his volitions . Shall I then presume to affirm , that man , with regard to his moral character , is not the author of his owa happiness or misery ; that he is not responsible for his actions ; or that , being the

    unhappy victim of predestination , the finally wicked could never have been virtuous ; and that with regard to liim , the paternal solicitations of , Divine love , were never more than tantalizing aggravations of his miserable destiny ? Or shall I on the otjxer hand presume to-limit tjjie stupea $ Q $ & , | tfinhab it ^^ h

    tributes of Him w ^ e t ^ JTnityj and whose , ^ ^ Spi f it ^^ y ^\ l ^^ d in

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    ^ J&ffr ]/ . J $ &mim . < kn F * rekno % 0 t « dge tt ^ f Ft 4 e Agency ^ 74 if

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1823, page 703, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1791/page/23/