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    to conceive . " 'Iiwkrald request Mr . J . to read the hypothesis again , and if he cannot then conceive it , let him endeavour to meet and refute the liae of argument upon which it is founded * but which he has not hitherto attempted : and a similar remark ' ap-€€

    plies to his assertion , that natural and moral evil are only arbitrary terms , which liave the same meaning , is a position that cannot be maintained ; nor that natural evil constantly arises from moral evil , and vice versa . " I challenge Mr . J , to refute either of these positions ; mere assertions are easily made , but proofs are not quite so subservient .

    4 thly . Mr . J . asks , in what light the hypothesis will appear if applied to Christ ; " Shall he who was without sin be subject to miscalculation , error and guilt ? The supposition is too preposterous , if not too profane , to be admitted for a moment . " I

    most willingly meet the application of the hypothesis to our Lord Jesus Christ : and here I would ask Mr . J . whether * he supposes that Christ was without the liability Xo sin , or was a being of more than finite or limited attributes ; and whether his being without sin signifies any thing more , than an abstinence from actual transgression of the moral law ? And I would remind

    Mr . J ., that the Scriptures describe Jesus as being a man , in all points tempted , like unto his brethren ; which , I should , suppose , proves beyond all question that he was by nature a mere man , and , like his brethren , subject to miscalculation and error , unless Mr . J . can shew that

    by office our Lord was raised above this subjectipn and made infinite , for it could be nothing less . But here , Mr . J . has overstrained the , doctrine of the hypothesis / , for the purpose of caricaturing it by adding guilt . .

    Preposterous and ptofane then as it may seem to Mr . J . to suppose our , Lord Jesus Christ to be by nature subject to miscalculation . and , error * Ij § hall not hesitate for . a . moment , v > to > . be " preposterous and profile *? enough , until our Lord Jesus Christ can , be proved to be : the infinite Jehovah himself , to assert ,, that he was , and ever wilt r ^ iu ain , with all his finite brethren , subject to miscalculation and error ; although , as I before

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    remarked ,, I the degree of error and evil hi a futW stale of bliss / Will doubtless be so far removed from all that we now designate by these ternis , that the perfection and happiness of the righteous in a future state , will amount to all , and to much im > rfe than all , that we can at present conceive of even infinite happiness itself .

    I believe I have now replied to all the assertions and objections of this gentleman , since those of them tQ which I have not specifically and distinctly alluded , have received from their similarity to several of Mr . Eaton ' s observations , their answers ki

    my replies to that gentleman : and m taking my leave - of--Mr . J ., while I cannot compliment his metaphysics or his closeness of . reasoning , I must express my admiration of his Warmhearted piety , his evident goodness of heart / and even that honest zeal for his preconceived . sacred p rejudices , which has hurried him unintentionally , I doubt not , into several illiberal expressions . Had he been a little more guarded in some of his observations ,

    it would certainly ^ have been more pleasant to the feelings of a fellowinquirer after truth , who , publishing his sentiments' from as pure mo ^ tives and with as pious impressions and as sincere a desire for the

    attainment of pure . theological knowledge as those of Mr . J , himself , expects to be opposed in the enlightened columns of the Monthly Repository , only by liberality , calm and patient inquiry , and unprejudiced and temperate investigation . , •

    I shall now conclude by summing up the hypothesis in the words of your enJLightened correspondent , Mr ; Luckcoek , ( p . 522 , ) as being a most concise and admirable epitome of it ; and for which , * and the favourable notice he has ; taken of the subject > I feel obliged * - ~ " All inferiority ; itfcM plies imperfection ; and aa aU ersea ^ tion , material , and . intellectual * ttfctBl necessarily bs inferior to its great and original Creator $ it mustxjonsecjaentty

    partake of some qualities , both physical and moral , wt | ich 46 urJ limited views lead us to express . by the term evil" ¦ > ¦ . > -i * ' ** i . iu : ; , G I ^ . HINTON .

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    Mr . Hintonhn his Hypothesis of the inevitable Existence of \ Etiitk jftl

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1823, page 711, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1791/page/31/