On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
knowledge ofGM . <* If , ( says the ^ a ^ Ust > God kno ws th ^ t t a cett&KeymkVfitt iak * place , that a certain action will be performed , such action must be performed , therefore * is not performed by the flee will of man . In reply to this—Although we look upon
things , as occurring , in successive periods of time ^ this may not be the c&se with Deity ; with respect to whom , time is swallowed up in eternity , and relative terms of limited duration may be words without application or meaning . Eternity for ever present , is an idea which includes and absorbs
all idoas of particular duration . Of | r . faculties- may not be capable of cptnpf (? h € ndy [ ig the nature of eterhity—^ we can readily believe that a thousand years , with Deify , may b& us we day with us ; or even as , one hourt and it mav be even as one i ^ o # r ; and it may be
only our ignorance , in these matters ( and not ^ y impossibility in ahe n ^ wr ^ ^ ^ he ^ ing ) , tvhich prevents $ s feqm conceiving how a t | ipi | saiid | . pf wr yeajjs may bian 4 actually present ta the intel % ence ofGq « U Now * if this Here admitted , what we call the
prescience of God will be no argument against the doctrine of the free agency of man ; for it will siot be denied that a being may forbear to interfere in the promo * tion , © r < Jjs £ ribuUon < € | f events ^ ac . ( p ally passing and present \ Reasoning , however , under our
own notions of time and suecet » ion ^ I do not know that we have any authority to suppose Vty . uni versa ! prescience € kf God ^ Thai the Deity is aU powerful is admiued—t ^ at Me oa » con .
trol the eveijU < rf this woj ? ld , is allowed : but the pavvef which is po «»^ od b not uiwfty * e xer ted *
Untitled Article
God , after having bestowed upon his creatures a nature suitable to his purpose , may , fo * ihe good of these bis creatures , decline to influence the general tenor o £ their actions—or , to know of
such actions ? before they are performed ( possessing , at ali times , the power to arrest their proceedings , at any individual moment ) . This might be the case : it would afford an instance
of condescension , and of grace s it would be a positive act of volition ; consequently aft act of
power . It may indeed , be argued that the fulfilment of prophecies is a proof of the foreknowledge of God—but , prophecies are oe * currences , out of the common
order of things ; and the fulfilment of them cannot prove any thing , beyond the display of di ** vine interference , with respect to the accomplishment of some par * ticular event : but even thi * in *
terference does not , necessarily control , perhaps never has controlled the free purpose of ma ^ The finishing of a prophecy may be accomplished , as well by the
interposition of circumstances , jls by -supernatural influence on the mind of the agent ; and , hence , arises the question , how far the accomplisher of a prophecy i& answerable for his conduct ,
fidnutting the necessitiy of the prophecy being fuliiUed . The answer will be , that he is responsible , in as much as he has acted from bis own ftee will ; or , has not resisted inducements to
actions , which ought to have been re «* sis ted , and which , with the powers be possessed , he might have reseated . Let as suppose a divine prophecy the accomplishment ot which will require oj ^ tensi ble cri-
Untitled Article
Suggestion * concerning Moral Capability . $ 7
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1814, page 87, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2437/page/15/
-