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Untitled Article
minality , on the part of the aceDitifplisfc ^ T . Uet us estimate th ^ lilor&l powers of man at one huti *
dred . Let us suppose th ^ gradual interposition of a chain of circumstances ( comprehending if necessary , internal influences ) , in opposition to these tfnorai powers ; which succession of
circumstances shall termmate in the fulfillment of the ptophecy above men * tiohed % let us estimate ihe force ^ f the se opposing circumstances lit one hundred and fifty . Fr »> m i comparison of these powers , it
fs evident that the prophecy must , eventually be fulfilled—neverthefessj if * the human agent exert his powers to their full extent , he is BfroTaUy exculpated , though physrcally instruntentai : but , if he heive riot sd bxerted himself—if
the prophecy be accomplished by hfs instrumentality , whilst the gradual interposition of circum-% * &ftc % sV tending to such accomplishment , amounted , oi > ly , to five power of'fifty ¦ ( which we may fctfppose the extent , ordinary , in the course of Providence ) , his
own moral power being , at the same time , one hundred , then , tfc -he answerable for such accomplishment , in as much as it was through ! about by means , over ^ Vh ich he had control , and which lie miorht have overcome .
y " It is possible that divine interference , by the interposition of circumstances , whether" external # r internal , may exist , ia the common occurrences of life : or ,
to speak more correctly , that $ uch interference is ready to be displayed , if the fr ^ e will of man does not accomplish what the divine mind has declared shall be accomplifib ^ d . But it is also possiW ^ and it if reasonable ,
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that what is called the ordinary cou tie o ? natW i % ? f * W # it ^ ia 4 ap ^ e $ to the moral afM phyke ^ lrb n ^ stituHon of » ftn , that ^ cfe # events which t ! te divi ^ e ^ B ^ irig may have decreed shall t&kfe place , will take place ( a ^ in the kistance of prophecies , we h ^ ve shewn they may take place } , bf the free agency of man .
It is evident that any consideration of this question rfoes notirik fiuence the ordinary occurrence of this life ; our reasohinfg thetem fore has a reference to aiitdtttfet
world . And with"ihis Iin ^ ilalio 1 b those who argue for free rigency have a manifest advaiitage bvfer their opponents , for admitting th ^ reasoning df men in faVbuf of
free will to be false , tfaey ^ Hill plead and are jusflfied-bjirTiec ^ i sity , it were impos »? bli& they could help feasoiiirig ts flfiS * have reasoned ; the ^ of ctoiimb can not be censured' th € * tfefoir %
should not Be ptfnishfed loir Sut& reasoning or its t ^ miequ ^^ fe The situation of the fa * aStist > i # very diftereht ; if his argtitff ^ tlt be sound , for him if may ' bef'Wett ; but if it should prove to "he ft £ ls ^ ,
he must answer at his peril rof the perversion of that utidei ^ t ^ i ^^ ing which nature haS given Kii 0 » Moreover they who support tl |^ doctrine of mechanism possfeflS ^ # ^ title to our praise or adrtiifaitidte
for what they may irrfagWie tftlw freedom from prejudice , oT ^^ jfeir superior penetration * ! : ftir f ® te should be rei ^ emberfed , that irlll *
soning and acting , a * thiey feS ^ Cw , from mere nece ^ ity , the {^ j ^ Mf their arguments and tbei # S ^§ ii devolves entirely upon $ 6 ti \ &poW&C ulterior to themselves . ¦ J y r ¦ But having" disposed of thi ^ argument against the actual taWr
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SB Suggestions concerning Moral Capability .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1814, page 88, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2437/page/16/
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