Preface vii Containing some preparatory observations. The importance, and yet the awful difficulty of the subject-different systems compared-the system of SOCINUS and his followers-the system of ARMINIUS-the system of the Reformed-plan of this work Containing an Explanation of the principal Terms relating to the subject under consideration. Equity-Sovereignty-a moral agent—moral evil - that liberty which is essential to moral agency-different kinds of necessity-and whether Containing a View of the Moral Government of God SECT. I. Of Man, as the subject of moral Goverument II. Of the Rule of moral Government III. Of the different dispensations of revealed Religion IV. Of the universal aspect of Revelation Containing a View of Sovereign Grace. SECT. I. Whether Sovereignty, in the Calvinistic sense of the term, II. Of the Sovereignty of Grace in proposing an Ultimate End III. Of the Sovereignty of Grace in the choice of Means * The Sections thus marked have been misplaced by a mistake which Containing an Examination of the fundamental principles of the Arminian System; particularly of Dr. WHITBY'S SECT. I. Whether a perfect moral agent, in a state of original proba- Shewing how the leading principles of this Essay are calculated to expose a number of other erroneous opinions, beside those professedly discussed-and their 1. In reference to Moral Science PREFACE. TH HE author of this Essay, when studying a particular subject, above twenty years ago, was naturally led to contemplate, through the medium of the sacred writings, GOD's COVENANT of redemption and grace, and its various dispensations. In the course of his inquiries, he perceived an evident difference between what may be denominated the internal form and the external administration of that covenant, as clearly implied in the whole tenor of divine revelation. He found in the same records, that the INTERNAL FORM is nothing else than a decretive design of benefiting the favoured objects of the covenant, together with the actual execution of that design, by an infinitely wise order and process, known to GOD alone; but that the EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATION is only an exhibition of the good we need, whether by proclamation, by testimony, or by positive institutions, under a conditional form, addressed to the will of a free agent. This induced him, unavoidably, to view man as at once a PASSIVE RECIPIENT of decreed benefits, and a FREE AGENT; an agent possessed of exemption from restraint or interference in the morality, or manner of his accountable actions. The more he thought of this distinction, as fairly implied in the scriptural account of GOD's covenant and its dispensations, the more clearly he perceived its great importance in reference to the blessings we actually receive, and the account we must b finally finally give of our conduct. The holy scriptures, throughout, represent man, in the first instance, as a passive recipient of benefits; as to his very being, his righteousness, his holiness; his renovation, preservation, and spiritual ability for acceptable obedience : but in the second instance, they abound in representations of man as possessed of will, and exemption from constraint in the morality of his actions; as the subject of moral government, before whom are laid good and evil, promises and threats, the approbation and disapprobation of the legislator, governor, and judge, for time and for eternity. Comparing these important representations of man, according to scripture, with the just principles of science, he found that the latter might be successfully employed in the service of the sacred records. And particularly, as the doctrines of LIBERTY and NECESSITY stand so intimately connected with the preceding views, he was led, from the importance of the subject, to a close re-examination of those doctrines. In this pursuit, he saw reason to conclude, that the internal form of the covenant was in fact a glorious branch of decretive necessity; and that its external administration was an important part of the doctrine of liberty. Since, however, liberty and necessity, as commonly understood, had been considered incompatible with each other, this occasioned a new object of enquiry; whether, the scripture doctrine of man being at once, but in different respects, physically necessitated and yet free, be not philosophically accurate? The result has been, to the author's full conviction, in the affirmative. But, |