Necessity defined. Short account of Fate, and the order observed in the chain of things. Necessity perfectly compatible with voluntary freedom

CHAPTER II.

Man a compound being. Sensation the only source of his ideas. The soul's extensive dependence on the body, during their present state of connection. An argument, drawn from thence, for the necessity of human volitions. Queries, proposed to the asserters of self-determination

CHAPTER III.

Probable equality of human souls. Brutes themselves not mere-
ly material.
Necessity consistent with the morality of ac-
tions; and with reward and punishment, praise and blame;
and with the retributions of the judgment day. No certainty,
nor possibility, of a final judgment, on the Arminian prin-
ciples of chance and self-determination. Anti-necessitarians
unable to cope with infidels. Coincidence of Christian pre-
destination with philosophical Necessity

CHAPTER IV.

Specimen of Scripture attestations to the doctrine of Necessity.
Probable, that men are, by nature, uncivilized animals.
Total dependency of all events, and of all created beings, on
God

CHAPTER V.

Proofs that Christ himself was an absolute Necessitarian. This argued from several passages in his sermon on the mount; from his miracles; from his foreknowledge; from his prophecies; from his occasional declarations; and from the whole history of his life and death recorded in the gospels

CHAPTER VI.

Necessity, in the moral world, analogous to attraction, in the natural. Prodigious length, to which Des Cartes is said to have carried his idea of free-will. Mors and fatum, why reciprocated by the ancient Romans. God the sole determiner of human life and death. Shocking attempts of some

9

14

24

39

48

modern Free-willers to divest the Divine Being, not only of his decrees and providence, but of his prescience also

CHAPTER VII.

The supposed gloominess of Necessity refuted. Origin of doctrinal Necessity. Concise History and Summary of Manichæism. Methodists more gross Manichæans than Manes himself. Remarkable conversation pieces of three modern Philosophizers. The Westminster and other assemblies of Divines vindicated. Arminianism itself, when hard pushed, compelled to take refuge in Necessity. Conclusion of this Essay

APPENDIX.

Page

66

80

Consisting of a Dissertation on the sensible Qualities of Matter 107 Advertisement to the Collection of Letters

135

XVI.

XVII.
XVIII.

XIX.

Ambrose Serle, Esq.
Richard Hill, Esq.

Mr. Ryland, Jun.
Rev. Mr. P.
Mrs. Macaulay
Mrs. Macaulay
Rev. Dr. Gifford
Rev. Mr. B. P.
Rev. Mr. Romaine

6 Saints, in glory perfect made,

Wait thy passage through the shade:
Ardent for thy coming o'er

See, they throng the blissful shore.
Mount, their transports to improve:
Join the longing choir above:
Swiftly to their wish be giv'n:
Kindle higher joy in heav'n.

-Such the prospects that arise,
To the dying Christian's eyes!
Such the glorious vista, Faith
Opens through the shades of death!

INDEX.

A

Abbot, Dr. George, archbishop of Canterbury, joins with sir H. S.
in printing Bradwardin's book against pelagianism, i. 358. A
remarkable anecdote, retrieved and related by him, concerning
the miscarriage of Calvin's scheme for a general union of the re-
formed churches, ii. 145, 146. note. His character and account
of Peter Martyr's wife, 3. 182. note. Bertius' book against final per-
severance, sent to this archbishop, ii. 217, 218. The resentment
conceived against Bertius on that account, ibid. Remarkable pas-
sage, concerning the extent of redemption, in a letter written to
this archbishop, by the British divines at Dort, 256, 257.
Abbot, Dr. Robert, bishop of Sarum, publicly censures Laud,
ii. 307.

Abraham, was justified before he offered up Isaac, ii. 23. In
what respect he was justified by works, i. 190. ii. 21. 23.

114. 192.

Accident, no such thing, v. 160.

Accursed from Christ, what St. Paul meant by the wish, iii. 428.
Ackworth, Mr. public orator of Cambridge; his public encomiums
on Bucer and Fagius, ii. 179, 180.

Adam and Eve, necessitarians antecedently to their fall, vi.
85, 86.

Adheral, Mr. dies in prison for the gospel, ii. 94.

Advent Sunday, a meditation upon it, iii. 436.

Adversity, a good teacher, iv. 155.

Afflictions, the right improvement of, i. 442.

Absolutely ne-

cessary in the Christian's lot, iii. 3. 115. Dealt out with an
unerring hand, 88.

Albigenses and Waldenses, churches of, whence so called, i. 302.
Their great antiquity, 303. Abounded in most parts of
Europe, 304. Extracts from their several confessions of faith,
ibid. Severely persecuted by the church of Rome, 309.
the reformation, had recourse to Zuinglius and Calvin to
supply them with preachers, 310.

VOL. VI.

F F

At