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A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, virtue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, vertue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]
printed by S. Kneeland, 1754
Part 2 › Section 11: The Evidence of GOD's certain Foreknowledge of the Volitions of moral Agents.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Corol. 2. It appears from what has been observed, that unless God foreknows the Volitions of moral Agents, all the Prophecies of Scripture have no better Foundation than mere Conjecture; and That, in most Instances, a Conjecture which must have the utmost Uncertainty; depending on an innumerable, ⟨p. 112⟩and as it were infinite, Multitude of Volitions, which are all, even to God, uncertain Events: However, these Prophecies are delivered as absolute Predictions, and very many of them in the most positive Manner, with Asseverations; and some of them with the most solemn Oaths.
Corol. 2. It appears from what has been observed, that unless God foreknows the Volitions of moral Agents, all the Prophecies of Scripture have no better Foundation than meer Conjecture; and That, in most Instances, a Conjecture which must have the utmost Uncertainty; depending on an innumerable, ⟨p. 112⟩and as it were infinite, Multitude of Volitions, which are all, even to God, uncertain Events: However, these Prophecies are delivered as absolute Predictions, and very many of them in the most positive Manner, with Asseverations; and some of them with the most solemn Oaths.
Corol. 3. It also follows from what has been observed, that if this Notion of God's Ignorance of future Volitions be true, in vain did Christ say (after uttering many great and important Predictions, concerning God's moral Kingdom, and Things depending on Men's moral Actions) Matth. xxiv.35. Heaven and Earth shall pass away; but my Words shall not pass away.