A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…

To which I answer; it is impossible for us to determine with any Certainty or Evidence, that because the Difference is very small, and appears to us of no Consideration, therefore there is absolutely no superior Goodness, and no valuable End which can be proposed by the Creator and Governor of the World, in ordering such a Difference. The forementioned Author mentions many Instances. One is, there being one Atom in the whole Universe more, or less. But I think it would be unreasonable to suppose, that God made one Atom in vain, or without any End or Motive. He made not one Atom but what was a Work of his almighty Power, as much as the whole Globe of the Earth, and requires as much of a constant Exertion of almighty Power to uphold it; and was made and is uph•ld understandingly, and on Design, as much as if no other had been made but that. And it would be as unreasonable to suppose, that he made it without any Thing really aimed at in so doing, as much as to suppose that he made the Planet Jupiter without Aim or Design.

To which I answer; it is impossible for us to determine with any Certainty or Evidence, that because the Difference is very small, and appears to us of no Consideration, therefore there is absolutely no superiour Goodness, and no valuable End which can be proposed by the Creator and Governor of the World, in ordering such a Difference. The foremention'd Author mentions many Instances. One is, there being one Atom in the whole Universe more, or less. But I think it would be unreasonable to suppose, that God made one Atom in vain, or without any End or Motive. He made not one Atom but what was a Work of his almighty Power, as much as the whole Globe of the Earth, and requires as much of a constant Exertion of almighty Power to uphold it; and was made and is uph•ld understandingly, and on Design, as much as if no other had been made but that. And it would be as unreasonable to suppose, that he made it without any Thing really aimed at in so doing, as much as to suppose that he made the Planet Iupiter without Aim or Design.

'Tis possible, that the most minute Effects of the Creator's Power, the smallest assignable Differences between the Things which God has made, may be attended, in the whole Series of Events, and the whole Compass and Extent of their Influence, with very great and important Consequences. If the Laws of Motion & Gravitation, laid down by Sir Isaac Newton, hold universally, there is not one Atom, nor the least assignable Part of an Atom, but what has Influence, every Moment, throughout the whole material Universe, to cause every Part to be otherwise than it would be, if it were not for that particular corporeal Existence. And however the Effect is insensible for the present, yet it may in Length of Time become great and important.