N05663:687
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 4 › Section 12: Of a supposed Tendency of these Principles to Atheism and Licentiousness.
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.
SECTION XII. Of a supposed Tendency of these Principles to Atheism and Licentiousness.
IF any object against what has been maintained, that it tends to Atheism; I know not on what Grounds such an Objection can be raised, unless it be that some Atheists have held a Doctrine of Necessity which they suppose to be like this. But if it be so, I am persuaded the Arminians would not look upon it just, that their Notion of Freedom and Continge•ce▪ should be charged with a Tendency to all the Errors that ever any embraced, who have held such Opinions. The ⟨p. 275⟩Stoic Philosophers, whom the Calvinists are charged with agreeing with, were no Atheists, but the greatest Theists, and nearest a-kin to Christians in their Opinions concerning the Unity and the Perfections of the Godhead, of all the Heathen Philosophers. And Epicurus, that chief Father of Atheism, maintained no such Doctrine of Necessity, but was the greatest Maintainer of Contingence.
IF any object against what has been maintain'd, that it tends to Atheism; I know not on what Grounds such an Objection can be raised, unless it be that some Atheists have held a Doctrine of Necessity which they suppose to be like this. But if it be so, I am persuaded the Arminians would not look upon it just, that their Notion of Freedom and Continge•ce▪ should be charged with a Tendency to all the Errors that ever any embraced, who have held such Opinions. The ⟨p. 275⟩Stoic Philosophers, whom the Calvinists are charged with agreeing with, were no Atheists, but the greatest Theists, and nearest a-kin to Christians in their Opinions concerning the Unity and the Perfections of the Godhead, of all the Heathen Philosophers. And Epicurus, that chief Father of Atheism, maintain'd no such Doctrine of Necessity, but was the greatest Maintainer of Contingence.