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

(1.) They may have a full and perfect Connection in and of themselves; because it may imply a Contradiction, or gross Absurdity, to suppose them not connected. Thus many Things are necessary in their own Nature. So the eternal Existence of Being generally considered, is necessary in it self: because it would be in it self the greatest Absurdity, to deny the Existence of Being in general, or to say there was absolute and universal Nothing; and is as it were the Sum of all Contradictions; as might be shown, if this were a proper Place for it. So God's Infinity, and other Attributes are necessary. So it is necessary in its own Nature, that two and two should be four; and it is necessary, that all right Lines drawn from the Centre of a Circle to the Circumference should be equal. It is necessary, fit and suitable, that Men should do to others, as they would that they should do to them. So innumerable Metaphysical and Mathematical Truths are necessary in Themselves; The Subject and Predicate of the Proposition which affirms them, are perfectly connected of themselves.

(1.) They may have a full and perfect Connection in and of themselves; because it may imply a Contradiction, or gross Absurdity, to suppose them not connected. Thus many Things are necessary in their own Nature. So the eternal Existence of Being generally considered, is necessary in it self: because it would be in it self the greatest Absurdity, to deny the Existence of Being in general, or to say there was absolute and universal Nothing; and is as it were the Sum of all Contradictions; as might be shewn, if this were a proper Place for it. So God's Infinity, and other Attributes are necessary. So it is necessary in its own Nature, that two and two should be four; and it is necessary, that all right Lines drawn from the Center of a Circle to the Circumference should be equal. It is necessary, fit and suitable, that Men should do to others, as they would that they should do to them. So innumerable Metaphysical and Mathematical Truths are necessary in Themselves; The Subject and Predicate of the Proposition which affirms them, are perfectly connected of themselves.

(2.) The Connection of the Subject and Predicate of a Proposition, which affirms the Existence of Something, may be fixed and made certain, because the Existence of that Thing is already come to pass; and either now is, or has been; and so has as it were made sure of Existence. And therefore, the Proposition which affirms present and past Existence of it, may by this Means be made certain, and necessarily and unalterably true; the past Event has fixed and decided the Matter, as to it's Existence; and has made it impossible but that Existence should be truly predicated of it. Thus the Existence of whatever is already come to pass, is now become necessary; 'tis become impossible it should be otherwise than true, that such a Thing has been.