A Theodicy

Contents

INTRODUCTION,

11
15

OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A THEODICY ..................................................PAGR

$ 1.—The failure of Plato, and other ancient philosophers, to construct &

theodicy, not a ground of despair.........

§ II.-The failure of Leibnitz not a ground of despair ..............

$ UI.—The system of the moral universe not purposely involved in obscurity

to teach us a lesson of huinility...............

& IV.— The littleness op the human mind a ground of hope.............

V.The construction of a theodicy not an attempt to solve mysteries, but to

dissipate absurdities...........

SVI.—The spirit in which the following work has been prosecuted, and the

relation of the author to other systems.....

..........

.............

PART I.

THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL EVIL, OR SIN, CONSISTENT WITH THE HOLI.

NESS OF GOD................

..............

..........................

CHAPTER I.-THE SCHEME OF NECESSITY DEXIES THAT MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

EXISTENCE OF SIX.....................

$ 1.—The attempts of Calvin and Luther to reconcile the scheme of necessity

with the responsibility of man.....

& II.—The manner in which Hobbes, Collins, and others, endeavour to reconcile

necessity with free and accountable agency....

§ III.—The sentiments of Descartes, Spinoza, and Malebranche, concerning the

relation between liberty and necessity......

$ IV.—The views of Locke, Tucker, Hartley, Priestley, Helvetius, and Diderot,

with respect to the relation between liberty and necessity......

ŠV. The manner in which Leibnitz endeavours to reconcile liberty and neces-

sity........

VI. — The attempt of Edwards to establish free and accountable agency on the

basis of necessity-The views of the younger Edwards, Day, Chalmers, Dick,

D'Aubigne, Hill, Shaw, and M'Cosh, concerning the agreement of liberty

and necessity..........

& VII.-The sentiments of Hime. Brown, ('omte, and Mill, in relation to the

antagonism between liberty and necessity....

& VIII.-The views of Kant and Sir William Humilton in relation to the

antagonism between liberty and necessity............

§ 18.—The notion of Lord Kames and Sir James Mackintosh on the same

subject ........

................... PAGE 81

§ X.—The conclusion of Mæhler, Tholuck, and others, that all speculation on

such a subject must be vain and fruitless........................

Ś XI.—The true conclusion from the foregoing review of opinions and argu-
ments ........

CHAPTER II.-THE SCHEME OF NECESSITY MAKES GOD THE AUTHOR OF SIX................. 86

$ 1.—The attempts of Calvin and other reformers to show that their system of

necessity does not make God the author of sin.........

$ 11.—The attempt of Leibnitz to show that the scheme of necessity does not

make God the author of sin...........

III.—The maxims adopted and employed by Edwards to show that the

scheme of necessity does not make God the author of sin.............

§ IV.-The attempts of Dr. Emmons and Dr. Chalmers to reconcile the scheme

of necessity with the purity of God..........

110

CHAPTER III.—THE SCHEME OF NECESSITY DENIES THE REALITY OF MORAL DISTINC-

TIOXS .........

............ 113

$ 1.—The views of Spinoza, in relation to the reality of moral distinctions....... 113

$ II.—The attempt of Edwards to reconcile the scheme of necessity with the

reality of moral distinctions............

114

§ III.-Of the proposition that “The essence of the virtue and vice of dispo-

sitions of the heart and acts of the will lies not in their cause, but in their

126

§ IV.- The scheme of necessity seems to be inconsistent with the reality of

moral distinctions, not because we confound natural and moral necessity,

but because it is really inconsistent therewith....

129

nature".......

........................

............

CHAPTER IV.--THE MORAL WORLD NOT CONSTITUTED ACCORDING TO THE SCHEME OF

NECESSITY..........

132

$ 1.—The scheme of necessity is based on a false psychology .......

132

§ II.—The scheme of necessity is directed against a false issue....

142

§ III.-The scheme of necessity is supported by false logic...........

149

& IV.—The scheme of necessity is fortified by false conceptions...........

154

§ V.—The scheme of necessity is recommended by false analogies.............. 160

§ VI.—The scheme of necessity is rendered plausible by a false phraseology..... 162

§ VII.—The scheme of necessity originates in a false method, and terminates

in a false religion..........

164

CHAPTER V.—THE RELATION BETWEEN THE HUMAN WILL AND THE DIVINE AGENCY..... 166

$ 1.—General view of the relation between the divine and the human power... 168

& II.—The Pelagian platform, or view of the relation between the divine and

the human power...........

..... 171

§ II.—The Augustinian platform, or view of the relation between the divine

agency and the human......

176

SIV.-The views of those who, in later times, have symbolized with Augustine... 178

$V.-The danger of mistaking distorted for exalted views of the divine

sovereignty...

180
I NAP&R VI.—THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL EVIL, OR SIN, RECONCILED WITH THE HOLINESS

OF GOD .....

......PAGE 182

$ 1.—The hypothesis of the soul's preëxistence.........

182

§ II.—The hypothesis of the Manicheans.....................

183

§ III.—The hypothesis of optimism........

185

§ IV.—The argument of the atheist–The reply of Leibnitz and other theists-

The insufficiency of this reply........

189

§ V.—The sophism of the atheist exploded, and a perfect agreement shown to

subsist between the existence of sin and the holiness of God ................... 192

g VI.—The true and only foundation of optimism .......

.............. 199

$ VII.— The glory of God seen in the creation of a world which he foresaw

would fall under the dominion of sin

203

Š VIII.-The little, captious spirit of Voltaire, and other atheizing minute

philosophers.........

209

*HAPTER VII.-OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED.......

211

$ 1.-It may be objected that the foregoing scheme is “new theology”............ 211

§ II.-It may be imagined that the views herein set forth limit the omnipotence

of God............

213

$ III.—The foregoing scheme, it may be said, presents a gloomy view of the

universe.....

............. 216

& IV.-It may be alleged, that in refusing to subject the volitions of men to the

power and control of God, we undermine the sentiments of humility and

submission....................

218

§ V.- The foregoing treatise may be deemed inconsistent with gratitude to God 22:2

§ VI.-It may be contended, that it is unfair to urge the preceding difficulties

against the scheme of necessity; inasmuch as the same, or as great, diffi-

culties attach to the systene of those by whom they are urged

223

PART II.

THE EXISTENCE OF NATURAL EVIL, OR SUFFERING, CONSISTENT WITH

THE GOODNESS OF GOD.....

231

CHAPTER 1.-GOD DESIRES AND SEEKS THE SALVATION OF ALL MEN

233

§ I.—The reason why theologians have concluded that God designs the salva-

tion of only a part of mankind ..........

235

§ II.— The attempt of Howe to reconcile the eternal ruin of a portion of man-

kind with the sincerity of God in his endeavours to save them....... 237

$ III.—The views of Luther and Calvin respecting the sincerity of God in his

endeavours to save those who will finally perish

242

........ 245

CHAPTER II.-NATURAL EVIL, OR SUFFERING, AND ESPECIALLY THE SUFFERING OF IN-

FANTS, RECONCILED WITH THE GOODXESS OF GOD.......

245

$1.-All suffering not a punishment for sin..............

S II.-The imputation of siu not consistent with the goodness of God.............. 250

& III.—The imputation of sin not consistent with human, much less with the

divine goodness.........

259

$ IV.-The true ends, or final causes, of natural evil...

264

ÅV.-The importance of harmonizig reason and revelation......

272

CHAPTER III.—THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST RECONCILED WITH THE GOODNESS OF GOD 276

$ 1.–The sufferings of Christ not unnecessary............. ..................PAGE 276

§ II.—The sufferings of Christ a bright manifestation of the goodness of God.... 279

III.—The objections of Dr. Channing, and other Unitarians, against the doc-

trine of the atonement..........

........................... 286

CHAPTER IV.—THE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED RECONCILED WITH THE

GOODNESS OF GOD............

294

1.—The false grounds upon which the doctrine of the eternity of future punish-

ment has been placed.

295

§ II.—The unsound principles from which, if true, the fallacy of the eternity

of future punishment may be clearly inferred

297

S III.—The eternity of future punishment an expression of the divine goodness 30]

CHAPTER V.—THE DISPENSATION OF THE DIVINE FAVOURS RECONCILED WITH THE

GOODNESS OF GOD...........

312

$1.—The unequal distribution of favours, which obtains in the economy of

natural providence, consistent with the goodness of God ...... 312

§ II.-The Scripture doctrine of election consistent with the impartiality of

the divine goodness ......

317

$ III.—The Calvinistic scheme of election inconsistent with the impartiality

and glory of the divine goodness..........

323

S IV.-The true ground and reason of election to eternal life shows it to be

consistent with the infinite goodness of God...............

330

CONCLUSION.

...........................

A SUMMARY VIEW OF THE PRINCIPLES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE FORE-

GOING SYSTEM.........

335

1.-SUMMARY OF THE FIRST PART OF THE FOREGOING SYSTEM.............

337

$ 1.—The scheme of necessity denies that man is the responsible author of sin. 338

& II.—The scheme of necessity makes God the author of sin..................

..... 349

341

$ III.—The scheme of necessity denies the reality of moral distinctions

§ IV.—The moral world not constituted according to the scheme of necessity... 343

§ V.—The relation between the human agency and the divine....................... 344

§ VI.— The existence of moral evil consistent with the infinite purity of God.... 345

................

........... 355

II.-SUMMARY OF THE SECOND PART OF THE FOREGOING SYSTEM...

$ 1.—God desires the salvation of all men.....

............. 355

§ II.—The sufferings of the innocent, and especially of infants, consistent with

the goodness of God.........

357

§ III.—The sufferings of Christ consistent with the divine goodness................ 359

& IV.-The eternity of future punishment consistent with the goodness of God. 360

ŠV.—The true doctrine of election and predestination consistent with the

goodness of God.................

............ 361

VI.— The question submitted..

.... 361

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