Page:Observations on Man 1834.djvu/25

 THE SECOND PART.

INTRODUCTION.

PAGE

Distribution of the Second Part 323

CHAP. I.

THE BEING AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD AND OF NATURAL RELIGION.

Something must have existed from all eternity 325

There must be an infinite and independent Being ib.

The infinite and independent Being is endued with infinite power and knowledge 327

God is infinitely benevolent 330

Five notions of infinite benevolence considered and compared together 338

There is but one God 341

God is a spiritual Being ib.

God is an eternal and omnipresent Being 343

God is an immutable Being 344

God is a free Being ib.

Holiness, justice, veracity, mercy, and all other moral perfections, ought to be ascribed to God in an infinite degree 345

God is to be considered by us not only as our Creator, but also as our Governor, Judge, and Father 347

The foregoing evidences for the divine attributes afford a proper foundation for natural religion 350

Natural religion receives great light and confirmation from revealed 352

Religion pre-supposes free-will in the popular and practical sense, i.e. it pre-supposes a voluntary power over our affections and actions 355

Religion does not pre-suppose free-will in the philosophical sense, i.e. it does not pre-suppose a power of doing different things, the previous circumstances remaining the same 357

The infinite power and knowledge of God exclude free-will in the philosophical sense 363