PAGE 379.

Sin merely the parent of pain-wILL BE NOTICED.] This was a part of the author's original plan, in opposition to the doctrine of HARTLEY, PRIESTLEY, and others of that school. But having edited President EDWARDS's masterly Treatise on God's last end in the creation of the World, with some explanatory notes, the investigation is thought needless in the present work. Besides, if the principles already stated and proved be duly weighed, the sentiment in question, it is presumed, must appear alike unscriptural, irritational, and contrary to existing facts.

1

APPENDIX;

IN WHICH ARE NOTICED

OBJECTIONS AND ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS

MADE BY DIFFERENT WRITERS,

IN REFERENCE TO SOME OF

THE AUTHOR'S SENTIMENTS.

APPENDIX, &c.

PREVIOUS contemplations of divine Equity and

Sovereignty led me, while endeavouring to separate the real doctrine of "Predestination to Life" from all impure mixtures, in a Discourse on that subject with explanatory notes, to give my thoughts on the causation of EVIL as well as of Good. In defining the pre-disposing, metaphysical cause of moral evil, I called it "a tendency to defection" which would have such influence on the free agent as must ensure his wrong manner of choice, if not graciously prevented. The first edition of that Discourse excited some inquiry; but when a second was called for, it created alarm. The idea seems to have gone forth, that I had some new theo. logical tenet" which must not be suffered to pass without critical examination.

66

This resolution to examine, gave rise to a Manuscript, without the author's name, which within two years past has obtained an extensive circulation; and being soon recognized, from internal evidence and other circumstances, to be the production of the late Rev. ABRAHAM BOOTH, it made a considerable impression on some who read it. To this an immediate reply was written, with a view that those who had perused the one, might have an opportunity of seeing the other. It was well known that Mr. BOOTH had read much on theological subjects, and that his character stood high as an orthodox divine. Hence many who, from their own acknowledgements, were little accustomed to think on the subject with precision, or even in any manner to satisfy themselves, were set afloat. It seems they thought that HE who had

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