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
