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ERRATU M.

P. 127. 1. 18: for antients read ancients.

AN

ADDRESS

то

Dr. PRIESTLY, &c.

SIR,

T was but lately, on account of fome avoca

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tions, that an opportunity was afforded me of reading over your Treatife upon Neceffity; which however I had for fome time longed to accomplish: as it was a fubject, which I had much confidered; and had indeed long fince, for my private fatisfaction, written down my thoughts upon it. When I did at laft take your treatise in hand, I formed a refolution not to be too hafty in my conclufions: but to read it over with that attention and care, which every thing deserves, that proceeds from a person

B

on

a perfon fo justly celebrated, as Dr. Priestly. It will be unneceffary, and idle, to detain you with any further prefatory discourse: which account I fhall only take the liberty of giving you this fhort information at setting out, that I cannot by any means accede to the principles, which you lay down; nor abide by your conclufions. Upon-the most diligent inquiry I am perfuaded, that mankind have a felf-determining power. That upon mature deliberation, and just reasoning, they can make a free and proper election: and can not only choose, but reject, as fhall feem best to their judgment. In short they are not tied down by that abfolute Neceffity, under which you lay them: nor are affected by that overbearing influence, and chain of causes, which according to your opinion have been irresistibly operating from the very commencement of time. You fay in the course of your treatise, that the Neceffity, of which you treat, is not the Predestination of the Calvinifts, nor the Fate of the Ancients: (Preface, p. xxiii.) a circumstance, which I fhall not take upon me at prefent to controvert. This is certain upon your own evidence, through the whole course of your writing, however you may fometimes foften

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