The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1791-12-17 00:00:00, page 4

In refpe& tt yprivation, its natural
import is the removal of a quality from
any fubjeft ; and as it is uled here, it is
undoubtedly meant, the removal of ho
liness from the heart of mart. But is
the removal, fin ; or, the exercise which
takes place in consequence of it ? A
finful heart infers a privation ; yet fin
in icfelf is fomehing diftind from pri
vation. Sin is not holiness, and it is
not fu fficient for a definition to express
what a thing is not ; but what it is,
abftriftly considered. In order to ob
tain a definition suited to the nature of
fin, we can have r?courfe to no being
with greater propriety, than to the Su
preme, and to his inspired servants.
They represent it, as evil exercise of
the mind, enmity against God, a love
of one's felf in preference to him who
requires the whole heart. Love and
hatred are both positive exercises of the
mind ; one a fulfillment, the other a
violation of the law.
Hence it is obvious, that as fin has
an exigence, it muff be the effeft of
some cause, or, have exited from e
ternity. The latter being evidently ab
surd, either the Creator, or the creature
must be its cause ; for it could not come
into being by chance, nor could it pro
duce itfelf: and if it can be adequately
demonstrated that the creature is its
cause, it will follow, that there are more
creators than one, even of intellectual
nature, which is not admissible.
" GOD is said to he the cause of Sin."
IN denial, fin is said to be a priva
tion or nonentity ; therefore cantor
be the effe& of any cause.
Subtil definition : but is its j^fine's
adequate to its fubtihy ? Privation
and nonentity being terms not very
ambiguous, they are, prhapi, general
ly rightly conceived of. They seem,
h< re to be used fynonimoufiy ; and both
or either of them, to comprise a defi
nition of fin. But can any, who grant
the exigence of it, but readily perceive
the impertinence of putting ftich a coh
ftruaion on the term ? Definitions re
late to poffirive natures, and determine
their particular properties. If finis
nonentiy, we have no conception of it,
and no meaning can be applied to it.
However, if ihe definition be just,
instead of loafing, a capital advantage
will follow from it. Mankind will,
thence, be set on a noble footing with
the Deity ; for his threatenings have no
relation to nonentity, but only to the
fubjeds of disobedience, who exercise
hatred in opposition to his requirements.
But how can it be just without a per
vertion of the whole tenor of scripture ?
It militates against the propriety of re
wards and punishments, and is inconfo
nant with every principle of moral phi
lofbphy. Would a man of prudence
and discernment ever have been guilty
of so grovling an evasion ? It is a won
der that even the illiterate affeat to it :
but cofidering that it is so disagreeable
to suppose him " who created all things
both viable and invisible, of whom are
all things," to be the cause of invisible,
finful exercise of heart, that it is no
great wonder neither ; for if fin does
not exist, it has no cause, consequently
all disagreeable reflections are remo
ved.
SEAT of the MUSES.
MORAL TRUTH.
FRIENDS are like leaves that on the
trees do grow
In summer's projperous fate much love
do feow.
Dot art thou in adverfit, ? Then they
Like leaves from trees, in autumn, fall
away.
Happy is he, who hath a friend indeed :
But he more happy is, who none does need.
ALCANDER again.
Is it not more consistent to foppofe
that he, " in whose hand our breath is, I
and in whom are all our ways,worketh all I
things according to the counsel of his l
own will ;" and, for some glorious pur-I
pose, (mysterious to us) caused the ex-I
iftence of fin, altho' the aggressor means
it for evil I %The offence muff have I
come," it was determined from eterni-I
ty, glory depended upon it ; and, as itl
was right that it should come, who with|
greater propriety than Ged, Should ofel
that right in order to effect it ? "''l
was not right that it ihould come, it l
would argue imperfection in the divine l
government. The great Apostle, in the I
ninth of Romans, reasons the neceffityl
of fin, and that God was the cause of I
hardness in Pharaoh's heart, and then I
filenfes every reply against God, " who I
doeth his whole pleasure,"
To know further, whether the idea I
derogates from truth, it will not be im
proper to enumerate a few texts in re-I
velarion.
" Now therefore the Lord hath put a
lying spirit into the mouths of all those
prophets." I Kings 22. 23. '! The
king's heart is in the hands of the Lord,
as the rivers of water he turneth it whi
therloever he will" Prov. 21. 1. "Let
him curse for the Lord hath bidden
him" 2 Sam. 16. 11. " God turned
the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his
pople,to deal fubrilly with hi fervan'S."
And further, " Man's goings are of the
Lord ; the way of man is not in hims If.
The Lord made all things for himfcli,
even the wicked for the day of evil,"
Likewise many other passages which it
would be needless to mention.
Calvln also fays, " Here they run
into he dittindion of will and perm fion :
bu. why should they fay that God per
minted it, but that he willed it ?'' B 3
C. 23. SB. Again, '• God doth not on-
Iv permit, but oppoint the things to be
done that wicked men do." B I. C.lB
St. And again, " The wicked do fin
and perilh not by God's perm : ffion only,
but by his will arid appointnhri." B 3 +
C. 23. S.B. And further, " God did
not only forefee, but disposed the fall
of man" 8.3. C. 23 5.7.
What more in favour of this horrid
expreflion, so new. and so full of pre
fumprion could be said ? Certainly it
seems confentaneous with reason ; the
opinion of great men corroborate the
idea, revelation affords considerable
light, and let impartiality decide.
The attribute of mercy, displayed in
the redemption of man is glorious, and
fin was necessary in order for its exhi
bition. An event so important would
never have been accomplished, had it
been wholly dependent on chance or
the caprice of man. The efficiency of
him, who is the disposer of all events
was indifpenfibly necessary. Much is
dependant on the actions of men —eve-
ry volition eff Cis the Universe ; and,
by he influence of the Deity, tends to
promote the grand end, which was de
igned from eternity. All things, even
the minuria of nature, are gloriously
working together for good. Sublime
idea!,
Let Men and Angels with celestial fires.
Search the great plan, that Jublimates the
foul.
Indulge the pleasure heavenl, truth in
spires,
And yield to reason and divine controls.
And ma, the heav'n-horn, philosophic
mind,
Dis da in the climate of the grov'ling throng.
Soar to the blfsfulrealm of norib refin'd.
And nobly dare difinguijh right from
wrong,
[To be Continued.]
W^OW^
AL L persons having any
claims against the Es
tate of James Marden, late of
Chichefter, (in the county of
Rockingham,) gentleman de
ceased, are desired to exhibit
the fame to the fubferiber,
Administratrix to said effate,
and all persons indebted to said
estate are desired to fettle the
fame with her immediately.
Sarab Marden.
Chichefter, |8& Nov. 1791.
STRAYED from the sub
scriber, some time last
spring, a red,lined back, year
ling STEER, with a crop off
his left ear. Whoever will
give information of the fame
so that he may be recovered
again, shall be handsomely re^
warded, and all necessary
charges paid —by
KENSLEY LYFORD.
Exeter, Nov. 10, 1791.
Catechisms for Chi ldren,
Just published —and read, for fall at this
of the firft quality,
Just arrived from London,
and are now ready for sale— and
will be fold as low as can be purchased
in Boston—by
Page & Sargeant.
Chefler, 2.3th, Nav. 1791.
CASH
Will be given for a few
pounds of
Hogs' Bristles,
At the DuCKMANUFACTORY
in Exeter.
ALL persons having any
claims against the Es
tate of fofeph Clark, late of
Stratham, in the county of
Rockingham, gentleman,de
ceafed, are desired to exhibit
the fame to the fubferiber,
Executor to said estate—and
A very general assortment of
DRUGS & MEDICINES,
WHERE AS Abraham
Lock of Epsom, in the
county of Roc' ingham,is ad
judged to be non compds mentis,
and not capable of trancing
business for himfelf, arid the
fubferiber being appointed his
Gurdian, hereby cautions all
persons against trading with
him on any account.
all persons indebted to said
estate are requfted to fettle the
fame immediately.
Nicholas Clark.
Stratham. Dec. 2, 1791
bind foot white, about 15 hands high—
trots and paces. Whoever will take op
said Mare, and return her to me, Ihall
be handsomely rewarded for their trou
ble, and all necessary charges paid by
JESSE TUCKE.
Kerfington, Non. 26, 1791.
Ira Sandborn.
tyforn, 11. Nov. 1-91.
Drugs & Medicines.
Dr. Watts' Plain and Eaf,
Stray Steer.
Strayed or Stolen,
Office, oa. 21.
OUT of the
"field of the fub
fciiber, ch the 25th
inst. a large black
MARE, 12 years
old, —part of one
N. B. The two last Saturdays
of this, and of the three follow
ing months, will be appropriat
ed for settlement of the above
accounts, at the house of the
fubferiber.
ALL persons having ac
counts open with the
fubferiber, are desired to call
on him and fettle the fame.— l
Those who are indebted to
him by Bond or Note, are
requested to make immediate
payment And those who
have demands on him, are
desired to call and receive their
dues. If any should neglect
this notice, they may expert
the effects of the law.
E R E4S Elizabeth,
wife of me the fubferiber,
has eloped from my bed & board,
and behaved herfelf very unbe
comingly—l therefore forbid all
persons harbouring, or trufling
her on my account, ds I will not
pa, an, d^bt of her contrasting
after this date.
CHARLES RUNDLET.
Exeter, Dec. 1791.
EBENEZER CRAM,
Poll-Rider,
REfpeafully informs his
^ Customers in the following towns#
v ; z.— Pittsfield London, Gilmantown,
Meredith Center - Harbour,Moultonborovgb
and Sandwich, that their Bills are made
Out for the last year, and left at those
places in each town, where the papers
are lodged, for settlement. —He would
esteem it a great favour,if those who live
off from :he main road, would lodge
the pay with the persons with whom
the Bills and papers are left. He
flatters himfelf that no one can ex
tricate himfelf thro' want ; for Provi
dence has been exceeding bountiful
this, as well as the last year, in most ar
ticles of Produce. Sure is he, that none
will exped the papers, if he is obliged
to visit them for the pay: and in faa,
to realize nothing but CALL again.
He enjoins it on all,who are indebt
ed to him, for the year 1790, as well as
the present, 1791, to fettle previous to
the firft of February 1792, which will
save much expence to themselves, and
himfelf the most difagreable trouble.
Exeter, Dec. 1791.
,uft Published,
DIVINE hymns- or,
SPIRITUAL SONGS;
For the use of Religious Assemblies and
Private Christians —being a colledion by
Joshua Smith —and others.
The Third Exeter Edition corrected —
with an Addiion of THIKTY-TWO
HYMNS —containing in the whole, 145
Hymns of various metres.
Printed and Sold at the Printing-Of
fice in Exeter, by wholesale or retail-
Sold also by Mr. Samuel Sleeper, at his
house in Poplin. October 7.
STRAYED away from the
fubfcriber,on the i6th of
November last, a white bar
row PIG, wt. loglb. whoever
will give information of said
Pig, so that the owner may
have him again, ffiall be paid
for their trouble, by
S.4WJEL BROWN.
Cheder, 2„h Nov. 1 91 _
E. GILMAN.
Exeter, Dec. 9, 1791.
Stray Pig.