Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-25

a moments reflection, TO be M. W
necessary consequence Of free cg,... y
} Now this free agent, byithe criro;D' =
; crclse OF his own WILL, (Which il,.'
) be the deduction made by the re,.,''
faculties OF the mind, or choice mad. J
the Understanding free consen, 80
mination became obnoxious to The D.,.''
attached to their branch Of Ina, -.
fd'c-and 1t requires no extrsord,.'
i perception TO sec at once, thai !,
have been bat sheer justice to,,ll, ,'aa
abandoned them 10 the lorosee,
quences Of their uniighieoas disobod:. .
but the goodness of God, (aurbor 81
perfect attributes, interposeJ ard :"
found for them means Of esea,s CO. 1'''y
terrible punishmcnt-but still ure.s.' a y
nay, even rendering still more neco...
the lree'agency Of man But the ~
occurs, did God know at the time !,
ated man; first, that he would franz.
the original law; and second, lh,, ,s. !
was made possible for him 10 be cav,
that would neglect that possibilities,
that pardon. answer with an emOh,e
NO. But ii is replied then God is No,
feet in his wisdom, and further itis
ma or perhaps a iheorum plainly dear.
from the scripture revelati on, tha, g.
has a knowledge of things. Now ,,r
the latter branch of the Objection, 4Ca
has a knowledge Of all things . Iplv
be il so, and ask the question frs, i,m
a thing an existence Of some sort. a SOM.
thing which is in eSse--oiherwise Them,
mere nonentily--an entire nothing. Ana
secondly ask, is there any one word n the
whole Revelation, that indicates tlulGN
has fore knowledge, or takes an7 c,gp.
zance at ali Of nonentities or no,hins-
And thirdly ask, is not .any act whiciv
possibility Q free agent NAV DO. befnt
is done perfect nonentity or ro.laug-
And fourthly ask. are not things iharsu
20 &c done by such free-agcnt in fu,u.
insuhject TO 4 fore knowledge Of any kind
Whatever And filthy ask, is thereas
cessiiy that God who IS every where. al.
ways prese nj, shonld have fo.eknowledce
OF such non eyis;enccS-such uolbinrs.
Now this dogma Is (if memorg IS correct)
rbsre interpolation or false quotation Of
scripture q sort "woif in sheeg clothing
But for the first par. of ihe obisciiur-
''Godi is not perfect in his wisdom" Now
holding IN memory what has Just been
SAID OF the several branches ofthe ebiec.
ton, as II will in substance equally af,Iy
here Il ask FIRST, whether wIsDoH ard fore
in their import synouymop
terms. And secondly ask, in what pant Of
the good book is il declared that FORE
KNowEnGE is an attribute of COP
Now ii fpreknowiedge be not an attrl,
ute OF God--if foreknowledge and wisdom
be not synonym0us-if noneniiiies lie na
Of Gods cogniZance, it is quite clear tat
he has not forcknowledge, preecieqce
of Il c acts of free agents before those act:
as such are executed.
Bat now for IA while admit, that God
does exercise fore knowledge az to have
known from all eternity, that on THURSDAY
and al this place, and under these circum-
stances | should write this very article
and let US see what would be the Legitimate
and deductions from such
a fact. Now if God from all eternity,
Ioreknew that | should write thus--ihaI
forclnowledge was entirely periecl--i
Ihis foreknowledge was perfect he must
foreknew all that innumerabs
rain of effect, and cause; from this last
Effect, viz: The writing aforesaid, back TO
hat remciest of all causes which wasihe
irst cause. Now according 10 oar Theology
what is that first cause of all subsequent
causes aud effects? Who then is The pr.
nam mobile Of every human action! The
answer cannot be cvaded, --God himself
| beautiful absurdity indeed--God who's
perfect IN holiness--goodness; God who
$ truth itself-sight, justice, mercy!!mn
That this God is the prime cause OF al
he denominations OF which men are caps
de! Can this be so?
But II IS said (and saying il IS when
said thai this fore-knowledge of God Is
lot cGusdI, though he knows these things
will be yet, that fore-knowledge does no!
lflect the matter at all. Beautiful lruay.
God iore-knew from all eternity that
should, riff you please would thus vn'o
!. e. he knew cause 10 exist, which mus
Beyond the possibility of doubt proGucss
certain and inevitable consequences whlch
N their t,,rn haconinu cauSes would fpfO