A Collection of Sermons and Tracts (Volume 2); To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of the Life, Writing, and Character of the Author (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1773. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE MORAL NATURE AND FITNESS OF THINGS CONSIDERED. OCCASIOHID -Y Some PAssAGEs in the Reverend Mr Samuel Chandler's Sermon, lately preached to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners. NOTHING is more frequently talked of in this enlightened age, this age of politeness, reason and good sense, than the nature and fitness of things, or, the reason and nature of things; phrases, which to many, at least, that use them, * are unmeaning and unintelligible sounds; and serve only as a retreat, when they have been fairly beaten out of an argument by the superior force and evidence of divine revelation. It may easily be observed, how glibly, and with what volubility of speech, with what a sagacious look, and an air of wisdom, these words are pronounced by some, who, when asked, what things are meant ? what the nature of them ? and, what the fitness which arises from them ? are at once silenced and confounded. This must be understood of your lower-sized folks, who take up these sayings from others, and use them as parrots, by rote. It must be presumed, that their learned masters, from whom they have received them, better understand them, and are capable of explaining the meaning of them; among these, the Reverend Mr Samuel Chandler makes a very considerable figure; whose Sermon, lately preached to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners, lies before me; upon which I shall take leave to make some few strictures. This Gentleman, not content to assert, that the difference between moral good and evil is certain and immutable, which will be readily granted; further affirms, that " this arises from the nature of things; is strictly and pro" perly eternal; is prior to the will of God, and independent of it; is the inva" riable and eternal rule of t...