r 3^4 ] 



The Dodtor further adds, in his reply to Mr. Palmer, p. 7. 

 " that certainty or univerfality is the only poffible ground of 

 *' concluding that there is a neceflity in any cafe whatever," 

 which is true as far as refpedts corporeal nature ; but with refpedl 

 to intelligent beings the perceived connexion betwixt their ac- 

 tions and a fupreme degree of apprehended happinefs is the 

 true ground of the neceflity of their volitions when they are 

 necefTary, as fliewn Nos. 9 and 14, which indeed may be indi- 

 cated by conftancy and univerfality ; and where this ground does 

 not esift, certainty (with refpecTt: to our knowledge) cannot be 

 obtained. 



The next argvmient in proof of the neceflity of human a<5lJons 

 is derived from divine prasfcience. Dr. Prieftley ftates it thus : 

 " As it is not in the compafs of power in the author of any 

 " fyftem, that an event fhould take place without a caufe, or 

 *' that it fhould be equally poflible for two events to follow the 

 " fame circumftances, fo neither, fuppofing this to be poflible, 

 " would it be within the compafs of knowledge to forefee 

 " fuch a contingent event ; for as nothing can be known to 

 *' exijl, bur what does exlfl, io certainly nothing can be known 

 " to aiife from -what does exiji^ but what does arife from it, or 

 •• depend upon it ; but according to the definition of the terms, 

 " a contingent event does not depend upon any previous known 

 ** circumftances, fince fome other event might have arifcn in the 



" fame 



