[ 3'5 I 



" fame circumftances. All that is in the compafs of knowledge 

 " in this cafe is, to forefee all the different events that might 

 " take place in the fame circumftinces, but which of them will 

 " adlually take place cannot poffibly be known." P. 19. 



In anfwer to this argument we muft obferve, that not only 

 the immenfely complicated feries and concatenation of events 

 which we denominate the aSlual fyftem of the -worU, was originally 

 barely pojjible^ but alfo an infinite number of other fyftems diffe- 

 rently arranged and equally complicated. In fome of thefe the 

 contingent adl appeared linked with one of the motives with 

 which, in the fame circumftances, it might poffibly be connedled, 

 and in another fyftem a very different event might arife from the ^ 

 equally poflible connexion with the oppofite motive, as in the 

 cafes Nos. 13 and 15. Each of thefe events would give room to a 

 totally different feries of fubfequent events, for the greateft and 

 moft important arife from others feemingly the leaft important. 

 Among thefe different fyflems God has chofen the befl^ or at 

 leaft one of the beji, and upon this choice his fore knowledge of 

 that determinate contingent objed; which is to happen, to which 

 the Doclor alludes, and where apparently unequal motives do 

 not determine it, is grounded. 



To this argument Mr. Crombie, in his Treatife on Philofophic 

 Neceffity, p. 73. farther adds, that fince the Deity forefees future 

 events they mufl neceffarily take place. But as knowledge of 



R r 2 any 



