458 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



metaplwsical writers had discovered so much 

 ingeiiuit}' and acumen. But like all the rest, 

 while labouring to establish the doctrine of fate, 

 necessity, and liberty, he clearly proved that nei- 

 ther the calvinistic, nor the arminian theory, nor 

 tlie metaphysical way of reasoning, ever could ex- 

 plain or clear up the subject; and that the con- 

 necting truths or principles, which would serve 

 to show the consistency between the unaltera- 

 ble councils and decrees of heaven, and the 

 free agency and accountability of men, were not 

 to be found in any of the metaphysical systems, 

 that had yet been announced to the world ; 

 and that no such theory or system ever could 

 explain, or be applied to the powers or actions 

 of animals. 



Others of the clerijv had wrote to srreat ad- 

 vantage in the controversies with the church of 

 England, and on the doctrines and claims of 

 the church of Rome. But the country had not 

 yet been agitated by any controversies respect- 

 ing the trinity, the incarnation, the atonement, 

 the necessity, evidence or reality of miracles, 

 prophecy, or revelation, and perhaps no order 

 of clergy ever were more useful to mankind, 

 than those who had directed the religious affairs 

 of the colonies at this peiiod. 



In the courts of law, the business "was as well 

 done, and justice was as impartially administer- 

 ed, as in any part of Europe. The common 

 law of England was the rule of proceeding, and 

 happily for the country, neither the provincial 

 governments, the judges, or the lawyers had at- 

 tempted to alter or to improve it. What rela- 

 ted to the local circumstances of the colonies 



