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God^s holiness^ where it can still stretch onward to the moral 
infinity that then comes into view. This doctrine of the 
helplessness of man_, and his need of Divine grace, by no 
means conflicts with the doctrine of the Freedom of his Will. 
Some of the Scotch theologians have, I think, confounded 
unjustly man^s need of grace with the doctrines of philoso- 
phical necessity. To my mind the two are in entirely diff’erent 
regions. Man is free to take his own course, but, if he proudly 
rejects the help God offers him, he will find that all schemes 
of his own are unavailing, and that his weak arm cannot bear 
back the forces which urge him in a downward direction. 
Let us, then, understand that in this question of the Free- 
dom or the reverse of the Will we are dealing with a matter 
of the greatest moral moment. If the will be free, then the 
moral nature of man at once comes into prominence ; the con- 
science is seen to be seated on the throne ; the awful moral 
sanctities are clearly revealed; the infinity of all questions 
connected with righteousness is made evident; the horizon 
which bounds our existence recedes before us, and we find our- 
selves placed as actors on the vast stage of the nniverse, fur- 
nished with helps and guides, but bidden to choose our own 
destiny, to take upon ourselves the solemn burdens of exist- 
ence, and to say whether our path through life shall be, first, 
the battle-field of a hero, then the exultation of a conqueror, 
then the aspirations and holiness of a saint, and shall finally 
carry us throned and triumphant to our coronation amidst the 
saints of God ; or whether that life-path shall be a misuse of 
opportunities, a despising of offered help, a mocking at the 
restraints of law, an intellectual selfishness, a gradual debase- 
ment, a final sinking into crimes for which no name can be found. 
Upwards or downwards man must go, and there seems an 
infinity in both directions. It behoves us all to choose the up- 
ward and happier path, knowing that we are quickly advancing 
to the last tribunal, where the secret action of every Will will 
be laid open, and all will be tried by just and universal Law. 
The Chairman (Eev. Preb. Kow, M.A.). — On the part of the meeting 
I have now to propose a vote of thanks to the author of this paper, a vote 
which I feel sure we shall all very cordially tender for the extremely clear, 
distinct, and effective manner in which he has met the entire question. 
(Hear.) Before sitting down I wish to make a few remarks, as I shall 
not be able to remain until the end of the meeting, this being the first 
evening during the last two years upon which I have ventured out of 
doors. I think the paper throughout is exceedingly clear, and that it has 
ably met the position assumed by Mr. Herbert Spencer. One thing which 
greatly surprises me is, that books like those of Mr. Spencer — so utterlv 
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