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WORKS

OF

AUGUSTUS M. TOPLADY, A. B.

LATE VICAR OF BROAD HEMBURY, DEVON,

NEW EDITION,

WITH AN ENLARGED MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR

IN SIX VOLUMES.

VOL. VI.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BAYNES AND SON,

PATERNOSTER ROW;

AND H. S. BAYNES, EDINBURGH.

1825.

W. GRACIE, PRINTER.

2133

T6

v.6

THE

SCHEME

OF

CHRISTIAN AND PHILOSOPHICAL NECESSITY

ASSERTED.

IN OPPOSITION TO MR. JOHN WESLEY'S TRACT ON THAT

SUBJECT.

"Adeò stat et permanet invicta sententia, omnia necessitate fieri. Nec est hic ulla obscuritas, aut ambiguitas. In Esaiâ dicit [Deus], consilium meum stabit, et voluntas mea fiet. Quis enim puer non intelligit quid velint hæc vocabula, consilium, voluntas, fiet, stabit?" Luther, de Servo Arbitrio, sect. 19.

"Quæ nobis videtur contingentia, secretum Dei impulsum fuisse agnoscet fides." Calvin, Institut. 1. 1. c. 16.

"Quid igitur, inquies, nullane est in rebus, ut istorum vocabulo utar, contingentia? Nihil casus? Nihil fortuna?-Omnia necessariò evenire Scripturæ docent." Melancthon, Loc. Com. P. 10. Edit. Argentor. 1523.

"There is not a fly, but has had infinite wisdom concerned, not only in its structure, but in its destination." Dr. Young's Cent. not fab. Letter II.

VOL. VI.

B

PREFACE.

YESTERDAY'S post brought me a packet from London, including, among other papers, a small tract, recently published by Mr. John Wesley, entitled, Thoughts upon Necessity." I had no sooner perused those "Thoughts," than I resolved to bring them to the test: and am now setting about it.

66

During some years past, I have for the most part, stood patiently on the defensive, against this gentleman. It is high time that I take my turn to invade ; and carry the arms of truth into the enemy's own territory.

Mr. Wesley's tract, abovementioned, was sent to me, by a well known, and very deserving, London clergyman. So much of whose letter as relates to the said tract, shall, for the amusement of my readers, be submitted to their view.

"I went last night to the Foundery (a); expecting to hear Pope John: but was disappointed. After hearing a Welshman, for an hour and twenty minutes, on Psalm lxxxiv. 11. preach up all the heresies of the place; a man, who sat in the pulpit, told him to give over;' for he seemed to bid fair for another half hour, at least. But he came to a conclusion, as desired. Then this man, who seemed a local preacher, stood up, with a pamphlet in his hand, and addressed the auditory in the following

manner:

"I am desired to publish a pamphlet upon Necessity and Free-will: the best extant, that I know of,

(a) Mr. Wesley's principal meeting-house in London.

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