ESSAY

IN WHICH

THE DOCTRINE

OF A

POSITIVE DIVINE EFFICIENCY

EXCITING THE WILL OF MEN TO SIN,

As held by some modern: Writers,

IS

CANDIDLY DISCUSSED,

AND SHEWN TO BE 1. UNPHILOSOPHICAL. " 2. INCONSISTENT WITH THE PLAIN AND OBVIOUS SENSE OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND OF COURSE A DEPARTURE FROM THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL; AND 3. A NOVEL DOCTRINE, UTTERLY REPUGNANT TO THE FAITH OF THE CHRISTIAN

CHURCH IN ALL PAST AGES.

BY THOMAS ANDROS, A. M.
Pastor of the Church of Christ in Berkley, Mass.

Prove all things, hold fast that which is good...ST. PAUL.
Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas..... VIRGIL.

BOSTON:
PRINTED FOR SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG,
BY CROCKER & BREWSTER,

No. 50, Cornhill.

July, 1820.

CONTENTS.

Page

INTRODUCTION.

Stating some circumstances, which drew the author reluctantly

into the discussion,

SECTION I.

The question stated, “Does God operate directly on the heart of

fallen man, and excite him by an inward positive influence, to

yield to the motives and allurements to sin, which, in the course

of divine providence, are presented to his view?"

13

SECTION II.

The standard by which this, and all other questions in theology

and morals, are to be ultimately decided, i. e. the obvious sense

of the word of God, as determined by the common laws of

exposition, .. • • • - - -

24

SECTION III.

Two positions, that may be adjudged as the main pillars of the

system of direct efficiency, considered: viz. 1. That motive in

no possible case can be the cause of volition. 2. That those

passages of Scripture which speak of a divine agency in hardening

the hearts of men, &c. are to be understood as perfectly par. "

allel to, and as expressive of, a direct influence, as those which

ascribe the production of holy exercises to God, - - 32

SECTION IV.

Io which it is shewn, that the theory under examination is

contrary to analogy and sound philosophy, so far as any regard

is due to the most sober and cautious reasonings of this kind,