MR. SNOW'S THEOLOGY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sut,—While I thank you heartily for your notice of my Theo- logico-political treatise, I must be allowed to vindicate my explana- tion of the term "Omnipotence." You say I seem to identify power with effort, "whereas our highest conception of power involves the absence of effort." Suppose this to be so ; yet power an only be shown as force, and force can only be measured by resistance, in fact, by limitation. If so, then power can only be revealed under limitations.
I affirm that by " omnipotence " we cannot consistently mean unlimited power, for power, unless it is in some measure limited, means power undefined, undescribed, in fact, unrecognised ; but we can only consistently mean a power that is limited for a season, but that is gradually transcending its present limits, and that will go on for ever transcending the limits that confine it,—a power that, s ever conquering and to conquer. It seems to me that if you attempt to make living omnipotence mean more than this, you destroy the notion of a living acting power altogether. I appeal to your candour whether it is not so.—I am, Sir, &c.,
The Down Wood, Blandford, November 3. G. D. SNOW.
[We cannot see it.. The power that can create without having difficulties to overcome seems to us greater than the power which overcomes them.—En. Spectator.]
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