Sin is of the will, which cannot be forced. Though the will by Adams fall hath lost all that liberty and freedom to good which it had by creation, and by corruption is made a slave to sin: yet as the mind retaineth understanding, so the will freedom. For freedom is as essential to the will, as understanding is to the mind. Indeedd the corrupt will of man can will nothing but that which is evil: yet the evil which it willeth, it willeth freely, and is not forced thereto. Freedom of will is not opposed to restraint in one kind, but to constraint in that kind:2 to compulsion & coaction. The will of Devils is restrained to evil, they cannot will good, but evil only: yet the evil which they will they will freely and willingly: they are not constrained and compelled thereto. Yea Gods will, which is most absolutely free,3 is restrained to one kind, which is good. He hath not in his will a liberty to evil. To will evil is against the ⟨p. 244⟩perfection of his will. Wherefore though the will have not a liberty to choose either of the contrary parts, good or evil, yet a freedom and willingness it retaineth in that whereunto it yieldeth: it neither is,4 nor can be constrained thereto. All that Satan doth or can do, is by some means or other to move men to yield to that whereunto he tempteth them. Whereupon faith the Apostle,c I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted, &c. To effect this the old wily Serpent hath many and manifold means. Some inward, some outward.
Sin is of the will, which cannot bee forced. Though the will by Adams fall hath lost all that liberty and freedome to good which it had by creation, and by corruption is made a slaue to sinne: yet as the minde retaineth vnderstanding, so the will freedome. For freedome is as essentiall to the will, as vnderstanding is to the minde. Indeeded the corrupt will of man can will nothing but that which is euill: yet the euill which it willeth, it willeth freely, and is not forced thereto. Freedome of will is not opposed to restraint in one kinde, but to constraint in that kinde:2 to compulsion & coaction. The wil of Dieuls is restrained to euil, they cannot will good, but euill only: yet the euill which they will they will freely and willingly: they are not constrained and compelled thereto. Yea Gods will, which is most absolutely free,3 is restrained to one kinde, which is good. He hath not in his will a liberty to euill. To will euill is against the ⟨p. 244⟩perfection of his wil. Wherfore though the wil haue not a liberty to choose either of the contrary parts, good or euil, yet a freedome and willingnesse it retaineth in that whereunto it yealdeth: it neither is,4 nor can be constrained thereto. All that Sathan doth or can doe, is by some meanes or other to moue men to yeeld to that whereunto he tempteth them. Whereupon faith the Apostle,c I feare lest by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty, so your mindes should be corrupted, &c. To effect this the old wily Serpent hath many and manifold meanes. Some inward, some outward.
- dGen. 6. 5.
- 2Liberum arbitrium captivatum nō nisi ad peccā dum valet. Aug. contr. Epist. Pelag. l. 3. c. 8.Liberum arbitrium captiuatum nō nisi ad peccā dum valet. Aug. contr. Epist. Pelag. l. 3. c. 8.
- 3Wherein freedom of will consisteth.Wherein freedome of will consisteth.
- 4The means whereby Satan tempteth.The meanes whereby Satan tempteth.
- c2. Cor. 11. 3.
