The Institution of Christian Religion

first let us search out the force of the word it self, and then let us proceed on by the simplicity of the Scripture to show what man is able to do of his own nature, toward good or evil. What Free will is, where as it is a word commonly found in all mens writings, yet few have defined yet it seemeth that Origen rehearsed that thing where of they were all agreed,¹ when he said, that it is a power of reason to discern good or evil, and a power of will to choose either of them. And Augustine varieth not from him, when he teacheth that it is a power of reason and will, whereby good is chosen while grace assisteth, and evil when grace ceaseth. Bernard, while he meaneth to speak more subtly, speaketh more darkly, which sayeth, that it is a consent by reason of the liberty of will that can not be lost and the judgement of reason that can be avoided. And the definition of Anselmus is not familiar enough, which saith, that it is a power to keep uprightness for it self.² Therefore Peter Lombard and the other Schoolmen, have rather embraced Augustine's definition, by cause it both was plainer and did not exclude the grace of God, without the which they saw that Will was not sufficient for it self. But they bring also of their own such things as they thought either to be better, or to serve for plainer declaration. First, they agree that the name of Arbitrium, that is free choice, is rather to be referred to reason, whose part is to discern between good and Evil things: and the adjective Free, pertaineth properly to will,³ which may be turned to either of both. Wherefore sith freedom properly belongeth to will, Thomas sayeth that it would very well agree if Free will be called a power of choosing which ⟨p. 15⟩being mixed of understanding and appetite, doth more incline to appetite. Now have we in what things they reach that the power of Free will consisteth, that is to say, in reason and will. Now remaineth that we shortly see how much they give to either part.

fyrste lette vs searche out the force of the woorde it self, and then lette vs procede on by the simplicitie of the Scripture to shewe what man is able to do of his owne nature, towarde good or euell. What Free wyll is, where as it is a woorde commonly founde in all mens wrytynges, yet fewe haue defined yet it semeth that Origen rehersed that thynge where of they were all agreed,