The Marrow of Sacred Divinity

7. It is in the will. First, because the will is the proper subject of the Theology as it is the proper principle of life, and of moral and spiritual actions. 2. Because the will is that faculty which is properly carried unto good that is honest, Rom. 7. 19. 21. 3. Because virtue is an habit that is [Greek or Hebrew] or elective, the proper, and immediate operation whereof is voluntary election. 4. Because the will doth commend the other faculties, and so Virtue doth most agree to it, that all may be directed aright. 5. Because the will is neither by it self, nor by reason sufficiently determined to good actions, and so it hath need of its own and internal disposition to work aright. 6. Because the other faculties may he compelled, and by consequence one may whether he will or no lose virtue, if it should have the proper and fixed seat, in them. 7. Because that praise is most properly due to the actions of the will, and to the operations of the other faculties, so far forth as they flow from and depend upon the will; but that it is proper to virtue to be praise-worthy, not only the Philosophers teach, but also the Apostle, Philippians 4. 8. If there be any virtue, if any praise. 8. Because neither the understanding can be the subject of virtue, because intellectual habits, although they be most perfect, yet they do not make a man good, nor any sensitive ⟨p. 225⟩appetite, because true virtue is found in Angels, and the souls being separated from bodies, which are void of this appetite: yet there are often in the sensitive faculties some dispositions, which cause that the will commanding aright is more easily obeyed, and in that respect they have a certain resemblance of Virtue.

7. It is in the will. First, because the will is the proper subject of the Theology as it is the proper principle of life, and of morall and spirituall actions. 2. Because the will is that faculty which is properly carried unto good that is honest, Rom. 7. 19. 21. 3. Because vertue is an habit that is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 or elective, the proper, and immediate operation whereof is voluntary election. 4. Because the will doth commend the other faculties, and so Vertue doth most agree to it, that all may be directed aright. 5. Because the will is neither by it selfe, nor by reason sufficiently determined to good actions, and so it hath need of its owne and internall disposition to worke aright. 6. Because the other faculties may he compelled, and by consequence one may whether he will or no lose vertue, if it should have the proper and fixed seat, in them. 7. Because that praise is most properly due to the actions of the will, and to the operations of the other faculties, so far forth as they flow from and depend upon the will; but that it is proper to vertue to be praise-worthy, not onely the Philosophers teach, but also the Apostle,