A27062:195
Two treatises tending to awaken secure sinners viz., 1. The terror of the day…
Two treatises tending to awaken secure sinners viz., 1. The terror of the day of judgment, from 2 Cor. 5. 10, 2. The danger of slighting Christ and his Gospel, from Matth. 22. 5 / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Jonas Luntley, 1696
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The one and twentieth Excuse. But I hope you will not say that all Men have Free Will! And if my Will were not free, how could I choose but sin?
Answ. 1. Your Will was not free from God's Rule and Government. 2. Nor was it free from its natural Inclination to Good in general; for either of these were more properly Slavery. 3. Nor was it free from the Influence of a dark Understanding. 4. Nor free from its own contracted vicious Inclination. 5. Nor freed from the Temptations of the Flesh, the World, and the Devil.
Answ. 1. Your Will was not free from God's Rule and Government. 2. Nor was it free from its natural Inclination to Good in general; for either of these were more properly Slavery. 3. Nor was it free from the Influence of a dark Understanding. 4. Nor free from its own contracted vitious Inclination. 5. Nor freed from the Temptations of the Flesh, the World, and the Devil.
But it was, 1. Free from any natural Determination to Evil, or to any thing that was doubtful. 2. And free from the Coaction or Violence of any. 3. And free from an irresistible Determination of any exterior Cause, at least ordinarily. So that naturally, as Men, you have the Power or Faculty of determining your own Wills, and by your Wills of ruling your inferior Faculties in a great measure; yea, of ruling the Senses and the Fantasy it self, which doth so much to dispose of our Understanding. And if your Wills, which are naturally free, are yet so habitually vicious, that they incline you to do evil, that is not an Excuse, but an Aggravation of your Sin. But of this more under the next.
But it was, 1. Free from any natural Determination to Evil, or to any thing that was doubtful. 2. And free from the Coaction or Violence of any. 3. And free from an irresistible Determination of any exteriour Cause, at least ordinarily. So that naturally, as Men, you have the Power or Faculty of determining your own Wills, and by your Wills of ruling your inferiour Faculties in a great measure; yea, of ruling the Snses and the Phantasy it self, which doth so much to dispose of our Understanding. And if your Wills, which are naturally free, are yet so habitually vitious, that they encline you to do evil, that is not an Excuse, but an Aggravation of your Sin. But of this more under the next.