Aquinas gives us another Distinction, There is a Will natural and indeliberate, and a Will deliberate and elective. The one showeth the sudden Inclination of Nature to what is good for us, as we are living Creatures; the other is an Act of Reason, as we are reasonable Creatures. The natural Inclination of all Creatures is to preserve themselves; but the Deliberate Will chooseth what the Understanding judgeth to be good, all Circumstances considered. The Inclination of Nature flees Death and Torments, but Reason submitteth to it. As for Instance, A bitter Potion is against the Inclination of Nature, for as we are living Creatures, we would be put to no pain; but the reasonable Creature by an elective Will takes that bitter Potion for Health. Cutting off a gangrened Member is against the first Inclination of Man, as a living Creature; we submit to it as a reasonable Creature, lest it corrupt the whole Body. So in the Martyrs, the Flesh could not but be against Sufferings, being contrary to their well-being as living Creatures; but the Spirit, that is their Reason, guided by ⟨p. 282⟩Grace, submitted to the greatest Torments for the Glory of God. Thus the Lord Christ saith, Let this Cup pass. There was the inclination of an Innocent Nature declining so dreadful an Evil; but yet it was his Meat and Drink to do his Fathers Will, therefore, not my Will, but thine be done.
Aquinas gives us another Distinction, There is a Will natural and indeliberate, and a Will deliberate and elective. The one sheweth the sudden Inclination of Nature to what is good for us, as we are living Creatures; the other is an Act of Reason, as we are reasonable Creatures. The natural Inclination of all Creatures is to preserve themselves; but the Deliberate Will chuseth what the Understanding judgeth to be good, all Circumstances considered. The Inclination of Nature flees Death and Torments, but Reason submitteth to it. As for Instance, A bitter Potion is against the Inclination of Nature, for as we are living Creatures, we would be put to no pain; but the reasonable Creature by an elective Will takes that bitter Potion for Health. Cutting off a gangreen'd Member is against the first Inclination of Man, as a living Creature; we submit to it as a reasonable Creature, lest it corrupt the whole Body. So in the Martyrs, the Flesh could not but be against Sufferings, being contrary to their well-being as living Creatures; but the Spirit, that is their Reason, guided by ⟨p. 282⟩Grace, submitted to the greatest Torments for the Glory of God. Thus the Lord Christ saith, Let this Cup pass. There was the inclination of an Innocent Nature declining so dreadful an Evil; but yet it was his Meat and Drink to do his Fathers Will, therefore, not my Will, but thine be done.
