A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…

And First of all, I shall consider the Notion of a Self-determining Power in the Will: wherein▪ according to the Arminians, does most essentially consist the Will's Freedom; and shall particularly enquire, whether it be not plainly absurd, and a manifest Inconsistence, to suppose that the Will it self determines all the free Acts of the Will.

Here I shall not insist on the great Impropriety of such Phrases, and Ways of speaking, as the Will's determining it self; because Actions are to be ascribed to Agents, and not properly to the Powers of Agents; which improper Way of speaking leads to many Mistakes, and much Confusion, as Mr. Locke observes. But I shall suppose that the Arminians, when they speak of the Will's determining it self, do by the Will mean the Soul willing. I shall take it for granted, that when they speak of the Will, as the Determiner, they mean the Soul in the Exercise of a Power of Willing, or acting voluntarily. I shall suppose this to be their Meaning, because Nothing else can be meant, without the grossest and plainest Absurdity. In all Cases, when we speak of the Powers or Principles of Acting, as doing such Things, we mean that the Agents which have these Powers of acting, do them, in the Exercise of those Powers. So when we say, Valour fights courageously, we mean, the Man who is under the Influence of Valour fights courageously. When we say, Love seeks the Object loved, we mean, the Person loving seeks that Object. When we say, the Understanding discerns, we mean the Soul in the Exercise of that Faculty. So when it is said, the Will decides or determines, the Meaning must be, that the Person in the Exercise of a Power of Willing & Choosing, or the Soul acting voluntarily, determines.

Here I shall not insist on the great Impropriety of such Phrases, and Ways of speaking, as the Will's determining it self; because Actions are to be ascribed to Agents, and not properly to the Powers of Agents; which improper Way of speaking leads to many Mistakes, and much Confusion, as Mr. Locke observes. But I shall suppose that the Arminians, when they speak of the Will's determining it self, do by the Will mean the Soul willing. I shall take it for granted, that when they speak of the Will, as the Determiner, they mean the Soul in the Exercise of a Power of Willing, or acting voluntarily. I shall suppose this to be their Meaning, because Nothing else can be meant, without the grossest and plainest Absurdity. In all Cases, when we speak of the Powers or Principles of Acting, as doing such Things, we mean that the Agents which have these Powers of acting, do them, in the Exercise of those Powers. So when we say, Valour fights courageously, we mean, the Man who is under the Influence of Valour fights courageously. When we say, Love seeks the Object loved, we mean, the Person loving seeks that Object. When we say, the Understanding discerns, we mean the Soul in the Exercise of that Faculty. So when it is said, the Will decides or determines, the Meaning must be, that the Person in the Exercise of a Power of Willing & Chusing, or the Soul acting voluntarily, determines.