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

If the particular Act or Exertion of Will, which comes into Existence, be any Thing properly determined at all, then it has some Cause of it's existing, and of it's existing in such a particular determinate Manner, and not another; some Cause, whose Influence decides the Matter: which Cause is distinct from the Effect, and prior to it. But to say, that the Will or Mind orders, influences and determines it self to exert such an Act as it does, by the very Exertion it self, is to make the Exertion both Cause & Effect; or the exerting such an Act, to be a Cause of the Exertion of such an Act. For the Question is, What is the Cause and Reason of the Soul's exerting such an Act? To which the Answer is, the Soul exerts such an Act, and that is the Cause of it. And so, by this, the Exertion must be prior in the Order of Nature to it self, and distinct from it self.

(3.) If the Meaning be, that the Soul's Exertion of such a particular Act of Will, is a Thing that comes to pass •f it self, without any Cause; and that there is absolutely no Ground or Reason of the Soul's being determined to exert such a Volition, and make such a Choice, rather than another; I say, if this be the Meaning of Arminians, when they contend so earnestly for the Will's determining it's own Acts, and for Liberty of Will consisting in Self-determining Power; they do nothing but confound Themselves and others with Words without a Meaning. In the Question, What determines the Will? and in their Answer, that the Will determines it self, and in all the Dispute about it, it seems to be taken for granted, that something determines the Will; and the Controversy on this Head is not, whether any Thing at all determines it, or whether it's Determination has any Cause or Foundation at all: But where the Foundation of it is, whether in the ⟨p. 40⟩Will it self, or somewhere else. But if the Thing intended be what is above-mentioned, then all comes to this, that Nothing at all determines the Will; Volition having absolutely no Cause or Foundation of it's Existence, either within, or without. There is a great Noise made about Self-determining Power, as the Source of all free Acts of the Will: But when the Matter comes to be explained, the Meaning is, that no Power at all is the Source of these Acts, neither Self-determining Power, nor any other, but they arise from Nothing; no Cause, no Power, no Influence, being at all concerned in the Matter.