N05663:161
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, virtue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, vertue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]
printed by S. Kneeland, 1754
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.
So that if Arminian Liberty of Will, consisting in the Will's determining it's own Acts, be maintained, the old Absurdity and Contradiction must be maintained, that every free Act of Will is caused and determined by a foregoing free Act of Will. Which don't consist with the tree Act's arising without any Cause, and being so contingent, as not be fixed by any Thing fore-go•ng. So that this Evasion must be given up, as not at all relieving, and as that which, instead of supporting this Sort of Liberty, directly destroys it.
So that if Arminian Liberty of Will, consisting in the Will's determining it's own Acts, be maintained, the old Absurdity and Contradiction must be maintained, that every free Act of Will is caused and determined by a foregoing free Act of Will. Which don't consist with the tree Act's arising w•thout any Cause, and being so contingent, as not be fix'd by any Thing fore-go•ng. So that this Evasion must be given up, as not at all relieving, and as that which, instead of support•ng this Sort of Liberty, directly destroys it.
And if it should be supposed, that the Soul determines it's own Acts of Will some other Way, than by a foregoing Act of Will; still it will not help the Cause of their Liberty of Will. If it determines them by an Act of the Understanding, or some other Power, then the Will don't determine it self; and so the Self-determining Power of the Will is given up. And what Liberty is there exercised, according to their own Opinion of Liberty, by the Soul's being determined by something besides it's own Choice? The Acts of the Will, it is true, may be directed, and effectually determined and fixed; but it is not done by the Soul's own Will and Pleasure: There is no Exercise at all of Choice or Will in producing the Effect: And if Will and Choice are not exercised in it, how is the Liberty of the Will exercised in it?
And if it should be supposed, that the Soul determines it's own Acts of Will some other Way, than by a foregoing Act of Will; still it will not help the Cause of their Liberty of Will. If it determines them by an Act of the Understanding, or some other Power, then the Will don't determine it slf; and so the Slf-determining Power of the Will is given up. And what Lberty is there exercised, according to their own Opinion of Liberty, by the Soul's being determined by something besides it's own Choice? The Acts of the Will, it is true, may be directed, and effectually determined and fix'd; but it is not done by the Soul's own Will and Pleasure: There is no Exercise at all of Choice or Will in producing the Effect: And if Will and Choice are not exercised in it, how is the Liberty of the Will exercised in it?