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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
Part 2 › Section 7: Concerning the Notion of Liberty of Will consisting in Indifference.
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 Freedom, if it consists in, or implies Indifference, can denominate Nothing free, at the first Moment of Preference or Preponderation. Therefore 'tis manifest, that no Liberty which the Soul is possessed of, or ever uses, in any of it's Acts of Volition, consists in Indifference; and that the Opinion of such as suppose, that Indifference belongs to the very Essence of Liberty, is to the highest Degree absurd and contradictory.
So Freedom, if it consists in, or implies Indifference, can denominate Nothing free, at the first Moment of Preference or Preponderation. Therefore 'tis manifest, that no Liberty which the Soul is possessed of, or ever uses, in any of it's Acts of Volition, consis•s in Indifference; and that the Opinion of such as suppose, that Indifference belongs to the very Essence of Liberty, is to the highest Degree absurd and contradictory.
If any one should imagine, that this Manner of arguing ing is Nothing but Trick and Delusion; and to evade the Reasoning, should say, that the Thing wherein the Will exercises it's Liberty, is not in the Act of Choice or Preponderation it self, but in determining it self to a certain Choice o• Preference; That the Act of the Will wherein it is free, and uses it's own Sovereignty, consists in it's causing or determining the Change or Transition from a State of Indifference to a certain Preference, or determining to give a certain Turn to the Balance, which has hitherto been even; and that this Act the Will exerts in a State of Liberty, or while the Will yet remains in Equilibrium, and perfect Master of ⟨p. 69⟩it self:— I say, if any One chooses to express his Notion of Liberty after this, or some such Manner, let us see if he can make out his Matters any better than before.
If any one should imagine, that this Manner of arguing ing is Nothing but Trick and Delusion; and to evade the Reasoning, should say, that the Thing wherein the Will exercises it's Liberty, is not in the Act of Choice or Preponderation it self, but in determining it self to a certain Choice o Preference; That the Act of the Will wherein it is free, and uses it's own Sovereignty, consists in it's causing or determining the Change or Transition from a State of Indifference to a certain Preference, or determining to give a certain Turn to the Balance, which has hitherto been even; and that this Act the Will exets in a State of Liberty, or while the Will yet remains in Equilibrium, and perfect Master of