N05663:255
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.
It further appears, on Mr. Chubb's Supposition, that Volition must be without any previous Ground in any Motive, thus: If it be as he supposes, that the Will is not determined by any previous superior Strength of the Motive, but determines and chooses it's own Motive, then, when the rival Motives are exactly equal in Strength and Tendency to induce, in all Respects, it may follow either; and may in such a Case, sometimes follow one, sometimes the other. And if so, this Diversity which appears between the Acts of the Will, is plainly without previous Ground in either of the Motives; for all that is previously in the Motives, is supposed precisely and perfectly the same, without any Diversity whatsoever. Now perfect Identity, as to all that is previous in the Antecedent, can't be the Ground and Reason of Diversity in the Consequent. Perfect Identity in the Ground can't be a Reason why it is not followed with the same Consequence. And therefore the Source of this Diversity of Consequence must be sought for elsewhere.
It further appears, on Mr. Chubb's Supposition, that Volition must be without any previous Ground in any Motive, thus: If it be as he supposes, that the Will is not determined by any previous superiour Strength of the Motive, but determines and chuses it's own Motive, then, when the rival Motives are exactly equal in Strength and Tendency to induce, in all Respects, it may follow either; and may in such a Case, sometimes follow one, sometimes the other. And if so, this Diversity which appears between the Acts of the Will, is plainly without previous Ground in either of the Motives; for all that is previously in the Motives, is supposed precisely and perfectly the same, without any Diversity whatsoever. Now perfect Identity, as to all that is previous in the Antecedent, can't be the Ground and Reason of Diversity in the Consequent. Perfect Identity in the Ground can't be a Reason why it is not followed with the same Consequence. And therefore the Source of this Diversity of Consequence must be sought for elsewhere.
And lastly, it may be observed, that however Mr. Chubb does much insist that no Volition can take Place without ⟨p. 93⟩