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

And how strange would it be to hear any Christian assert, that the holy and excellent Temper and Behaviour of Jesus Christ, and that Obedience which he performed under such great Trials, was not virtuous or Praise-worthy; because his Will was not free ad utrumque, to either Holiness or Sin, but was unalterably determined to one; that upon this Account, there is no Virtue at all, in all Christ's Humility, Meekness, Patience, Charity, Forgiveness of Enemies, Contempt of the World, Heavenly-mindedness, Submission to the Will of God, perfect Obedience to his Commands, (tho' He was obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross) his great Compassion to the Afflicted, his unparalleled Love to Mankind, his Faithfulness to God and Man, under such great Trials; his praying for his Enemies, even when nailing Him to the Cross; That Virtue, when applied to these Things, is but an empty Name; That there was no Merit in any of these Things; that is, that Christ was worthy of Nothing at all on the Account of them, worthy of no Reward, no Praise, no Honour or Respect from God or Man; Because his Will was not indifferent, and free either to these Things, or the Contrary; but under such a strong Inclination or Bias to the Things that were excellent, as made it impossible that he should choose the contrary; That upon this Account (to use Dr. Whitby's Language) it would be sensibly unreasonable that the human Nature should be rewarded for any of these Things.

And how strange would it be to hear any Christian assert, that the holy and excellent Temper and Behaviour of Jesus Christ, and that Obedience which he performed under such great Trials, was not vertuous or Praise-worthy; because his Will was not free ad utrumque, to either Holiness or Sin, but was unalterably determin'd to one; that upon this Account, there is no Vertue at all, in all Christ's Humility, Meekness, Patience, Charity, Forgiveness of Enemies, Contempt of the World, Heavenly-mindedness, Submission to the Will of God, perfect Obedience to his Commands, (tho' He was obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross) his great Compassion to the Afflicted, his unparallel'd Love to Mankind, his Faithfulness to God and Man, under such great Trials; his praying for his Enemies, even when nailing Him to the Cross; That Vertue, when applied to these Things, is but an empty Name; That there was no Merit in any of these Things; that is, that Christ was worthy of Nothing at all on the Account of them, worthy of no Reward, no Praise, no Honour or Respect from God or Man; Because his Will was not indifferent, and free either to these Things, or the Contrary; but under such a strong Inclination or Bias to the Things that were excellent, as made it impossible that he should chuse the contrary; That upon this Account (to use Dr. Whitby's Language) it would be sensibly unreasonable that the human Nature should be rewarded for any of these Things.