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

So that 'tis the Arminian Scheme, and not the Scheme of the Calvinists, that is utterly inconsistent with moral Government, and with all Use of Laws, Precepts, Prohibitions, Promises, or Threatenings. Neither is there any Way whatsoever to make their Principles consist with these Things. For if it be said, that there is no prior determining Act of the Soul, preceding the Acts of the Will, but that Volitions are Events that come to pass by pure Accident, without any determining Cause, this is most palpably inconsistent with all Use of Laws and Precepts; for nothing is more plain than that Laws can be of no Use to direct and regulate perfect Accident; which by the Supposition of it's being pure Accident, is in no Case regulated by any Thing preceding; but happens this Way or that perfectly by Chance, without any Cause or Rule. The perfect Uselessness of Laws and Precepts also follows from the Arminian Notion of Indifference, as essential to that Liberty which is requisite to Virtue or Vice. For the End of Laws is to bind to one Side; and the End of Commands is to turn the Will one Way: and therefore they are of no Use unless they turn or bias the Will that Way. But if Liberty consists in Indifference, then their biassing the Will one Way only, destroys Liberty; as it puts the Will out of Equilibrium. So that the Will, having a Bias, thro' the Influence of binding Law, laid upon it, is not wholly left to it self, to determine it self which Way it will, without Influence from without.

So that 'tis the Arminian Scheme, and not the Scheme of the Calvinists, that is utterly inconsistent with moral Government, and with all Use of Laws, Precepts, Prohibitions, Promises, or Threatnings. Neither is there any Way whatsoever to make their Principles consist with these Things. For if it be said, that there is no prior determining Act of the Soul, preceding the Acts of the Will, but that Volitions are Events that come to pass by pure Accident, without any determining Cause, this is most palpably inconsistent with all Use of Laws and Precepts; for nothing is more plain than that Laws can be of no Use to direct and regulate perfect Accident; which by the Supposition of it's being pure Accident, is in no Case regulated by any Thing preceeding; but happens this Way or that perfectly by Chance, without any Cause or Rule. The perfect Uselesness of Laws and Precepts also follows from the Arminian Notion of Indifference, as essential to that Liberty which is requisite to Vertue or Vice. For the End of Laws is to bind to one Side; and the End of Commands is to turn the Will one Way: and therefore they are of no Use unless they turn or bias the Will that Way. But if Liberty consists in Indifference, then their biassing the Will one Way only, destroys Liberty; as it puts the Will out of Equilibrium. So that the Will, having a Bias, thro' the Influence of binding Law, laid upon it, is not wholly left to it self, to determine it self which Way it will, without Influence from without.