N05663:473
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.
And besides the Actions that are done in a State of Indifference, or that arise immediately out of such a State, can't be virtuous, because, by the Supposition, they are not determined by any preceding Choice. For if there be preceding Choice, then Choice intervenes between the Act and the State of Indifference; which is contrary to the Supposition of the Act's arising immediately out of Indifference. But those Acts which are not determined by preceding Choice, can't be virtuous or vicious by Arminian Principles, because they are not determined by the Will. So that neither one Way, nor the other, can any Actions be virtuous or vicious according to Arminian Principles. If the Action be determined by a preceding Act of Choice it can't be virtuous; because the Action is not done in a State of Indifference, ⟨p. 180⟩nor does immediately arise from such a State; and so is not done in a State of Liberty. If the Action be not determined by a preceding Act of Choice, then it can't be virtuous; because then the Will is not Self-determined in it. So that 'tis made certain, that neither Virtue nor Vice can ever find any Place in the Universe.
And besides the Actions that are done in a State of Indifference, or that arise immediately out of such a State, can't be vertuous, because, by the Supposition, they are not determined by any preceeding Choice. For if there be preceeding Choice, then Choice intervenes between the Act and the State of Indifference; which is contrary to the Supposition of the Act's arising immediately out of Indifference. But those Acts which are not determined by preceeding Choice, can't be vertuous or vicious by Arminian Principles, because they are not determined by the Will. So that neither one Way, nor the other, can any Actions be vertuous or vicious according to Arminian Principles. If the Action be determined by a preceeding Act of Choice it can't be vertuous; because the Action is not done in a State of Indifference, ⟨p. 180⟩nor does immediately arise from such a State; and so is not done in a State of Liberty. If the Action be not determined by a preceeding Act of Choice, then it can't be vertuous; because then the Will is not Self-determin'd in it. So that 'tis made certain, that neither Vertue nor Vice can ever find any Place in the Universe.