N05663:557
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.
But 'tis apparent, that the Reverse of these Things is true. If there be an Approach to a moral Necessity in a Man's Exertion of good Acts of Will, they being the Exercise of a strong Propensity to Good, and a very powerful Love to Virtue; 'tis so far from being the Dictate of common Sense, that He is less virtuous, and the less to be esteemed, loved and praised; that 'tis agreeable to the natural Notions of all Mankind that he is so much the better Man, worthy of greater Respect, and higher Commendation. And the stronger the Inclination is, and the nearer it approaches to Necessity in that ⟨p. 216⟩Respect, or to Impossibility of neglecting the virtuous Act, or of doing a vicious one; still the more virtuous, and worthy of higher Commendation. And on the other Hand, if a Man exerts evil Acts of Mind; as for Instance, Acts of Pride or Malice, from a rooted and strong Habit or Principle of Haughtiness and Maliciousness, and a violent Propensity of Heart to such Acts; according to the natural Sense of all Men, he is so far from being the less hateful and blameable on that Account, that he is so much the more worthy to be detested and condemned by all that observe Him.
But 'tis apparent, that the Reverse of these Things is true. If there be an Approach to a moral Necessity in a Man's Exertion of good Acts of Will, they being the Exercise of a strong Propensity to Good, and a very powerful Love to Vertue; 'tis so far from being the Dictate of common Sense, that He is less vertuous, and the less to be esteem'd, loved and praised; that 'tis agreable to the natural Notions of all Mankind that he is so much the better Man, worthy of greater Respect, and higher Commendation. And the stronger the Inclination is, and the nearer it approaches to Necessity in that ⟨p. 216⟩Respect, or to Impossibility of neglecting the vertuous Act, or of doing a vicious one; still the more vertuous, and worthy of higher Commendation. And on the other Hand, if a Man exerts evil Acts of Mind; as for Instance, Acts of Pride or Malice, from a rooted and strong Habit or Principle of Haughtiness and Maliciousness, and a violent Propensity of Heart to such Acts; according to the natural Sense of all Men, he is so far from being the less hateful and blameable on that Account, that he is so much the more worthy to be detested and condemned by all that observe Him.