Chapter 9
Of Free Will
1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
(Matt. 17:12Matt. 17:12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
WP-Bible plugin; James 1:14James 1:14
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
WP-Bible plugin; Duet. 30:19)
2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.
(Eccles. 7:29es. 7:29
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
WP-Bible plugin; Gen. 3:6Gen. 3:6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. pleasant: Heb. a desire
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3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
(Rom. 5:6, 8:7Rom. 5:6, 8:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. in due time: or, according to the time
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
WP-Bible plugin; Eph. 2:1, 5Eph. 2:1, 5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by...: or, by whose grace
WP-Bible plugin; Tit. 3:3-5Tit. 3:3-5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, love: or, pity
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
WP-Bible plugin; John 6:44John 6:44
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
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