Freedom of the will - Edwards - VI - Part III concluded

Required reading
Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards (available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Part III by reading Sections IV to VII.

My summary
Today Edwards continues to answer objections from Arminians.

Section IV answers the objection that it is absurd to suppose God by his commands should require that of men which they are unable to do.  Part of Edwards response is that the purpose of the law is to bind the will in one direction which means there is no free will where there is law: '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.'

Then in Section V tackles the suggestion that 'that some men, though they are not able to perform spiritual duties, such as repentance of sin, love to God, a cordial acceptance of Christ as exhibited and offered in the gospel, &c. yet may sincerely desire and endeavor after these things; and therefore must be excused; it being unreasonable to blame them for the omission of those things, which they sincerely desire and endeavour to do, but cannot.'  Edwards argues that these desires and endeavours are not sincere and therefore insufficient and ineffectual.

Section VI and VII are similar in that they discuss whether freewill is essential to moral virtue.  Edwards basic answer is that freewill implies indifference to a moral choice, and indifference means the person has no virtue otherwise they would be inclined to choose moral acts all the time.

What grabbed me
Great argument today about indifference means no virtue: 'But if there be any acts, which are done in a state of equilibrium, or spring immediately from perfect Indifference and coldness of heart, they cannot arise from any good principle or disposition in the heart; and, consequently, according to common sense, have no sincere goodness in them, having no Virtue of heart in them. To have a virtuous heart, is to have a heart that favours Virtue, and is friendly to it, and not one perfectly cold and indifferent about it.'

I don't want free will - I want a natural inclination in my heart to do what is right.  Thankfully I'll get that in heaven!

Next week's reading
Commence Part IV by reading Section I to IV.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.