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Chapter 9:
Of Free Will
9:1 God hath endued the will of man with that
natural liberty, that is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of
nature determined to good or evil (Deu_30:19;
Mat_17:12;
Jam_1:14).
9:2 Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will
and to do that which was good, and well pleasing to God ( Gen_1:26;
Ecc_7:29);
but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it (Gen_2:16,
Gen_2:17;
Gen_3:6).
9:3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all
ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation ( Joh_15:5;
Rom_5:6;
Rom_8:7):
so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good (Rom_3:10,
Rom_3:12),
and dead in sin (Eph_2:1,
Eph_2:5;
Col_2:13),
is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare
himself thereunto (Joh_6:44,
Joh_6:65;
1Co_2:14;
Eph_2:2-5;
Tit_3:3-5).
9:4 When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state
of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin ( Joh_8:34,
Joh_8:36;
Col_1:13);
and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which
is spiritually good (Rom_6:18,
Rom_6:22;
Phi_2:13);
yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not
perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that
which is evil (Rom_7:15,
Rom_7:18,
Rom_7:19,
Rom_7:21,
Rom_7:23;
Gal_5:17).
9:5 The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good
alone, in the state of glory only ( Eph_4:13;
Heb_12:23;
1Jo_3:2;
Jud_1:24).
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