Whether whatsoever comes to pass proceed from _necessity_, or some
things from _chance_, has been a question disputed amongst the old
philosophers long time before the incarnation of our Saviour, without
drawing into argument on either side the almighty power of the Deity.
But the third way of bringing things to pass, distinct from _necessity_
and _chance_, namely, _freewill_, is a thing that never was mentioned
amongst them, nor by the Christians in the beginning of Christianity.
For St. Paul, that disputes that question largely and purposely, never
useth the term of _freewill_; nor did he hold any doctrine equivalent to
that which is now called the doctrine of freewill; but deriveth all
actions from the irresistible will of God, and nothing from the will of
him that _runneth or willeth_. But for some ages past, the doctors of
the Roman Church have exempted from this dominion of God’s will the will
of man; and brought in a doctrine, that not only man, but also his will
is free, and determined to this or that action, not by the will of God,
nor necessary causes, but by the power of the will itself. And though by
the reformed Churches instructed by Luther, Calvin, and others, this
opinion was cast out, yet not many years since it began again to be
reduced by Arminius and his followers, and became the readiest way to
ecclesiastical promotion; and by discontenting those that held the
contrary, was in some part the cause of the following troubles; which
troubles were the occasion of my meeting with the Bishop of Derry at
Paris, where we discoursed together of the argument now in hand; from
which discourse we carried away each of us his own opinion, and for
aught I remember, without any offensive words, as blasphemous,
atheistical, or the like, passing between us; either for that the Bishop
was not then in passion, or suppressed his passion, being then in the
presence of my Lord of Newcastle.
But afterwards the Bishop sent to his Lordship his opinion concerning
the question in writing, and desired him to persuade me to send an
answer thereunto likewise in writing. There were some reasons for which
I thought it might be inconvenient to let my answer go abroad; yet the
many obligations wherein I was obliged to him, prevailed with me to
write this answer, which was afterwards not only without my knowledge,
but also against my will, published by one that found means to get a
copy of it surreptitiously. And thus you have the occasion of this
controversy.
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