Freedom of the Will (The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1 | WJE)

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“I don’t suppose, that ‘will’ and ‘desire’ are words of precisely the same signification: ‘will’ seems to be a word of a more general signification, extending to things present and absent. ‘Desire’ respects something absent. I may prefer my present situation and posture, suppose sitting still, or having my eyes open, and so may will it. But yet I can’t think they are so entirely distinct, that they can ever be properly said to run counter. A man never, in any instance, wills anything contrary to his desires, or desires anything contrary to his will.” (Page 139)

“‘Liberty,’ he writes, ‘is the power, opportunity, or advantage, that anyone has to do as he pleases, or conducting in any respect, according to his pleasure; without considering how his pleasure comes to be as it is.’ Choosing as one pleases he also understands ‘without determining how he came by that pleasure.’” (Page 15)

“The choice of the mind never departs from that which, at that time, and with respect to the direct and immediate objects of that decision of the mind, appears most agreeable and pleasing, all things considered.” (Page 147)

“It must be observed in what sense I use the term ‘good’; namely, as of the same import with ‘agreeable.’ To appear good to the mind, as I use the phrase, is the same as to appear agreeable, or seem pleasing to the mind.” (Page 143)

“And therefore it must be true, in some sense, that the will always is as the greatest apparent good is.” (Page 142)