Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will, Part 4 · Section 6
SECTION VI. Concerning that Objection against the Doctrine which has been maintain'd, that it agrees with the Stoical Doctrine of Fate, and the Opinions of Mr. Hobbes.
WHEN Calvinists oppose the Arminian Notion of the Freedom of Will, and Contingence of Volition, and insist that there are no Acts of the Will, nor any other Events whatsoever, but what are attended with some Kind of Necessity; their Opposers cry out of them, as agreeing with the antient Stoicks in their Doctrine of Fate, and with Mr. Hobbes in his Opinion of Necessity.
It would not be worth while, to take Notice of so impertinent an Objection, had it not been urged by some of the chief Arminian Writers.— There were many important Truths maintain'd by the antient Greek and Roman Philosophers, and especially the Stoicks, that are never the worse for being held by them. The Stoic Philosophers, by the general Agreement of Christian Divines, and even Arminian Divines, were the greatest, wisest and most vertuous of all the Heathen Philosophers; and in their Doctrine and Practice came the nearest to Christianity of any of their Sects. How frequently are the Sayings of these Philosophers, in many of the Writings and Sermons, even of Arminian Divines, produced, not as Arguments of the Falseness of the Doctrines which they delivered, but as a Confirmation of some of the greatest Truths of the Christian Religion, relating to the Unity and Perfections of the Godhead, a future State, the Duty and Happiness of Mankind, &c. as observing how the Light of Nature and Reason in the wisest and best of the Heathen, harmonized with, and confirms the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
And it is very remarkable concerning Dr. Whitby, that altho' He alledges the Agreement of the Stoicks with us, wherein He supposes they maintain'd the like Doctrine with us, as an Argument against the Truth of our Doctrine; yet this very Dr. Whitby alledges the Agreement of the Stoicks with the Arminians, wherein he supposes they taught the same Doctrine with them, as an Argument for the Truth of their Doctrine. *Whitby on the five Points, Edit. 3. P. 325, 326, 327.So that when the Stoicks agree with them, this (it seems) is a Confirmation of their Doctrine, and a Confutation of ours, as shewing that our Opinions are contrary to the natural Sense & common Reason of Mankind: Nevertheless, when the Stoicks agree with us, it argues no such Thing in our Favour; but on the contrary, is a great Argument against us, and shews our Doctrine to be Heathenish.
It is observed by some Calvinistic Writers, that the Arminians symbolize with the Stoicks, in some of those Doctrines wherein they are opposed by the Calvinists; particularly in their denying an original, innate, total Corruption and Depravity of Heart; and in what they held of Man's Ability to make Himself truly vertuous and conformed to God;— and in some other Doctrines.
It may be further observed, 'tis certainly no better Objection against our Doctrine, that it agrees in some Respects with the Doctrine of the antient Stoic Philosophers, than it … against theirs, wherein they differ from us, that it agrees in some Respects with the Opinion of the very worst of the Heathen Philosophers, the Followers of Epicurus, that Father of Atheism and Licentiousness, and with the Doctrine of the Sadducees and Iesuits.
I am not much concerned to know precisely what the antient Stoic Philosophers held concerning Fate, in order to determine what is Truth; as tho' it were a sure Way to be in the right, to take good Heed to differ from them. It seems that they differed among themselves; and probably the Doctrine of Fate, as maintain'd by most of 'em, was in some Respects erroneous. But whatever their Doctrine was, if any of 'em held such a Fate, as is repugnant to any Liberty consisting in our doing as we please, I utterly deny such a Fate. If they held any such Fate, as is not consistent with the common and universal Notions that Mankind have of Liberty, Activity, moral Agency, Vertue and Vice; I disclaim any such Thing, and think I have demonstrated that the Scheme I maintain is no such Scheme. If the Stoicks by Fate meant any Thing of such a Nature, as can be supposed to stand in the Way of the Advantage and Benefit of the Use of Means and Endeavours, or makes it less worth the while for Men to desire, and seek after any Thing wherein their Vertue and Happiness consists; I hold no Doctrine that is clog'd with any such Inconvenience, any more than any other Scheme whatsoever; and by no Means so much as the Arminian Scheme of Contingence; as has been shewn. If they held any such Doctrine of universal Fatality, as is inconsistent with any Kind of Liberty, that is or can be any Perfection, Dignity, Privilege or Benefit, or any Thing desirable, in any Respect, for any intelligent Creature, or indeed with any Liberty that is possible or conceivable; I embrace no such Doctrine. If they held any such Doctrine of Fate as is inconsistent with the World's being in all Things subject to the Disposal of an intelligent wise Agent, that presides, not as the Soul of the World, but as the sovereign Lord of the Universe, governing all Things by proper Will, Choice and Design, in the Exercise of the most perfect Liberty conceivable, without Subjection to any Constraint, or being properly under the Power or Influence of any Thing before, above or without himself; I wholly renounce any such Doctrine.
As to Mr. Hobbes's maintaining the same Doctrine concerning Necessity;—I confess, it happens I never read Mr. Hobbes. Let his Opinion be what it will, we need not reject all Truth which is demonstrated by clear Evidence, meerly because it was once held by some bad Man. This great Truth, that Iesus is the Son of God, was not spoil'd because it was once and again proclaimed with a loud Voice by the Devil. If Truth is so defiled because it is spoken by the Mouth, or written by the Pen of some ill-minded mischievous Man, that it must never be received, we shall never know when we hold any of the most precious and evident Truths by a sure Tenure. And if Mr. Hobbes has made … bad Use of this Truth, that is to be lamented: but the Truth is not to be tho't worthy of Rejection on that Account. 'Tis common for the Corruptions of the Hearts of evil Men, to abuse the best Things to vile Purposes.
I might also take Notice of it's having been observed, that the Arminians agree with Mr. Hobbes †Dr. Gill, in his Answer to Dr. Whitby. Vol. 3. P. 183, &c.in many more Things than the Calvinists. As, in what he is said to hold concerning Original Sin, in denying the Necessity of supernatural Illumination, in denying infused Grace, in denying the Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone; and other Things.