296 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book 11. 



CHAP. XXL 



No Difpute among the Anttent Philofophers concerning Free-will and 

 NeceJ/ity — Reafon of this — The Diftin6lion betivixt Seafe and Intel- 

 led: necejjary to be made for underjlanding this matter — Definition of 

 Will — Will and Free-will the fame — Difference betivixt Will and ma- 

 terial Neceflity in Bodies unorganifed^ and in Vegetables — betivixt 

 Will and Inftind: in Brutes — What conjlitutes a free Agent — Where 

 Reafon is mojl perfe^^ there is the greateft Freedom — Jn ivhat StJife 

 Will is necelFary, as ivell as free — Neccffity of V^'iW efential to its 

 7iatiir^ — Euery thing necejjary in that Senfe — A Caufe for every things 

 and every Caufe muji produce its Effect — Moral necejfity even fir ong^ 

 £r than natural — Do5ior Clarke'' s Opinion in this matter — The Opi^ 

 nion of a late Writer of EJJays on the fame Subje^i, 



HAVING mentioned, in the preceding chapter, material necejfity 

 and ivill, as things oppofite, and having al fo fpoken of uuill^ 

 as neceffary likewife in fome refped, I think it belongs to the theory 

 of mind to explain this matter a little further. 



Till I was better acquainted with the antient philofophy, I have of- 

 ten wondered, why there was nothing faid in the books of Plato and 

 Ariftotle, nor in any of the writings of the philofophers of that age, or 

 of any preceding age, as far as I know, upon a queftion that has been 

 fo much agitated in later times, concerning free ivill and neceffity in 



human 



