“We never supposed that the natural will of fallen man is free _to good_, before it is more or less touched and rectified by grace. All we assert is, that, whether a man chooses good or evil, his _will_ is _free_, or it does not deserve the name of _will_. It is as far from us to think that man, unassisted by Divine grace, is sufficient to will spiritual good; as to suppose that when he wills it by grace he does not will it _freely_. And, therefore, agreeably to our Tenth Article, which you quote against us without the least reason, we steadily assert that _we have no power to do good works, without the grace of God preventing us_, not that we may have a _free_ will, for this we always had in the above-mentioned sense, but _that we may have a good will_; believing that, as confirmed saints and angels have a _free_ will, though they have no _evil_ will, so abandoned reprobates and devils have a _free_ will, though they have no _good_ will.” These may appear to the cursory reader metaphysical niceties of no practical importance; but, a hundred years ago, they were considered doctrines of vital interest. The difference between Fletcher and his Calvinian friends is well stated by himself:— “From our mutual concessions, it is evident we agree, 1. That the will is always _free_; 2. That the will of man, considered as fallen in Adam, and unassisted by the grace of God, is only _free to evil_; and, 3. That when he is _free to good_, free to choose life, he has this from redeeming grace. “But, although we agree in those material points, the difference between us is still very considerable; for, we assert, that through the Mediator promised to all mankind in Adam, God, by His free grace, restores to ALL _mankind_ a talent of _free will to good_, by which they are put in a capacity of _choosing life or death_, that is, of acquitting themselves well or ill, at their option, in their present state of trial. “This _you_ utterly deny, maintaining that man is not in a state of probation; and that as Christ died for none but the elect, none but they can ever have any degree of saving grace, that is, _any free will to good_. Hence, you conclude that _all_ the elect are in a state of _finished salvation_; and _necessarily_, _infallibly_, and _irresistibly_ choose life; while _all_ the reprobates are shut up in a state of _finished_ damnation; and _necessarily_, _infallibly_, and _irresistibly_ choose death.