1689 9.2

9.2. Of Free Will

Man in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power, to will, and to do that which was good, and well-pleasing to God; but yet was mutable, so that he might fall from it.

Proof texts

• Ecclesiastes 7:29 — [29] See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
• Genesis 3:6 — [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Ecclesiastes 7:29 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 2 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WCF 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WCF 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WCF 9.1 · WCF 9.2 · WCF 9.3 · WCF 9.4 · WCF 9.5 · WLC Q57 · WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · HC Q53 · SD 9.1 · SD 9.2 · SD 9.3 · SD 9.4 · SD 9.5