1.

Since in the preaching of the Church there is included the doctrine respecting a just judgment of God, which, when believed to be true, incites those who hear it to live virtuously, and to shun sin by all means, inasmuch as they manifestly acknowledge that things worthy of praise and blame are within our own power, come and let us discuss by themselves a few points regarding the freedom of the will--a question of all others most necessary. And that we may understand what the freedom of the will is, it is necessary to unfold the conception of it, ¹ that this being declared with precision, the subject may be placed before us.