Page:A Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Human Liberty (3rd ed., 1735).djvu/97

 I have maintain’d cannot want the authority of as many learned and pious men, as in embracing the contrary.

But considering how little men are mov’d by the authority of those who professedly maintain opinions contrary to theirs, tho’ at the same time they themselves embrace no opinion but on the authority of somebody; I shall wave all the advantages that I might draw from the authority of such Philosophers and Divines as are undoubtedly on my side: and for that reason shall not enter into a more particular detail of them; but shall offer the authority of such men, who profess to maintain liberty. There are indeed very few real adversaries to the opinion I defend among those who pretend to be so; and upon due inquiry it will be found, that most of those who assert liberty in words, deny the thing, when the question is rightly stated. For proof whereof, let any man examin the clearest and acutest authors who have written for liberty, or discourse with those who think liberty a matter of experience, and he will see, that they allow that the will, follows the judgment