Gab. The Eternal, when he did the world create,
All other agents did necessitate: 
So what he ordered, they by nature do;
Thus light things mount, and heavy downward go. 
Man only boasts an arbitrary state.

Adam. Yet causes their effects necessitate
In willing agents:  Where is freedom then? 
Or who can break the chain which limits men
To act what is unchangeably forecast,
Since the first cause gives motion to the last?

Raph. Heaven, by fore-knowing what will surely be,
Does only, first, effects in causes see,
And finds, but does not make, necessity. 
Creation is of power and will the effect,
Foreknowledge only of his intellect. 
His prescience makes not, but supposes things;
Infers necessity to be, not brings. 
Thus thou art not constrained to good or ill;
Causes, which work the effect, force not the will.

Adam. The force unseen, and distant, I confess;
But the long chain makes not the bondage less. 
Even man himself may to himself seem free;
And think that choice, which is necessity.

Gab. And who but man should judge of man’s free state?

Adam. I find that I can chuse to love or hate,
Obey or disobey, do good or ill;
Yet such a choice is but consent, not will. 
I can but chuse what he at first designed,
For he, before that choice, my will confined.

Gab. Such impious fancies, where they entrance gain, Make heaven, all-pure, thy crimes to pre-ordain.

Adam. Far, far from me be banished such a thought,
I argue only to be better taught. 
Can there be freedom, when what now seems free
Was founded on some first necessity? 
For whate’er cause can move the will t’elect,
Must be sufficient to produce the effect;
And what’s sufficient must effectual be: 
Then how is man, thus forced by causes, free?

Raph. Sufficient causes only work the effect,
When necessary agents they respect. 
Such is not man; who, though the cause suffice,
Yet often he his free assent denies.

Adam. What causes not, is not sufficient still.

Gab. Sufficient in itself; not in thy will.

Raph. When we see causes joined to effects at last,
The chain but shews necessity that’s past. 
That what’s done is:  (ridiculous proof of fate!)
Tell me which part it does necessitate? 
I’ll cruise the other; there I’ll link the effect. 
O chain, which fools, to catch themselves, project!

Adam. Though no constraint from heaven, or causes, be,
Heaven may prevent that ill he does foresee;
And, not preventing, though he does not cause,
He seems to will that men should break his laws.

Gab. Heaven may permit, but not to ill consent; For, hindering ill, he would all choice prevent.  ’Twere to unmake, to take away the will.