This also is defined in the preaching of the church: every rational soul has free will and choice. The soul is in a battle against the devil, his angels, and opposing powers, because they endeavor to oppress our souls with sins. If we live rightly and prudently, we should make every effort to rid ourselves of such things. It also follows that we are not subject to necessity nor in any way compelled to do what we do not want to do, whether good or evil. For if we have free will, some forces might be able to motivate us to sin and others to help us toward salvation; but we are not compelled by any necessity to act either rightly or wrongly.
Origen
First Principles, preface 5
