Natural and Moral Impotency, Discourse · Application 5
USE 5th.
HOw comfortable is this to people of upright hearts, that nothing is required of you but what you can do, if there be a willing mind: They are ſomtimes troubled they do not the things they cannot do, if they would never ſo much, and they may be ſo; but they may not be troubled as if they offended God by this defect, but as at an affliction for their ſins. All the people of God are troubled at their unwillingneſs, and that they do not ſo much as they could, had they but Will. If this be your greateſt trouble, it argueth your willingneſs to be greater than your unwillingneſs; and ſo you need not be troubled with deſponding trouble; but go on mourning over this remainder of unwilingneſs with tears of hope.
What advantage may we take here, to comfort troubled ones, and to help them to keep up good thoughts of God! Many of them; through miſapprehenſions, are apt to think him a hard Maſter, expecting to reap where he hath not ſown, whereas it is not ſo. Many of them have ſuch ſtrong and ſenſible affections and inclinations to Good, that even their own Souls do bear that record of themſelves, which the Apoſtle bare concerning others, that they are willing, even beyond their power, 2 Cor. 8. 5. and yet are afraid God will not accept of them in doing what they can; and ſo are greatly perplexed, becauſe it may be they have not ſuch tears, or ſuch freedom from diſtractions as they deſire and expect. But as Abraham ſaid, If ſhe will not come, thou ſhalt be clear from this thy oath: So if tears and paſſions, and other ſuch things will not come, and that not from any want of your own will; you are clear in this particular.
If any ſhould ſay, I am willing with all my heart to obey God in every thing. But this is a ſmall matter.
I know, it is a ſmall matter in ſome ſenſe; but it is no ſmall matter in Gods acceptance; and this is no ſmall matter, if you ſpeak of the original of it; It is a thing of high and noble diſcent, if you had rather have a good heart than a great Eſtate. The finger of God is here, The Father hath drawn. You have better thoughts than you would have, or than you ought to have of corrupt Nature, if you think this fruit grew on that Tree. Corrupt Nature, ſaith with them, As for the words which thou haſt ſpoken, we will not hearken. They are Gods ſervants who ſo deſire to fear his Name, Nehem. 1.11. We ſhould praiſe God, and ſay, Who are we, that we ſhould be ſo willing?
Obj. I am willing, but I can do nothing, I do what I can in ſome weak meaſure, and would have it better, but my duties are blind and lame, and torne; I have done God much diſ-ſervice, but can now do him no ſervice worth calling Service.
Anſ. What ever thy ſins have been, and let thy ſervices be never ſo weak, thy weakneſs never ſo great, be thou never ſo unfit for thy Maſters uſe and Service, though thou ſhould'ſt be able ſcarce to ſpeak a wiſe word for him, or to him; yet, if thou doeſt what thou can'ſt, and deſireſt it was better, and endeavoureſt to encreaſe, this is enough for acceptance, as long as thou art thus willing.
If a willing mind, he accepteth what thou haſt, and doth not require what thou haſt not We read of a Maſter,18 am. 30.13. it's like ſome Captain or Officer, leaving his Servant a Souldier becauſe unfit for Service, becauſe he was weak and ſick: But the Captain of our Salvation is gracious; if we be ſo feeble as to be unable to wield our weapon or follow him, yet if we follow him as we are able, and reſolve in his ſtrength to do what we can, and never to turn Renegadoes, Turn-coats; this ſheweth we are true to our Captain, and he will not leave us and forſake us, we ſhall receive pay.*Greg. Moral. Lib. 12. Deus non reſpicit quantum homo valet; ſed quantum velit. God looketh not on the quantity or outward extenſion, but on the quality & inward affection. The deſire of a man (ſaith Solomon) is his kindneſs, not the weight or worth of the gift. The Widdow's Mite was accepted, being her All in upright deſire, the reaſon ſhe caſt in no more, was for not want of Will, but ability; becauſe ſhe had no more. Yet it may be a queſtion, whether all ſimply, or all that was not juſt neceſſary for her ſuſtenance; but it is moſt likely all ſimply, and then it might poſſibly be her failing, and againſt the duty of care of her ſelf; and though there might be ſuch imprudence, yet God taketh no notice of it, being in the integrity of her heart. As if a man ſhould loſe opportunities from worldly advantages imprudently, through love to God to attend his Service, God would accept it while it was in the Integrity of his heart, according to the beſt of his knowledge.
Do but endeavour to Love and Eſteem Chriſt more, and admire Free-grace more, and never fear your natural Weakneſſes as oppoſed to Moral. It is not the outward quality of the Perſon, or outward Excellency of the duty commends us to God but the Heart. You need not envy others Abilities; ſerve God in your places according to your Abilities. Miniſters of weak Abilities and Parts, are as acceptable to God, while there are competent miniſterial Abilities; yea, more acceptable, when there is more of Deſire and Endeavour to do good, than Miniſters of greater Abilities; and often more ſucceſsful. Greater Abilities are apt to puff men up; it is hard to give much, and not let the left hand know what the right hand doth. So, hard to be extraordinary in any Duty, and keep humble. Let Devils and Wicked men ſcoff at Weak, but Willing Miniſters; and ſay, (What will theſe feeble people do?) as they did, theſe are but poor Builders. But we Read, The Wall was Built, for they had a mind to work, or a heart to work, Neph. 4.6. So ſuch as have a heart to build, may build ſo as to reach Heaven themſelves, and build up others for it. God will ſay as Jehu to Jonadab, If thy heart be as my heart, then come into my Chariot of Glory.
Yet when I ſay God requires the Heart and Will, I do not ſay only but principally, and yet ſo only that if a man could do no more it would be accepted. If he have the Heart, all other things required follow proportionably ordinarily, and if they do not it will be excuſable: For then the defect is a cannot. If the Heart lead, all that have no Impediment follow. All the Members, and Powers, and Faculties in a man, ſay to the Heart and Will, as the People to Joſhuah, Cap. 1. v. 16. All that thou commandeſt us, we will do, and whitherſoever thou ſendeſt us we will go, only the Lord be with thee.