A discourse of natural and moral impotency by Joseph Truman, B.D., late minister near Nottingham.

ƲSE, 4th

HOw ill do they that Place the Gospel∣condition, (the thing that must be done or we undone,) in something that a man may say, He cannot do if he would never so fain. As in Assurance, or, Believing a man sins are pardoned; or, That he shall be saved. Man hath a Natural Impotency to this, till God have so revealed it by some Prophet or Revelation; or some way that he may know in particular, that his sins are pardoned: And therefore it cannot fall, till then, un∣der command. Suppose there had been such a Promise as this (which I abhor almost to mention): If any man shall believe his Sins are pardoned, they are or they shall be pardoned, otherwise not; no man could yet believe it. A man might Lye, and say

I believe it, but it is impossible he should upon this promise: for there must essen∣tially be some way to notifie unto him that his sins are pardoned before he believe it. This would have been to have set life be∣fore us upon an impossible condition. If a Master should tell his Servant, There is a sum of money in one room of his house, but will not first tell him what room it is in, but bids him believe it is in any particular room, and he shall have it. The Servant may possibly Lye to get the money, and say he believes it is in such a Chamber, but it is impossible he should believe it. And if his Master should beat him because he believes it not to be in some particular room, it would be for no fault: for he can∣not do it, till his Master, or some credible person tells him first, it is in such a room. A man must see he hath performed the Gos∣pel-condition, before he may or can, with∣out irrational presumption, account or esteem his sins pardoned.

And so also Relyance. Many a sincere Christian can say, I would rely on Christ to save me, but cannot; or, which is the same. I would cast off my fears, but cannot. With∣out doubt men will not cry out hereafter, Why did not I believe my sins were pardoned? Why did not I rely on Christ to save me? for God no where commanded these things immediately; these are not the Condemning

sins. But bring out those mine Enemies that would not have me to rule over them, Luk. 19. 14, 17. And the complaint will be, Why would I not have this man to rule over me? and why would I not yield and submit to the Gospel-conditions? Somthing it must be that men are Condemned for, that they could but would not do.

But it would be a contradiction for any to say, I would with the prevailing choice, have Christ for my Lord and Saviour, and would not with the prevailing choice.