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

USE 5th.

HOw comfortable is this to people of upright hearts, that nothing is re∣quired of you but what you can do, if there be a willing mind: They are somtimes troubled they do not the things they can∣not do, if they would never so much, and they may be so; but they may not be trou∣bled 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 un∣willingness, 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 unwil∣lingness; and so you need not be troubled

with desponding trouble; but go on mourning over this remainder of unwil∣ingness 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 Apo∣stle 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 par∣ticular.

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 accep∣tance; 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 Na∣ture, 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 weak∣ness 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, 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 fee∣ble 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 Renega∣does, Turn-coats; this sheweth we are true to our Captain, and he will not leave us and forsake us, we shall receive pay. Deus non respicit quantum homo valet; sed quan∣tum velit. God looketh not on the quan∣tity or outward extension, but on the qua∣lity & 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 de∣sire, 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 Excel∣lency of the duty commends us to God but the Heart. You need not envy others A∣bilities; serve God in your places accor∣ding 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 Abili∣ties 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 hum∣ble. 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 pro∣portionably 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 Joshu∣ah, 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.

Notes

• 18 am. 30.13.
• Greg. Moral. Lib. 12.