5. For the greatest good that possibly can come of it, we should not cross God's revealed will. Many times this is a snare. Men think to be justified by their good intentions. We must not do evil that good may come thereof : Eom. iii. 8. If one lie could save the world, we were not to do it, for the least evil is not to be done contrary to God's will, though the greatest good come of it.
TJse 3. Examine how you stand affected to God's will. This is very needful, because —
1. There be many mistakes about it.
2. Hereby we may discern whether we are thus entirely affected with the Lord's will.
Men flatter themselves with a pretence of obedience, and cry, ' Lord, Lord,' but do not do his will. They give God good words, but do not break out into an actual contest ; as those wretches, Jer. xviii. 12, ' We will every one do the imagination of his evil heart:' and Jer. xliv. 17, ' We will certainly do whatsoever thing goetli forth out of our own mouth.' There are many things wherein we are apt to mis- take. As,
[1.] We pretend to do God's will in general, but when it comes to particulars we stick at it. Usually, when we take up duty by the lump, it doth not exasperate opposite i)ropensions and inclinations. This is our great fault, we please and flatter ourselves with notions and abstract conceits. What say you to this will of God concerning you in particular ? How forward were the Israelites ! Oh, they would do the whole will of God ; they run away with the general notion. Yea, but saith Joshua, chap.xxiv. 19, ' Ye cannot serve the Lord, for he is an holy God, he is a jealous God ; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.' We will do the will of God in general, but when it comes to cross our lusts and private inclinations, these make us grudge at it, and shrink back again.
[2.] Some commend and approve the will of God, and talk of it, but do not practise it. It is here, ' Thy will be done ;' it is not. Let it be talked of, spoken and conferred of by me, but done. And it is not giving good words. You know the parable of the two sons : One said, ' I will not, and did ;' the other, ' I go, sir, and went not,^ Mat. xxi. 29, 30. Where Christ prefers the open sinner before the hypocrite, that is talking of God's will, and seems at a distance to be like the carbuncle, all of a fire, but touch him, he is key-cold. When we are approving much of the will of God in our judgments, and commend- ing of it, and do it not, this is in effect to say, I know what ray Father commands me, but I will do as I list.
[3.] Another deceit about the will of God is this : For tlie present,
Mat. VI. 10.] the lord's prater. 135
while we are in a good humour, when our lusts lie low, when the heart is warm under the impulsions of a present conviction or per- suasion, men have high thoughts of doing the will of God : Deut. v. 27, ' Speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee ; we will hear it, and do it.' There are several acts of our wills ; there is consent, choice, intention, and prosecution. It is not enough to consent : these things may be extorted from us by moral persuasion ; but there must be a serious choice, an invincible resolution, such an intention as is prosecuted with all manner of industry and serious endeavours, whatever disappointments we meet with from God and men. Then this intention or invincible resolution is such as will not be broken by difficulties, weakened by loss of interest, not discouraged by the many disappointments we meet with, even in our waiting upon God.
[4.] We have many times a seeming awe upon the conscience, and so are urged to do God's will, yet the heart is averse from God all the while ; therefore they strive to bring God's will and theirs together, to compromise the difference. A notable instance of this you have in Balaam. He hada message sent to him, and a great bribe. Now he had a carnal heart, which ran out upon the wages of unrighteousness, and, therefore, though he knew the people of Israel were blessed of the Lord, yet first he will go to God : Num. xxii. 8, ' Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me.' He is very tender, he durst not go with them, unless the Lord say. Go. But God denies him : ver. 12, ' Thou shalt not go with them.' What then ? The Lord refuseth to give him leave. Then Balak sends more honourable messengers, and propounds rewards again. Then his carnal will is for God : yer. 18, Balaam answered, ' If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.' Was not this spoken with an honest mind, think you r* This was the dictate of his conscience ; not for a houseful of gold durst he go against God the Lord. Yet you shall find it was a sore temptation to him, for he goes again to God: ver. 19, 'Tarry here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.' Then saith God, Go, when he saw his heart was set for the wages of unrighteous- ness. There was a reluctancy in his conscience, he durst not go, therefore he would fain bring the will of God to his will. In many cases we are thus divided between our own affections and God's will, between our interests and the will of God.