It is a case often falls out, when there is a quarrel between convic- tion and corruption. When light is active and strong in conscience, men dare not go against the apparent will of God, yet their hearts hang another way. We have one carnal affection or other, and then all our business is to bring God's will and ours together ; and how to disguise and palliate the matter, that with greatest leave to conscience we may seem to contradict the will of God.
[5.] A fifth deceit about the will of God, and that is, a wish that we were brought under the power of it, as he that stretched himself upon his bed, and said, Oh, that this were to labour ! Many men have a velleity, a languid and incomplete will ; they have a wish, but not a volition, not a serious desire ; and sometimes they may draw it out
136 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VI. 10.
to a cold prayer that God would make them better. It is just like a man that should lie down and complain, Oh, that I were at such a place ! and never travel. Would I had performed such a task ! yet puts not his hand to the work. Men would, but they luill not, set themselves in good earnest to get the grace they wish for, there is not striving to accomplish their will. A chapman no doubt would have the wares, it is like he hath a cold wish, but will not come to the price ; I will buy it whatever it cost me. They have not those active and industrious resolutions, such a strong and serious bent of heart towards God, but only a few wishes.
[6.] Halving the will of God ; as in many cases many will do part of the will of God, but not all, they come not fully up to the mind of God. For instance, they will take notice of some great command- ment, but not of the least. We cannot dispense with ourselves in the least: Mat. v. 19, ' Whosoever shall break one of the least command- ments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.' We are apt to say ' It is but a little one, and my soul shall live.' No sin is little which is committed against a great God. It argueth more wickedness to break with God for a trifle and a very small matter, it argueth more corruption ; as a little force will make a heavy body move downward. Again, in another case, the ceremonialist stands upon some lesser things ; as the Jews, John xviii. 28, 'would not go into the judgment-hall lest they should be defiled,' yet they could seek the life of the Lord of glory. They are not brought under the dominion of the Lord's grace, faith, repentance, holiness, and the weightier things of the law ; these are things they regard not. This is hypocrisy. Like one that comes into a shop to buy a pennyworth and steals a pound's worth ; so they are punctual in lesser things, that they may make bold with God in greater. Again, some will do the will of God in public, where they may be observed ; but not in private, and when alone. They make a fair show in the world, but in their families their converse is more loose and careless : Ps. ci. 2, ' I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.' A man that is truly holy will show it at home and abroad, in his closet and secret retirements, everywhere he makes conscience of the will of God. Many times we strain ourselves and put forth our gifts in public ; God will be served with our utmost in secret also ; and the will of God is expressed concerning the inward as well as the outward man, and we must make conscience of both : Isa. Iv. 7, ' Let the wicked man forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,' &c. Not only make conscience of our way,, our outward course, but of our thoughts as well as our actions, for the thoughts fall under a law. So some will make conscience of the first-table duties, and neglect the second ; and some of the second, and neglect the first. Some are very punctual in dealing with men, but neglectful of God : Kom. i. 18, ' The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all ungod- liness and unrighteousness of men.' Both tables are owned from heaven. Some will not wrong their neighbour of a farthing, but stick not to rob God of all that faith, fear, love, trust, worship, that is due to him. Many that will not defile their bodies with promis- cuous copulation, yet are adulterers and adulteresses to God, their
Mat. VI. 10.] the lord's prater. 137
hearts straggling from God, rioting upon the creature to the wrong of God. Many condemn the rebellion of Absalom, and rise up against their heavenly Father, and are murderers, that strike at the being of God. They are tender of wronging the reputation of men, yet dis- honour God, and are never troubled. So, on the other side, others fear and worship, but in their dealings are very unconscionable ; they will not swear an oath, but are very unchaiitable, censuring their brethren without pity and remorse. This is the fashion of the world, to be in with one duty and out with another.