Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

But if God could be promerited (as they speak) and obliged, it must be by some things that are our own; and Secondly, It must be by such things as are not due upon any other account whatsoever:¹ Now what hast thou which thou hast not received? Thy Faculties and Powers, thy Grace and Goodness, a Heart and Will to do good, every Enlargement of Prayer, and Exercise of Faith, or any other Grace, is his; it is he that works in us to will and to do accord-to his own good pleasure;² and if thanks be not due to a Servant when he does what he is bidden, (as our Saviour expresses,) what can be due to a Creature from his Creator, who gives him Food and Raiment, Life and Breath, and all things? Where is there any proportion betwixt these, and any returns we can make? In all Trading or Exchanging, there 'tis [Greek or Hebrew], a quid for quo, which cannot be given to God by us.

But if God could be promerited (as they speak) and obliged, it must be by some things that are our own; and Secondly, It must be by such things as are not due upon any other account whatsoever:¹ Now what hast thou which thou hast not received? Thy Faculties and Powers, thy Grace and Goodness, a Heart and Will to do good, every Enlargement of Prayer, and Exercise of Faith, or any other Grace, is his; it is he that works in us to will and to do accord-to his own good pleasure;² and if thanks be not due to a Servant when he does what he is bidden, (as our Saviour expresses,) what can be due to a Creature from his Creator, who gives him Food and Rayment, Life and Breath, and all things? Where is there any proportion betwixt these, and any returns we can make? In all Trading or Exchanging, there 'tis 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a quid for quo, which cannot be given to God by us.

1. 11 Cor. 4.7
2. 2