Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

We are not to conceive of this Disability, as if Sinners had not deliberative and elective Faculties to consider and choose what is best: such a Disability would be an Argument for their Innocence and Justification: Neither as if Men had a Will to forsake Sin, and wanted Power; like a miserable Slave that sighs after Liberty, but is fastened by heavy Fetters: but the perverse Will keeps them in Bondage: They serve divers Lusts and Pleasures, and delight in their Fetters. 'Tis a voluntary culpable Impotence joined with a strong Reluctancy to Grace: 'tis the impudent imperious Weakness of the Whorish Woman charged upon the Israelites, and admits of no Apology and Defence: Nay, it aggravates the Sin and Sentence of such depraved Creatures. As there is in Virtue and Holiness a Divine Degree ⟨p. 293⟩of Perfection, that makes Persons not capable of departing from their Duty: so there is a Diabolical Degree in Sin, when the Soul is so depraved, that it cannot abstain from doing Evil. And as consummate Virtue is most worthy of Esteem and Praise; so when a vicious Habit contracted by long Custom in Sin, absolutely possesses the Soul, 'tis most worthy of Abhorrence.

We are not to conceive of this Disability, as if Sinners had not deliberative and elective Faculties to consider and choose what is best: such a Disability would be an Argument for their Innocence and Justification: Neither as if Men had a Will to forsake Sin, and wanted Power; like a miserable Slave that sighs after Liberty, but is fasten'd by heavy Fetters: but the perverse Will keeps them in Bondage: They serve divers Lusts and Pleasures, and delight in their Fetters. 'Tis a voluntary culpable Impotence join'd with a strong Reluctancy to Grace: 'tis the impudent imperious Weakness of the Whorish Woman charged upon the Israelites, and admits of no Apology and Defence: Nay, it aggravates the Sin and Sentence of such depraved Creatures. As there is in Vertue and Holiness a Divine Degree ⟨p. 293⟩of Perfection, that makes Persons not capable of departing from their Duty: so there is a Diabolical Degree in Sin, when the Soul is so depraved, that it cannot abstain from doing Evil. And as consummate Vertue is most worthy of Esteem and Praise; so when a vicious Habit contracted by long Custom in Sin, absolutely possesses the Soul, 'tis most worthy of Abhorrence.