Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Or to exact any thing of man, but what he had given him a capacity, in his original nature to perform. If any command were above our natural power, it would be unrighteous; as to command a man to grasp the Globe of the Earth, to stride over the Sea, to lave out the waters of the Ocean; these things are impossible, and become not the Righteousness and Wisdom of God to enjoin. There can be no obligation on man to an impossibility. God had a free dominion over nullity before the Creation, he could ⟨p. 716⟩call it out into the being of man and beast: But he could not do any thing in Creation foolishly because of his infinite Wisdom; nor could he by the right of his absolute Sovereignty make man sinful, because of his infinite purity. As it is impossible for him not to be Sovereign; 'Tis impossible for him to deny his Deity, and his purity. 'Tis Lawful for God to do what he will, but his will being ordered by the Righteousness of his nature, as infinite as his will, he cannot do any thing but what is just; and therefore in his dealing with men, you find him in Scripture submitting the reasonableness and equity of his proceedings to the Judgment of his depraved Creatures, and the inward dictates of their own Consciences. Isaiah 5.3. And now, Oh Inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge I pray you, between me and my Vineyard. Though God be the great Sovereign of the World, yet he acts not in a way of absolute Sovereignty.

Or to exact any thing of man, but what he had given him a capacity, in his original nature to perform. If any command were above our natural power, it would be unrighteous; as to command a man to grasp the Globe of the Earth, to stride over the Sea, to lave out the waters of the Ocean; these things are impossible, and become not the Righteousness and Wisdom of God to enjoyn. There can be no obligation on man to an impossibility. God had a free dominion over nullity before the Creation, he could ⟨p. 716⟩call it out into the being of man and beast: But he could not do any thing in Creation foolishly because of his infinite Wisdom; nor could he by the right of his absolute Soveraignty make man sinful, because of his infinite purity. As it is impossible for him not to be Soveraign; 'Tis impossible for him to deny his Deity, and his purity. 'Tis Lawful for God to do what he will, but his will being ordered by the Righteousness of his nature, as infinite as his will, he cannot do any thing but what is just; and therefore in his dealing with men, you find him in Scripture submitting the reasonableness and equity of his proceedings to the Judgment of his deprav'd Creatures, and the inward dictates of their own Consciences.