Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

And they said, there is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart; We can expect no good from him, and therefore we will be our own Sovereigns, and prefer the Authority of our own imaginations before that of his Precepts. Men would be their own Carvers, and not suffer God to use his right; as if a stone should order the Mason in what manner to hew it, and in what part of the building to place it; We are not ordinarily concerned so much at the calamities of our Neighbours, but swell against Heaven at a light drop upon our selves. We are content God should be the Sovereign of others, so that he will be a servant to us; Let him deal as he will himself with others, so he will treat us, and what relates ⟨p. 761⟩to us, as we will ourselves. We would have God resign his Authority to our humours, and our humours should be in the place of a God to him, to direct him what was fit to do in our cause. When things go not according to our vote, our impatience is a wish, that God were deposed from his Throne, that he would surrender his seat to some, that would deal more favourably, and be more punctual observers of our directions. Let us look to our selves in regard of this sin which is too common, and the root of much mischief. This seems to be the first bubbling of Adam's will, he was not content with the condition wherein God had placed him, but affected another, which ended in the ruin of himself, and of Mankind.

And they said, there is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart; We can expect no good from him, and therefore we will be our own Soveraigns, and prefer the Authority of our own imaginations before that of his Precepts. Men would be their own Carvers, and not suffer God to use his right; as if a stone should order the Mason in what manner to hew it, and in what part of the building to place it; We are not ordinarily concern'd so much at the calamities of our Neigbours, but swell against Heaven at a light drop upon our selves. We are content God should be the Soveraign of others, so that he will be a servant to us; Let him deal as he will himself with others, so he will treat us, and what relates ⟨p. 761⟩to us, as we will ourselves. We would have God resign his Authority to our humors, and our humors should be in the place of a God to him, to direct him what was fit to do in our cause. When things go not according to our vote, our impatience is a wish, that God were depos'd from his Throne, that he would surrender his seat to some, that would deal more favourably, and be more punctual observers of our directions. Let us look to our selves in regard of this sin which is too common, and the root of much mischief. This seems to be the first bubbling of Adam's will, he was not content with the condition wherein God had placed him, but affected another, which ended in the ruine of himself, and of Mankind.