A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

Thirdly, a Man in a State of Nature, hath no power to keep himself from sin in general, that is, he hath no power to do any thing but what is sinful, for whatever action is not sinful, must flow from a gracious Principle, and must be directed to a right end, which no action of a wicked Man can be, for both the first Principle, and also the last end of every action that a wicked Man doth is carnal self.

Fourthly, Though wicked Men have not a power to do that which is not sinful, yet they have a power to resist this or that particular sin: They are sadly necessitated to act within the sphere of sin; that is, whatever they act is sinful, but yet ⟨p. 260⟩[…] ⟨p. 261⟩[…] ⟨p. 262⟩they may as it were choose which sin they will act, neither doth this overthrow what was delivered before, for when they chose a less sin rather than a greater, when they avoid the commission of a daring and presumptuous sin, and chose rather to perform a duty; this proceeds not merely from their own power, but from the power and influence of God, raising and exciting their power; that Men choose to feed upon wholesome meat, rather than upon poison, though they have a free will to do so; yet this doth not merely proceed from their free will, but from God's guiding and exciting that free will to choose wholesome food rather than poison; so is it here, what sin Man avoids, is not to be ascribed to his own power, though a power he hath, but it is to be ascribed only to God's common, or to his special Grace and Influence, whereby that power that would otherwise lie dead and unacted is quickened and actuated in us; what difference is there betwixt a Man that hath no power, and a Man that hath a power, but yet cannot use it: Truly, such are we, what power we have against sin, we cannot make use of it, till God raise ⟨p. 263⟩and act us by his exciting Grace; therefore have we still need to pray with David, Lord, do thou keep me from sin, for though I have a power, yet it is but a latent and sleepy power, and will not be available till thou dost awaken and quicken it.