One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

3. God gives out his strength according to his own pleasure. God many times gives the will, when he suspendeth the strength that is necessary for the performance. Sometimes God gives s•ire, a sense and conscience of duty; at other times he gives veil, to will, to have a purpose: And when he gives to will, he doth not always give posse, to be able, not such a lively performance. It is possible he may give the will, where he doth not give the deed; for it is said, Phil. 2. 13. He worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure. And Paul certainly doth not speak as a convinced, but as a renewed man, when he saith, To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. He had received the will, and not the deed; finding presupposeth searching; when we have done all we can, yet how to bring our purposes into actions, we cannot tell. Peter had his resolutions (and no doubt they were hearty and real) yet when he comes to make them good, what a poor weakling was Peter! Putabat se posse, quod se velle sentiebat. He thought he could do that which he could will, saith Austin. John 13. 37. Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee. We look upon the willing spirit, and not upon the weak flesh. It is possible we may lean upon resent dispositions and affections, as if they would carry us out, without dependence upon God. Therefore for all the parts of spiritual strength he must be sought to.

3. God gives out his strength according to his own pleasure. God many times gives the will, when he suspendeth the strength that is necessary for the performance. Sometimes God gives s•ire, a sense and conscience of duty; at other times he gives velle, to will, to have a purpose: And when he gives to will, he doth not always give posse, to be able, not such a lively performance. It is possible he may give the will, where he doth not give the deed; for it is said, Phil. 2. 13. He worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure. And Paul certainly doth not speak as a convinced, but as a renewed man, when he saith, To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. He had received the will, and not the deed; finding presupposeth searching; when we have done all we can, yet how to bring our purposes into actions, we cannot tell. Peter had his resolutions (and no doubt they were hearty and real) yet when he comes to make them good, what a poor weakling was Peter! Putabat se posse, quod se velle sentiebat. He thought he could do that which he could will, saith Austin.