A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

3. Consider our own Incapacity. There is great Reason why our Wills should be given up to the Will of God, because we are not able to manage them our selves. By the Law of Nations, Fools, and mad Men, must have a Guardian, ⟨p. 262⟩they have lost the Dominion and Power over themselves, they are to be ruled by another, they are Slaves by Nature, that must be guided by another: Tit. 3. 3. We are all by Nature Fools, and it is the greatest Mischief that can be, to be left to our own Wills; and therefore when God requireth the Resignation of our Wills, it is but as the taking of a Sword out of a mad Man's hand, which will be the cause of his own Mischief and Ruin: Nemo laeditur nisi a seipso; no Man is hurt by any but by himself, tho he may be troubled by others. Now since we cannot manage our own Will, it is fit we should have a Guardian; and who is more wise than God to govern us? A Merchant, tho he owns the Ship, and hath stored it with Goods, yet because he hath no Skill in the Art of Navigation, he suffereth the Pilot to guide it. Certainly we shall but Shipwreck our selves, unless we give up our selves to be guided by the Spirit of God according to his Will.

3. Consider our own Incapacity. There is great Reason why our Wills should be given up to the Will of God, because we are not able to manage them our selves. By the Law of Nations, Fools, and mad Men, must have a Guardian, ⟨p. 262⟩they have lost the Dominion and Power over themselves, they are to be ruled by another, they are Slaves by Nature, that must be guided by another: Tit. 3. 3. We are all by Nature Fools, and it is the greatest Mischief that can be, to be left to our own Wills; and therefore when God requireth the Resignation of our Wills, it is but as the taking of a Sword out of a mad Man's hand, which will be the cause of his own Mischief and Ruine: Nemo laeditur nisi a seipso; no Man is hurt by any but by himself, tho he may be troubled by others. Now since we cannot manage our own Will, it is fit we should have a Guardian; and who is more wise than God to govern us? A Merchant, tho he owns the Ship, and hath stor'd it with Goods, yet because he hath no Skill in the Art of Navigation, he suffereth the Pilot to guide it. Certainly we shall but Shipwrack our selves, unless we give up our selves to be guided by the Spirit of God according to his Will.