A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

Object. But here's an Objection. If it be so that Man hath such an utter Impotency to convert himself to God; how can it stand with the Mercy of God, as the Creator of Mankind, to require the debt of Obedience from him that is not able to pay? How can it stand with the Justice of God, to punish him with eternal Death, for the neglect of that which he is not able to do? and how can it stand with the Wisdom of the Supreme Law-giver, to exhort him by Promises and Threatenings, who hath no power to do what he is exhorted to do?

Object. But here's an Objection. If it be so that Man hath such an utter Impotency to convert himself to God; how can it stand with the Mercy of God, as the Creator of Mankind, to require the debt of Obedience from him that is not able to pay? How can it stand with the Iustice of God, to punish him with eternal Death, for the neglect of that which he is not able to do? and how can it stand with the Wisdom of the Supream Law-giver, to exhort him by Promises and Threatnings, who hath no power to do what he is exhorted to do?

I answer.

1. As to the first, How it can stand with the Mercy of God to require the debt of Obedience from him that is not able to pay? God hath not lost his Right, though Man hath lost his Power: their Impotency doth not dissolve their Obligation. A drunken Servant is a Servant still: It is against all reason, a Master should lose his Right by the Servant's default. A prodigal Debtor hath nothing to pay, yet he is liable to be sued for the Debt without any Injustice. God contracted with us in Adam, and gave us a Power, which we lost by his Fall: and therefore though our Power be gone, yet God may demand his due to obey and please him; especially since this Obedience God required of Adam, was not only due, by Covenant and positive Law, but by immutable Right, and natural Justice of Man. Men think it harsh to suffer for Adam's Fault, to which they were not conscious, and actually consenting.