Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

You are exceedingly deceived, the Lord indeed will accept the will for the deed, when there is such an impediment as that you cannot proceed: for what is the occasion of that speech of the Apostle to the Corinthians, when they had liberal minds to supply the necessities of the Churches, and yet they wanted money, in this case saith the Apostle, the Lord accepts the will for the deed. Wilt thou say now therefore, because thou hast a good desire to serve God, to pray, to keep to Gods truth, to keep thy heart close to him, and thou hopest the Lord will take the desire for the deed, and yet thou wilt be negligent in them? what impediment hast thou? If thou wouldest bestow time in prayer, if thou wouldest bestow time in working on thy heart to warm it, and to quicken it to duty, thou shouldest have the deed as well as the will, what hinders thee then? where therefore there is no impediment, the Lord will not accept the will for the deed. Look how much will there is, so much deed there ⟨p. 201⟩will be: when the will is wrought by the spirit of God, the deed will follow. I am able saith Saint Paul (not only to purpose, and intend, but) to do all things. If thou hast the power of grace in thee, as he here exhorts Timothy to be strong, thou wilt go through with the work, I say if thou hast the power and strength of grace in thee, thou hast strength and ability to do all these things.

You are exceedingly deceived, the Lord indeed will accept the will for the deed, when there is such an impediment as that you cannot proceed: for what is the occasion of that speech of the Apostle to the Corinthians, when they had liberal minds to supply the necessities of the Churches, and yet they wanted money, in this case saith the Apostle, the Lord accepts the will for the deed. Wilt thou say now therefore, because thou hast a good desire to serve God, to pray, to keep to Gods truth, to keep thy heart close to him, and thou hopest the Lord will take the desire for the deed, and yet thou wilt be negligent in them? what impediment hast thou? If thou wouldest bestow time in prayer, if thou wouldest bestow time in working on thy heart to warm it, and to quicken it to duty, thou shouldest have the deed as well as the will, what hinders thee then? where therefore there is no impediment, the Lord will not accept the will for the deed. Look how much will there is, so much deed there ⟨p. 201⟩will be: when the will is wrought by the spirit of God, the deed will follow. I am able saith Saint Paul (not onely to purpose, and intend, but) to do all things. If thou hast the power of grace in thee, as he here exhorts Timothy to be strong, thou wilt go through with the work, I say if thou hast the power and strength of grace in thee, thou hast strength and ability to do all these things.