The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the…

2. A Christian must deny his Will. This is Brugensis gloss upon the Text^*, The will is the primum mobile, the great wheel in the Soul that moves all the Affections. The Will in innocency was regular, it did echo to Gods Will; but since the fall, though it retains its freedom in moral actions, yet as to spiritual it is depraved. If the Will could cease from sinning (saith Bernard) there would be no Hell^*. The greatest wound is fallen upon the Will. The Mariners Compass being stricken with Thunder, causeth the point of the Needle to stand wrong: Mans Nature being corrupted, causeth the Will to point wrong, it inclines to evil. There is in the Will, not only impotency, but ⟨p. 11⟩obstinacy, Acts 7.51, Ye have always resisted the Holy Ghost^*. Now here we must deny our Will, and bring it to Gods Will. If a Stick that is crooked be laid upon ground that is level, we do not go to bring the ground even with the Stick, but to make the Stick even with the ground. So Gods Will is not to be brought to ours, but our Will being crooked, must be brought to Gods Will. We pray, Thy will be done. The way to have our Will, is to deny it.

2. A Christian must deny his Will. This is Brugensis gloss upon the Text^*, The will is the primum mobile, the great wheel in the Soul that moves all the Affections. The Will in innocency was regular, it did eccho to Gods Will; but since the fall, though it retains its freedom in moral actions, yet as to spiritual it is depraved. If the Will could cease from sinning (saith Bernard) there would be no Hell^*. The greatest wound is fallen upon the Will. The Mariners Compass being stricken with Thunder, causeth the point of the Needle to stand wrong: Mans Nature being corrupted, causeth the Will to point wrong, it inclines to evil. There is in the Will, not only impotency, but