God fixes his own terms
It does not become poor, guilty, sinful worms, who receive, of grace, of mere favor, and not of debt, whatever blessings they enjoy, from the least drop of water that cools our tongue to the immense riches of glory in eternity, to ask of God the reasons of his conduct. It is not fitting for us to call him in question, who gives account to none of his ways. It is not fitting to demand, Why did you make faith the condition, the only condition, of justification? Why did you decree, He who believes, and he only, shall be saved?
This is the very point on which Saint Paul so strongly insists in Romans 9, namely, that the terms of pardon and acceptance must depend, not on us, but on him who calls us. There is no unrighteousness with God in fixing his own terms, not according to ours, but according to his own good pleasure. He may justly say, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, namely, on him who believes in Jesus. So then it is not of him who wills, or of him who runs, to choose the condition on which he shall find acceptance, but of God who shows mercy, who accepts none at all, but of his own free love, his unmerited goodness. Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, namely, on those who believe on the Son of his love. And whom he will, that is, those who do not believe, he hardens, and leaves at last to the hardness of their hearts.
1771 text
7. It does not become poor, guilty, sinful worms, who receive whatsoever blessings they enjoy, (from the least drop of water that cools our tongue, to the immense riches of glory in eternity) of grace, of mere favour, and not of debt, to ask of God the reasons of his conduct. It is not meet for us to call him in question, who giveth account to none of his ways; to demand, Why didst thou make faith the condition, the only condition of justification? Wherefore didst thou decree, He that believeth, and he only, shall be saved? This is the very point on which St. Paul so strongly insists in the ninth chapter of this epistle, viz. That the terms of pardon and acceptance must depend, not on us, but on him that calleth us: that there is no unrighteousness with God, in fixing his own terms, not according to ours, but his own good pleasure: who may justly say, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, namely, on him who believeth in Jesus. So then it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, to chuse the condition on which he shall find acceptance; but of God that sheweth mercy, that accepteth none at all, but of his own free love, his unmerited goodness. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, viz. on those who believe on the Son of his love: and whom he will, that is, those who believe not, he hardeneth, leaves at last to the hardness of their hearts.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 5 in the 1771 Works. Romans 4:5.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.