Self-will remains
Nor is it long before he feels self-will in his heart. Self-will remains, a will contrary to the will of God. A will every person must have, as long as he has an understanding. This is an essential part of human nature, indeed of the nature of every intelligent being. Our blessed Lord himself had a will as a man. Otherwise he would not have been a man. But his human will was invariably subject to the will of his Father. At all times, and on all occasions, even in the deepest affliction, he could say, Not as I will, but as you will.
This is not the case at all times, even with a true believer in Christ. He frequently finds his will, more or less, exalting itself against the will of God. He wills something because it is pleasing to nature, which is not pleasing to God. And he is set against something because it is painful to nature, which is yet the will of God concerning him. If he continues in the faith, he fights against that self-will with all his might. But this very fight implies that the self-will really exists, and that he is conscious of it.
1771 text
4. Nor is it long before he feels self-will in his heart, even a will contrary to the will of God. A will every man must inevitably have, as long as he has an understanding. This is an essential part of human nature, indeed of the nature of every intelligent being. Our blessed Lord himself had a will as a man: otherwise he had not been a man. But his human will was invariably subject to the will of his Father. At all times, and on all occasions, even in the deepest affliction, he could say, Not as I will, but as thou wilt. But this is not the case at all times, even with a true believer in Christ. He frequently finds his will more or less exalting itself against the will of God. He wills something because it is pleasing to nature, which is not pleasing to God. And he nills (is averse from) something because it is painful to nature, which is the will of God concerning him. Indeed (suppose he continues in the faith) he fights against it with all his might. But this very thing implies, that it really exists, and that he is conscious of it.
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 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.