What they cannot help
Lastly, there is no condemnation to them for anything whatever which it is not in their power to help, whether it is of an inward or outward nature, and whether it is doing something or leaving something undone.
For instance, the Lord's Supper is to be administered. But you do not partake of it. Why do you not? You are confined by sickness. Therefore you cannot help omitting it, and for the same reason you are not condemned.
There is no guilt, because there is no choice. As there is a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have.
A believer may indeed sometimes be grieved, because he cannot do what his soul longs for. He may cry out, when he is detained from worshiping God in the great congregation: Like as the hart pants after the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, O God. My soul is thirsty for God, yes, even for the living God. When shall I come to appear in the presence of God?
He may earnestly desire, only still saying in his heart, not as I will, but as you will, to go again with the multitude and bring them forth into the house of God. But still, if he cannot go, he feels no condemnation, no guilt, no sense of God's displeasure. He can cheerfully yield up those desires, with these words: O my soul, put your trust in God, for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance and my God.
1771 text
10. Lastly, There is no condemnation to them for any thing whatever which it is not in their power to help; whether it be of an inward or outward nature, and whether it be doing something, or leaving something undone. For instance: the Lord’s supper is to be administered. But you do not partake thereof. Why do you not; you are confined by sickness. Therefore you cannot help omitting it: and for the same reason, you are not condemned. There is no guilt; because there is no choice. As there is a willing mind, it is accepted, according to that a man hath, not according to that he hath not.
11. A believer indeed may sometimes be grieved, because he cannot do what his soul longs for. He may cry out, when he is detain’d from worshipping God in the great congregation, Like as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, yea even for the living God: when shall I come to appear in the presence of God? He may earnestly desire (only still saying in his heart, not as I will, but as thou wilt) to go again with the multitude and bring them forth into the house of God. But still, if he cannot go, he feels no condemnation, no guilt, no sense of God’s displeasure: but can chearfully yield up those desires, with, O my soul, put thy trust in God: for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance and my God.
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 8 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:1.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.