YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD

Ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Galatians 5:17

 
HUMBLING consideration this!
 
But depravity has weakened,
  as well as perverted all our powers.
 
Once we had no will to do good;
  now we have the will, but often want the power.
 
The flesh lust, and strives against the spirit;
  Satan assists the flesh in the conflict,
  therefore we are often foiled, and
   fail to accomplish our object.
 
We would abstain from all sin,
  but we cannot.
We would bring every sinner to know Jesus,
  but we cannot.
We would daily repent, always believe, and
  invariably love, but we cannot.
 
This is our infirmity, but,
  as it was produced by sin,
  it ought to be our grief.
 
It is a mercy to have the will, for,
  if we have the will now,
  we shall have the power by and by.
 
Our weaknesses ought not to discourage us;
  nor ought we ever to plead our feebleness
  as an excuse for the neglect of, or failure in duty.
 
But we ought to cleave the more closely to Jesus,
  pray the more earnestly for the power of the Holy Spirit,
  mourn over our shortcomings before God, and
  long for the time when we shall be able and
  willing to do every thing which God requires of us.
 

O Lord, assist me through the fight,

My drooping spirits raise;

Make me triumphant in thy might,

And thine shall be the praise.

 
James Smith 1849