what is good. And this habitual preparation for good is always present
plead, indeed, that they would leave their sins if they could, and they desire to do better. But it is the working of their light and convictions, not any spiritual inclination of their wills, that they mean: for where there is a will to do good, there is a choice of what is good for its own excellency's sake. Now, this is not in unbelievers. They do not, they cannot choose what is spiritually good, nor does it correspond to to any principle in them; they only want the results of good. And these desires are so weak that they do very little about them. Witness the sloth and worldliness that most men are drowned in. But in believers there is a will to do good, a habitual inclination to what is spiritually good; and it is accompanied with action. The will is the principle of our moral actions; so the general course of our actions will follow it. Good things will proceed from the good treasures of the heart. But a will to do good, without doing good, is mere pretence.
Fourthly, There is yet another thing in these words of the apostle, regarding the occasion of the season of duty: "When I will to do good," says he, "evil is present with me."
There are two things to be considered in the believers' will to do good:
1. It habitually resides in them. They have always an inclination to do what is good. And this habitual preparation for good is always present with them; as the apostle expresses it, verse 18 of this chapter.
2. There are special times and seasons for the exercise of that principle. There is a "When I would do good," - a season when this or that good is to be done in response to that will.
Two things in indwelling sin are opposed to these. To the gracious principle residing in the will, inclining to what is spiritually good, it is opposed as a contrary principle, inclining to evil. To the second, the willing of "When I would do good," is opposed the presence of this law: "Evil is present with me," - evil is at hand, and ready to hinder the good aimed at. So indwelling sin rebels and inclines to evil, when the will to do good