A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Self-will be denied.
4. THe fourth part of ſelfiſhneſs to be mortified, is ſelf-will. And this is the fruit of ſelfconceit, and alſo a natural corruption of the ſoul; And a moſt deep rooted obſtinate vice it is. Every wicked man is a ſelf-willed man, againſt God, and all that ſpeak for God. And till ſelf be mortified in the will, there is no ſaving grace in that will.
Queſt. But what will is it that is to be called a ſelf-will?
Anſw. Not that which is from God and for God; but all the reſt. 1. That will that is not fetched from God, and moved by his will, as the leſſer wheels in a clock are moved by the firſt wheel and by the p…, is no better than ſelf-will. A will that is not dependent on Gods will, is an Idol, uſurping the prerogative of God; for it is proper to him to be dependent upon none, and to have a will that is not ruled by a Superior will. Little do the moſt know how great a ſin this is, to be ſelf-willed. You have a will to ſomething or other continually; and it is your will that ruleth the reſt of your faculties and actions: but what is it that ruleth your will? whence do you fetch the riſe and reaſon of your deſires? Is it from Gods will, or is it not? You pray to God [Thy will be done] and do your own wills anſwer theſe prayers? or are they hypocritical diſſembling words? If indeed it be Gods will that you would have fulfilled, then will the knowledge of that will of God determine your own wills. As a ſervant dependeth on his Maſters will, for all the work that he is to do, and doth not what he will himſelf, but what his Maſter will have him do; and as a Scholar dependeth on his Maſters will, and learneth only ſuch books and leſſons as he ſets him; ſo muſt we depend on the will of God; and know what is his will, before we give way to any will of our own. The reaſon why you chooſe any trade or calling or courſe of life, ſhould be the will of God. If you are in Poverty, and deſire to be richer, and that to pleaſe your own wills, and not that you think that it would be any more pleaſing to God, this is ſelf-willedneſs. If you deſire any change in your condition, if you undertake any thing in the world, know why you do this: whether it be principally becauſe you think it is the will of God, or becauſe it is your own will; I tell you again, you ſhould not have one wiſh or deſire in your ſouls, till you can prove or find that God would have it ſo: and if your own wills be made the abſolue rulers of your ways, you make Gods of your ſelves, and God will deal with you accordingly.
2. Yea if you do think the will of God is according to your will, and you are moved the more to it on that account, yet if your own wills do lead and make the firſt choice, and Gods will be brought in but to follow and incourage yours, this is ſtill Self-willedneſs and Self-idolizing. This is the common trick of the ungodly. They firſt give way to their own ſelf-will, and then they will go to Scripture for ſomewhat to bear them out; and will needs believe that God's is agreeable to theirs, that ſo they may go on with peace of Conſcience. They go for counſel to God as Balaam did, not ſincerely to know the will of God with a reſolution to obey it, but with a deſire that God would conform his will to theirs. I tell you if the matter be never ſo much commanded in the Scriptures, and never ſo agreeable to the will of God, yet if you deſire and do it from your ſelves, and not for this reaſon, becauſe it is the will of God, and do not let Gods will lead your own, but let your own will lead, and Gods will follow, this is no better than ſelfwilledneſs, were the matter never ſo good in it ſelf.
3. If the end that moveth your will, be not the ſervice and glory of God, but only your own Intereſt, this is but ſelf-will. God giveth you leave to look to your ſelves as his ſervants in a due ſubſerviency to him: But if you will principally look at your own intereſt, and make light of Gods, and fetch the reaſon of your will and deſires from your own ends and commodity, rather than his Glory, this is an ungodly ſelfiſh-will. And yet alas, how many are there that know not any better frame of will than this? If they were truly to give an account of the principal reaſon and motive of every deſire of their hearts, why they would have this, or why they would do that, muſt they not confeſs it is for themſelves, becauſe it ſerveth their own ends or intereſts, and becauſe it pleaſeth their own wills, and not becauſe it furniſheth them better to ſerve and pleaſe the will of God. If you ask men in their buying, and ſelling, and marrying, and trading, and dealing with men, why it is that they do this or that; can they truly ſay, I do it becauſe I think in this way I can do God the beſt ſervice, and the Church or Commonwealth moſt good; and this is my chief reaſon? Alas, I fear they are too few that have any higher principal end and motive than ſelf. Self-will is the ſpring of their whole Converſations, that ſets them upon all they do. Nay doubtleſs, in the very duties of Religion, in praying, hearing, reading and the like, they are but ſerving ſelf, while they take on them to ſerve God; and their holieſt devotions is but ſuch a ſerving of God, as flatterers will ſerve their Prince or Landlord, meerly that he may do them a good turn, and may ſerve their Ends, and be ſerviceable to them; or elſe as ſome Indians ſerve the Devil, for fear of him leſt he ſhould do them a miſchief. The will that is moved chiefly by ſelf-intereſt, is a ſelf-will.
4. And much more is it ſelf-willedneſs, when men contradict the Will of God: when Scripture ſaith One thing, and they another: when they diſreliſh Gods Laws, and diſlike the work that he ſets them on; when they have a Will to that which God forbids, and would fain be doing with unlawful things; yea and it doth not ſatisfie their corrupt deſires to ſee that the expreſs will of God is againſt them; this is ſelf-will in a high degree.
5. So alſo when mens wills are to that which is againſt the honour and intereſt of God; which would hinder this Goſpel, and the ſaving mens ſouls, and is diſpleaſing to him, this is ſelf-willedneſs in a high degree.
And thus you ſee what it is to be ſelf-willed. And now do but conſider whether this part of ſelf be commonly denied in the world. Among the millions of deſires that are in mens hearts, how few of them are kindled by the commands of God, or moved by his Intereſt and Glory? How commonly are the word and ways of God diſtaſtful to the world? How ill do men like the diſpoſals of his providence? And what a ſtriving is there in their wills againſt him? And were it not that God is above them and unconquerable, and they know that ſtriving will not help them, you ſhould have moſt of the world in open war againſt the God of Heaven: I ſpeak no more than I am able to prove. The Dominion of ſelf is ſo great in the wills of all that are unſanctified, that their wills are utterly againſt the Will of God; and it's meerly, becauſe there's no remedy, that they ſubmit to him ſo far as they do. Thoſe very perſons that think they love and ſerve him as well as the preciſeſt, would be in arms againſt him before to morrow, and pull God out of Heaven if it were in their power: Or if they had but as much hope to prevail againſt God, as they have againſt his ſervants, what work would be in the world? I know theſe men will not believe this by themſelves: No, ſelf is too ſtrong in them to let them ſo far know themſelves; But the Caſe is plain. For as God himſelf tell us, that ever ſince the fall an Enmity is put between Chriſt and this ſerpentine ſeed; ſo we ſee it manifeſted by daily ſad experience. How generally is the Will of God diſliked by the world? What hath God ſpoke againſt in his Word but ſin? and what elſe hath he commanded his Meſſengers to Cry out againſt? And yet what is there that more pleaſeth the minds of the moſt? And how ſtubbornly do they reſiſt not only God, but Magiſtrates and Miniſters that would draw them from it? what is it that God commendeth to the world ſo ſo much as an Holy and Heavenly life? And what is the Heart of moſt men more againſt? and how much do they ſtrive againſt all our perſwaſions that would bring them to it? and how obſtinately do they reſiſt us, if not deride and ſcorn that Holineſs which the will of God hath ſo abundantly commended to them? His whole Word ſpeaks for it: his Prophets, Apoſtles, and all his ſervants are examples of it; his Son Jeſus Chriſt in his ſacred perſon, and office, and holy life, hath yet more notably commended it to the world; and it was a principal part of his buſineſs in the fleſh, to ſet men a pattern of Holineſs and Self-denial: And yet many ſcorn it, & hate it, and moſt diſlike it, and even fight againſt this holy Will of God, that is, againſt God himſelf, if they had but any hope to get the le…ter▪ There is no doubt of it, though …h…y w…ll not know ſo much by themſelves. Do y…u think it is for nothing that God calleth them his enemies, and reſolveth them the reward of enemies, even bec…uſe they would not have Chriſt to rule over them? Luke 19. 27. Doubtleſs God ſentenceth no man u…juſtly: If he ſay they are ſuch, and condemn them as ſuch it's certain that they are ſuch. O but the infinite dreadful God …s ou… of their reach; but they be not out of his reach. Their malice cannot hurt him any more than it can ſtop the courſe of the Sun; but his diſpleaſure will quickly bring them down. In the mean time, theſe wretches ſhould conſider what a God they have had to do with, that beareth with their malignity. The Sun or Moon forbear not to ſhine even on the dogs that bark at them. Thy rebellious ſelf hath hitherto been maintained by the mercy of that Will of God which thou haſt reſiſted. But this patience will not always laſt: Take therefore this neceſſary advice in time. Down with thine own Idolatrous ſelf-will; Know not a will or deſire in thy ſelf, that's not moved by the will of God, even by his word as thy ground, and his pleaſure and honour as thy chiefeſt end. Deſtroy that will that ſprings but from ſelf, and is moved but by the Intereſt of ſelf. Slay it before the Lord as his enemy as Samuel did Agag. Though an hypocritical Saul will ſpare this King of rebellion, deſigned to deſtruction, yet ſo will not an obedient …ervant of G…d. I will not bid thee offer it in ſacrifice to Gods Will: for it is too vile to be an acceptable ſacrifice: But utterly d…ſtroy it as the accurſed thing. Know not hereafter ſuch a thing within thee as a will …hat is Originally or finally thine Own. If the Word and the Glory of God be the movers of it, thou mayeſt call that Gods Will, as well as thine own … It is thine ſubjectively, but it is Gods as the principal Efficient and End. O that you did but know what your Own wills are, and what they have done againſt you, and what they may yet do, if they be not mortified! You would not then be ſo indulgent to them, and pamper and pleaſe them, and be ſo deſirous to have your own wills as you have been. To this end I pray you conſider but of theſe particulars following.
1. The will of man is the terreſtial Throne of God. It is there that he muſt reign. The will is to Rule all the inferiour faculties; and God is to rule the will. And ſhall ſelf preſume to dethrone the Lord, and ſit down in his place? He that rules the will rules the man. And ſhall ſelf be thy Ruler? And will God put up all this?
2. It is God only that hath the Soveraign authority, and ſelf hath nonebut under him. We are not our own; and therefore have nothing to do with our ſelves but at the Will of God that is our Owner. Take heed therefore of this Uſurpation.
3. Thy own will is a corrupt and ſinful will, and therefore unfit to be thy governor: what wilt thou chuſe an unjuſt, a wicked and unmerciful governor, that is inclined to do evil? Why ſuch is thine own Will; But the Will of God is perfectly good, that hath not the leaſt inclination to evil, nor poſſibility of ſuch a thing. Be ruled by it, and you are moſt certain to have the moſt juſt, and holy, and faithful, and merciful ruler in the world. To prefer ſelf-will before the Will of God, is as the Jews, to prefer a murderer Barabbas, before the Lord of life.
4. Moreover, Our own wills are guided by a dark underſtanding: and therefore ready on every occaſion to turn aſide. Though the will commandeth, yet the underſtanding guideth it: And therefore as the dark underſtanding is commonly at a loſs, or quite miſtaken▪ judging evil to be good, and good to be evil: ſo the will muſt be an unhappy governor, that followeth the direction of ſo ignorant a Counſellor: But if you will deny your Own wills, and be ruled by the Will of God, you need not fear miſleading, ſeeing his wiſdom is infallible and infinite. Chuſe not a blind guide then, when you may have the conduct of wiſdom it ſelf; when God is content to be your Governor, prefer not ſuch fooliſh ſinners as your ſelves before him.
5. Moreover, Your ſelf-will hath almoſt undone you already: It hath been the cauſe of all your ſin and miſery: Never any hurt befell you, or any man on Earth, but from ſelf-will. And yet will you follow it ſtill, and take no warning, as if it had not done enough againſt you? But on the contrary, you were never hurt in all your lives by following the Will of God: unleſs it be ſuch a hurt as the ſearching or cleanſing of a ſore, without which it cannot be healed; or ſuch a hurt as the taking of Phyſick, without which you can have no cure. Tell me if you can, when ever the Will of God did wrong you? when did you ſpeed the worſe for the following of his counſel? Look back upon your lives, and tell me whether all your ſmart and loſs have come from your following Gods Will, or your own; and which you think you have more cauſe to repent of.
6. There is none followeth ſelf-will to the end, but is everlaſtingly undone by it: It leadeth directly to the diſpleaſing of Gods Will, and ſo to Hell: But on the contrary, there is none that ſincerely and finally follow the Will of God, that ever do miſcarry: He is the ſafeſt Conductor: He never led a ſoul to hell. All that follow him, live with him: For whither ſhould he lead them but to himſelf? And where God is, there is life and glory. To obey his Will, is to pleaſ his Will: And to pleaſe him, is our very end. It can not go ill with them that pleaſe the Lord and Judge of all the word, the diſpenſer of all Rewards and Puniſhments.
7. Your own wills are ſo mutable as well as miſguided, that they will bewilder you and toſs you up and down in perpetual diſquietneſs; though I know you think that is the only way to your content, and nothing will content you unleſs you have your will. But you are lamentably deluded; your wills are like the will of a man in a ſever, that would fain have cold water, which pleaſeth him in the drinking, but afterwards may be his death. You love that which hurteth you; yea that which is no bet…r than poyſon to your Souls. You would ſoon undo your ſelves, if you had your own wills. It is none of the leaſt of Gods mercies to you to croſs your wills▪ and to deny you that which you have a mind to. You will not let your Children eat or drink what they will, but what you will, that know better what's good for them. A patient can deny his own will for his health, and ſubmit himſelf to the will of his Phyſician. And ſhould not you much more ſubmit to God? yea you ſhould deſire him to deny your own wills, when ever he ſeeth them contrary to his Will, and to your own good: Had you but the skill of judging aright of Gods dealings, I am perſwaded that upon the review of your lives, you would find, that God hath ſhewed you more mercy in the croſſing of your wills, then in accompliſhing them. Be not therefore too eager for the time to come, to have what you Love, till you are ſurer that you Love nothing but that which is good for you, and which you ſhould love. The preſent contenting of diſeaſed ſelf-will, is but the breeding after-diſquietneſs, But in the Will of God you may have ſull and durable content. For his Will is always for good, and therefore hath nothing that ſhould cauſe your diſcontent. His will is ſtill the ſame & unchangeable; and therefore will …ot diſquiet you by mutations. He knows the end at the beginning, and ſets you upon nothing but what he is ſure will comfort you at the laſt. It belongeth to his will and not to yours to diſpoſe of you and all your affairs. And therefore there is all the reaſon in the world, that Gods Will ſhould be ſet up, and in it you ſhould reſt your ſelves content, and that ſelf-will ſhould be denied as the diſturber of your quietneſs.
8. Moreover, Self-will is Satans will, & ſtirred up by him againſt the Lord. How elſe do you think the Devil rules the children of diſobedience, but by ſelf-conceit and ſelf-will? If therefore you would deny the Devil, deny ſelf-will; for in being ruled by it, you are ruled by him; and in pleaſing it, you pleaſe him. God himſelf tells you this in plain expreſſions, Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. They that walk in treſpaſſes and ſins, and ſo are dead in them, according to the courſe of this world, and in the luſts of the fleſh, fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh and of the mind, theſe the Holy Ghoſt there tells you, do walk according to the Prince of the power of the air, the ſpirit that now worketh in the children of diſobedience.
9. It is the very perfection and felicity of man, to be conformed to the Will of God, and to reſt with full content therein; And it is the corruption and miſery of man, to have a ſelfiſh miſguided Will of his own, and ſtrive againſt his Makers Will. And ſo far as you ſtick in your own wills, and are ſet upon them, and muſt have them fulfilled, and cannot reſt in the Will of God, ſo far are you ſtill unſanctified, and unſaved, and in the power of your great diſeaſe. And ſo far as you are dead to ſelf-will, and look up to the Will o God both for direction and content, and will that which he willeth, even becauſe he willeth it, and would have you will it, and can reſt your ſouls in this as full ſatisfaction [It is my Fathers Will, and therefore beſt.] So far are you ſanctified and reſtored to God.
10. Laſtly, let me tell you, that it's beſt for you to deny ſelf-will in time, and give your wills to the Will of God. For when you have done all that you can, God will have his Will, and you ſhall not have your own will long. You may ſtrive againſt the Will of God, but you ſhall not fruſtrate it. You may break his Laws, but ſhall not ſcape his judgments. You may rebel againſt his commanding will, but you cannot reſiſt his puniſhing will. When you have done your worſt, it's Gods will that muſt ſtand; and ſuch a will as is little to the pleaſure of your wills. But Self-will is never of long continuance: its content is ſhort. Now you will have your will, let God ſay what he will to you: you Love to pleaſe your appetite in meats and drinks; you love to be carnally merry, and ſpend your time in vain ſports and pleaſure; you love to be reſpected and humoured by all, and to be honoured and counted ſome body in the world; you love to be provided for, for the time to come, & to be wealthy that you may take out of a full heap; or at leaſt not want for the contentment of your fleſh: and therefore you muſt have your wills, & have that you love, if you can tell how to get it: But how long will you have your wills? How long will you have that you love, though God forbid it? When death comes, will you have it then? when you lie in pain expecting every hour to appear in another world, will you then have your wills? when you are in Hell, will you then have your wills, or that you love? O Sirs, Self-will is ſhort-lived, as to its delights and pleaſure: But the Will of God is everlaſting. And therefore if you take up with your own wills, how ſhort will be y…ur content! but if you look for content in the Will of God, you will have everlaſting content. Your own wills may be croſt by every trifle; Any man that is greater than you can croſs them: yea thoſe that are under you can croſs them. The pooreſt beggar can rob you, or ſcorn you, or raiſe a ſlander of you, or twenty ways can croſs your ſelf-wills; A hundred accidents may croſs them. Your very Beaſt can croſs you; and almoſt any thing in the world can croſs you; much more can God at any time croſs you; and croſs you certainly he will: ſo that in your own wills there is no reſt nor happineſs. But if you could bring your wills to Gods, and take up your full content in this [It is the Will of God,] then what a conſtant, invincible content might you have! Then all the world could not diſturb you and rob you of your content, becauſe they cannot conquer the Will of God: Hiswill ſhall be done; and ſo you ſhould alway have content.