A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII. Factious Deſire of the ſucceſs of our own Opinions and Parties, as ſuch, &c.
16. ANother ſelfiſh Intereſt to be denied, is, The factious deſire of the ſucceſs of any odd opinions which we have eſpouſed, and of the increaſe and proſperity of any dividing party in the Church which we have addicted our ſelves unto.
It exceedingly delighteth a Carnal mind that his Judgement ſhould be admired, and he ſhould be taken as the light of the Country round about him, and therefore when he hath hatcht any opinions of his own, or eſpouſed any whereby his ſingularity may be manifeſted, or by which his ſelfiſh intereſt may be promoted, he is as careful to promote theſe opinions, and the party that holdeth with him, as a Covetous man is to promote his gain. There is indeed as much of ſelf in many mens Hereſies and Church-diviſions, as any Senſualiſt hath in his way. And hence it is that a zeal for ſelfiſh opinions is eaſily got and eaſily maintained; when zeal for the ſaving truths of God is hardly kindled, and hardly kept alive. Yea multitudes in the world do make the very truth to be the matter of their carnal intereſt in it; while they ſome way get a ſeeming peculiar intereſt, and promote it but as an opinion of their own, or of their party, and uſe it for ſelfiſh carnal ends. And hence it is that many that are called Orthodox, can eaſily get and keep a burning zeal for their Orthodox opinions, when Practical Chriſtians do find it a very hard matter to be zealous for the ſame truths in a Practical way. Many ungodly men will be hot in Diſputing for the truth, and crying down all that are againſt it, and perhaps ſo far exceed their bounds, that the godly dare not follow them! And the reaſon is clear. Whether it be Truth or Error that a man holds, if he hold it but as a conceit of his Own, or as the opinion of his party, or to be noted in the world, as one that hath found out more truth than others, or any way make it but the matter of his ſelfiſh intereſt, nature and corruption will furniſh him with a zeal for it: It's eaſie to go where ſin and Satan drives; and to be zelous where zeal hath ſo ſmall reſiſtance: and to ſwim down the ſtream of corrupted nature. But it is not ſo eaſie to be zealous in the practical ſaving entertainment of the truth, and exerciſing that faith and love to God and holy obedience which truth is ſent to work in us. A ſchiſmatical or Opinionative uſe of truth it ſelf, is but an uſing it for ſelf againſt the God of truth: and it is no more wonder to ſee men zealous in this, than to ſee men forward and hot in any evil: We cannot tell how to quench or reſtrain this ſelfiſh carnal kind of zeal. But when men ſhould uſe the truth for God, and their ſalvation againſt Satan, and ſin, and ſelf, then it's hard to make them zealous: They are like green wood or wet fuel on the fire, that will not burn without much blowing, and ſoon goeth out when it ſeemed to be kindled, if once you leave it to it ſelf: Paul ſpoke not non-ſenſe when he ſaid [For ye are yet Carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and ſtrife, and diviſions, are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one ſaith, I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollo, are ye not Carnal? 1 Cor. 3. 3, 4, 5. How ſecretly ſoever it may lurk, there is doubtleſs much of ſelf and fleſh in Hereſies and unjuſt Diviſions. I know that moſt of them little perceive it. James and John in their zeal, which would have called for fire from heaven, did not know what ſpirit they were of. But God would not have ſpoke it, if it were not true, Rom. 16. 17. [Now I beſeech you brethren, mark them which cauſe Diviſions, and offences, contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them: For they that are ſuch, ſerve not our Lord Jeſus Chriſt but their own belly, and by good words and fair ſpeeches deceive the hearts of the ſimple.] Though they little believe that that there is any ſuch wickedneſs in them as this, yet the Spirit of God, that is the ſearcher of hearts is acquainted with it: and aſſureth us that both at the bottom and the End, Church-dividing courſes have a carnal ſelfiſh nature: It is ſome ſecret intereſt of ſelf, (though ſcarce diſcerned) that kindleth the zeal, and carrieth on the work: It is not God that is ſerved by the diviſions of his Church. Many Sects now among us, do put a face of Truth and Zeal upon their cauſe: But ſelf is the more dangerouſly powerful with them, by how much the leſs ſuſpected or obſerved. The Papiſts under the pretence of the Churches Union, are the great dividers of the Chriſtian world, unchurching the far greateſt part of the Church, and ſeparating from all that be not Subjects of the Pope of Rome: And do you think it is ſelf and fleſh that is the Principle and Life, and End of this their Schiſm? were it not for the upholding of this uſurped power and worldly immunities, and greatneſs of the Clergy, it is morally impoſſible that ſo many men of reaſon and learning could concur in ſuch a ſchiſm, and in ſo many groſs conceits as go along with it. It is not the Pope that they are principally united in: For the far greateſt part of them, it it too evident that it is ſelfiſh and fleſhly intereſt that is their Center, to which the Pope is but a means. Hence it is that many of their Jeſuits and Fryars are carried abroad the world, with ſuch a fire of zeal, to promote their cauſe, that they will compaſs ſea and land for it, and day and night are buſie at the work, to plot, and contrive, and inſinuate, and deceive, and think no coſt or pains too great. For a ſelfiſh ſinful zeal and diligence hath ſo many friends, and ſo little hindrance, that it's eaſily maintained: but ſo is not the healing peaceable, practical, and holy zeal of true believers.
Well! Conſider what I ſay to you from the Word of the Lord: There is a ſelfiſh dividing Zeal in Religion, which muſt be denied as well as whoredom or drunkenneſs. If you ask me how it's known: Briefly now I ſhallonly tell you this much of it: 1. That it is uſually for either an Error or a particular Truth, againſt the intereſt and advantage of the body of unqueſtionable Chriſtian verities. They can let Religion ſuffer by it, ſo their opinion do but thrive. 2. It is uſually for an Opinion by reaſon of ſome ſpecial endearment or intereſt of their own in it. 3. They cry up that opinion with a zeal and diligence much exceeding that which they beſtow upon other opinions of equal weight; and lay a greater ſtreſs upon it, than any ſhew of reaſon will allow them. 4. They uſually are zealous for a party and diviſion, againſt the Unity of the Catholick Church. 5. Their Zeal is moſt commonly turned againſt the faithful Paſtors of the Church: For it's hard to keep in with ſchiſm, and with faithful Paſtors too: And if the Miniſters will not own their ſin and error, they will diſown the Miniſters. The Anabaptiſts and other Sects of late, would never have been ſo much againſt Chriſt's Miniſters, if the Miniſters had not been againſt their way. 6. Their courſe doth in the concluſion, bring down Religion, and hinder the thriving of the Goſpel and of Godlineſs. Mark, what is the iſſue of moſt of thoſe ways, that theſe men are ſo hot for? Doth it go better or worſe with the Church and cauſe of Chriſt in general, where they are, than it did before? Is Religion in more ſtrength, and beauty, and life, and honour? or doth real holineſs more abound? If ſo, be not too haſty to cenſure their Zeal. But uſually all theſe dividing ways, are the diſeaſes of the Church: which cauſe its languiſhing, decay, and diſſolution. 7. Laſtly, This ſelfiſh zeal is commonly cenſorious, and uncharitable, and diminiſheth Chriſtian Love, and ſets thoſe a reproaching and deſpiſing each other, that ſhould have lived in the Union and Communion of Saints. Where you find theſe properties of your zeal and deſire, for the promoting of your Opinions or parties in Religion, you have great reaſon to make it preſently your buſineſs to find out that inſinuating ſelf, which maketh your Religion Carnal, and to deny and mortifie it.