A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The power of Selfiſhneſs upon mens opinions in Religion.
2. ANother inſtance Diſcovering the Reign of ſelfiſhneſs in the world, is, The great Power that it hath to form mens Opinions and Conceptions in Religion. Though the underſtanding naturally be inclined to Truth, yet a ſelfiſh by as upon the ſoul, eſpecially on the will, doth commonly delude it, and make the vileſt error ſeem to be Truth to it, and the moſt uſeful Truth to ſeem an error. The Will hath much command over the Underſtanding: and when ſelfiſhneſs is become the very habit, the byas, the nature of the will, you may eaſily conjecture how it will pervert the underſtanding. But what need we more than experience to ſatisfie us. Do you not ſee that where ſelf is but deeply engaged, the judgement is bribed or overmaſtered, and carried from the Truth? So that as the eye that looks through a coloured glaſs, doth ſee all things as if they were of the ſame colour as the glaſs: So the underſtanding that is maſtered by a ſelfiſh inclination, thinks every thing is truth that ſavoureth his ſelf-intereſt. And here I ſhall offer you ſome more particular inſtances.
1, We all ſee that almoſt all the world is of that Religion or Opinion which hath the countenance of the Government that they live under, and the perſons that have greateſt power on their reputation; or at leaſt which is conſiſtent with their ſafety, if not riſing and proſperity in the world. The Turks are commonly Mahometans: the ſubjects of Rome, and Spain, and Auſtria, &c. are generally Papiſts: thoſe in Denmark, Sweden, Saxony, &c. are generally Lutherans: thoſe of Scotland, England, Helvetia, &c. are commonly Calviniſts (as they are called.) I know the power of education is great, and hearing evidence only on one ſide, may byas a well▪ meaning man: But Papiſts and Proteſtants (as to the learned part) have the Books of the contrary-minded at hand: And therefore that Opinions ſhould run in a ſtream, and whole Countreys almoſt be of a party, muſt needs be much from the power of ſelfiſhneſs, becauſe they are ſwayed by them that have the power of their reputation, and eſtates and liberties in the world.
2. Moreover, when a man is by cuſtome grown ſelfconceited, or by the power of Pride is wiſe in his own eyes, how hard a matter do we find it to convince ſuch men by the cleareſt evidence! They will not ſee, when they can hardly wink ſo cloſe as to keep out the light. It is their opinion, and therefore ſhall be ſo: and they will hold it becauſe it is their own.
3. Eſpecially if it be an Opinion of a mans own invention, which is doubly his own, both as he is the contriver and poſſeſſor, how cloſe will he ſtick to it, too commonly beyond the evidence of truth, becauſe that ſelf hath ſo gre…n intereſt in it?
4. Yea, if a man be but deeply engaged for it, either by laborious Diſputes, or confident owning it, or any way, ſo as that his credit lyeth on it, how tenacious will he be of it, becauſe of the powerful intereſt of Self?
5. And if it be but an Opinion that ſeems to befriend any former Opinion that we have much engaged for, how much doth ſelfiſhneſs uſually appear in our inordinate propenſity to it?
6. Alſo if we live in dayes of perſecution, how eaſily do we receive thoſe Opinions that would keep us from priſon and fire? Or if any ſuffering lye upon it, we commonly take that ſide to be right, that is ſafeſt to the fleſh, (except when ſelf would be advanced by the occaſion of ſufferings) And in proſperity, if there be any controverſie ariſe, which our gain is concerned in, how eaſily believe we the thriving opinion? If any Oath, Engagement, or Duty be impoſed on us by thoſe that have Power to do us harm, the generality are for it, be it what it will. In all theſe caſes it is commonly Carnal Self that is the Judge.
And how far Self commands in ſuch caſes, you may ſee by theſe diſcoveries following.
1. In ſtudying the caſe, mens thoughts run almoſt all one way. They ſtudy what to ſay for their own opinions, and how to anſwer all that is againſt them: but they ſtudy but very little what may be ſa…d on the other ſide. They ſit at their ſtudies with a byaſſed will, inclining or commanding their underſtanding what to do, even to prove that to be true, which they would have …o be true, whether it be ſo or not.
2. And hence it is that the weakeſt Arguments on their own ſide do ſeem ſufficient, if not invincible; and they ſtand wondering at the blindneſs of all thoſe men that cannot ſee the force of them: But no Arguments ſeem to have any weight, that are brought againſt them. And all this is from the power of ſelf.
3. Yea, ſometimes when they are ſilenced and know not what to ſay for their opinions, nor how to anſwer the Arguments for the contrary, yet they can ſay, We are of this mind, and we will be of this mind. And why, but becauſe it is eſpouſed to them and their own?
4. And hence it is, that if a man be but an admirer of us, or of our own opinion in other things, we are readier to receive an opinion from him than from another.
5. And hence it is that Diſputations do ſo ſ…ldome change mens minds, becauſe they take it to be a diſhonour to be changed by another (unleſs it be a perſon of great renown;) we envy to an Oppoſite the glory of altering our underſtandings: But if we may have the doing of it our ſelves by the power of our own underſtandings and ſtudies, we will ſometimes yield to change our minds. He is a ſtranger to the ungodly world that ſeeth not how much ſelf-intereſt doth, to maſter their underſtandings, and turn their hearts from the holy doctrine of Chriſt, and how much it doth to make them like or diſlike their teachers, or any point or practice in Religion. And he is a ſtranger even among Divines themſelves, that ſeeth not the ſway that ſelf doth bear in their judgements, and diſputes, and courſe of life, and the choice of their party or ſociety to which they joyn themſelves.