The Great Corruption of Subtle Self, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
Matth. 16.24. Then ſaid Jeſus unto his diſciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his Croſs and follow me.
YE may Remember, we drew theſe Words to Four Heads. 1. The great and main deſign, that ſuch as would ingadge with Chriſt ſhould have before them; even to come after Chriſt, and follow him. 2ly. The great obſtruction that lyeth in the way of men, coming after, and following of Chriſt, and that is Selfineſs, or inordinat regard to a mans Self; which makes him fall ſhort in that Reſpect and Duty which he owes to Chriſt. 3ly. The Qualification that is required in, or the Duty that lyes upon the man that will come after, and follow Chriſt in three ſteps; every one of which qualifies (to ſay ſo) another. 1. He must deny himſelf. 2ly. Take up his croſs. 3ly. Follow Chriſt. 4ly The neceſſity of this, Let him do it.
Of the Firſt two, we have ſpoken already, and come therefore now to ſpeak a word to the third, viz. The Qualification required in, or the Duty that lyes upon a follower of Chriſt, in theſe three ſteps propoſed; The firſt whereof is Self-denyal; whence we Obſerve (the Words clearly give us the Doctrine) That is is requiſit in all that would follow Christ, and give up their names to him to be his Diſciples, that their chief work be to deny themſelves; This is the firſt thing that he requires here, and the firſt ſtep of the way, without which none can follow him, nor make any progreſs in their way of following him; for clearneſs cauſe, ye may take the Doctrine in theſe three Branches, or look upon it theſe three ways. 1. As it holds out Chriſts calling unto this, and his laying it on his followers, as a Duty, to deny themſelves. 2ly. As it is a requiſit qualification, fitting them for following of him; ſhewing, that Self-denyal is that which notably qualifies a Perſon to be a follower of Chriſt. 3ly. As it holds forth a neceſſity of the Duty, that a man muſt needs by any means deny himſelf, that would come after, and follow Chriſt; all the three return to, and reſolve in this, even the commending of this Grace of Self denyal, and in preſſi g the neceſſity of it; and therefore I ſhall ſpeak of them complexly together. 1. By ſhowing what Self-denyal is, 2ly. By clearing thoſe three forementioned Branches. 3ly. By making uſe of them; and all this will be the eaſier, and we may be the ſhorter in it, that we have ſpoken of the contrary corruption of Selfineſs ſomewhat largely before.
For clearing then of the Firſt of theſe, to wit, What is meant by Self-denyal; Conſider Firſt, what is meant by Selfineſs, which is nothing elſe than a mans exceſſive, and inordinat regard to himſelf, and being too much ſwayed with Selfie-reſpect; and therefore to deny our ſelves, is to be abſtracted from all inordinat Selfie-reſpects, and conſiderations, in the following of Chriſt, as if we had not a Self (to ſpeak ſo) as if we had no reaſon, wit, will, nor parts of our own; ſo to be denyed to theſe, as if we had them not at all, or as they were not ours, or in us. 2ly. Conſider how this word is uſed. 2 Tim. 3.5. Having a form of Godlineſs, but denying the power thereof; That is, though they make profeſſion of Godlineſs, yet they no more care for the power of it, than if there were not ſuch a thing; they have no regard in their life to God, but whatever be their profeſſion of him in word, yet in their works they deny him, as it is, Tit. 1.16. So that a man who is denyed to himſelf aright lives in reſpect of any inordinat eſtimation of, love to, delight in, and care for himſelf, and endeavours to walk as ſingly, in reſpect of theſe, as if no ſuch affections, or paſſions were at all in him. 3ly. Conſider, and compare ſome Scripture-phraſes, and examples, and they will help to clear what Self-denyal is, as 1. That Phraſe which we have, Heb. 11.24. in the example of Moſes, By faith, Moſes refuſed to be called the ſon of Pharaohs daughter, and chooſed rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God; It is the ſame word in the Original that is uſed here, He denyed to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter; he had ſo little undue reſpect to his own eaſe, pleaſure, profite, and preferment, that when the Tentation to theſe comes in his way, he walks as ſingly and ſelf-denyedly, as if he had met with no ſuch thing; when that Tentation aſſaulted him, he reſolutely refuſed, and denyed to admit of it. A 2d Phraſe we have in Pauls example, Gal. 6.14. God forbid, (ſayeth the Apoſtle) that I ſhould rejoyce ſave in the croſs of Chriſt, whereby the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world; Oppoſing therein his own ſingle way, to the Selfie way of theſe falſe teachers, who preached circumciſion to eſchew the Croſs, and ſhews what it was to be denyed in that way, Even to be crucified to the world, and to have the world crucified to him? So that the world had no more power to tempt him, than a dead man hanging on a Croſs would have had. A 3d. Phraſe we have, in the example of Levi, Deut. 33.9. Who ſaid unto his father and mother, I have not ſeen him, neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children; In executing Juſtice, at Gods command, he did it as impartially, and Self-denyedly, as if he had never ſeen Father nor Mother, Brethren nor Children, or as if he had been under no obligation, or tye of reſpect, by vertue of ſuch near and dear Relations The 4th and laſt Phraſe, we have in the perſon & example of David, Pſal. 131. v. 2. I have (ſaith he) behaved and quitted my ſelf as a child that is weaned of his Mother, my ſoul is even as a weaned child; Importing, That he had no ſort of allowed inordinat purpoſe, project, or deſign in the world for himſelf, no more, in a manner, than a Child, but juſt now weaned from his Mother hath any project at all; but was ready to take off Gods hand, whatever he was pleaſed to diſpenſe, and carve out to him; and that he was not ſwayed by any particular allowed inordinat reſpect to himſelf, or by any finiſtruous ſelfie deſign, but wa… lying before the Lord, ready to receive, and take on any impreſſion, that he ſhould pleaſe to put on him. If now we lay theſe three together, we will in a good meaſure ſee, and underſtand, what Self-denyal, or a Self-denyed Perſon is, and what is called for from a man that would deny himſelf in following of Chriſt; it's even to endeavour to be as ſingle, as if he had not a Self, and that he be denyed to all inordinat reſpects to, and conſiderations, dead in a manner, to all undue Self-love, Self-pleaſure, Self-advantage, Self-eſtimation, Self-deſign, Self-confidence, and the like.
In the Second place, for clearing it in theſe three Branches which we propoſed. 1. We find Self-denyal called for as a Duty, as a fruit of new Obedience, and as a tye and obligation that lyes upon Chriſtians, by vertue of Chriſts purchaſe; So 2 Cor. 5.15. Where living to our ſelves, and living to Chriſt are oppoſed; and not living to our ſelves, implyes a denying of our ſelves; and ſayes the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price; Therefore let it not be your work to live to your ſelves, but to glorifie God in your bodies and in your ſpirits, which are Gods. 2ly. It is called for, as a great part, …nd ſomeway as the whole of our likeneſs, and …onformity to Chriſt, who was the greateſt ex…mple, and higheſt patern of the exerciſe of this Grace; and how often find we this thus preſſed? …s Matth. 11.28. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart; and Philip. 2.5. Let this mind be in you, which was alſo in Chriſt Jeſus, And what was that? who being (ſayeth the Apoſtle) in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God, but made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ſervant, &c. Herein did his wonderful Self-denyed ſtouping appear, that being equal with God, he deſcended, as it were, from that height, to the very loweſt ſtep of humiliation, and ſo emptied himſelf, and made himſelf in a manner nothing, in compariſon of what he was; Let that mind therefore be in you, ſayes the Apoſtle; The ſame exhortation we have propoſed, and preſſed, Rom. 15.2, 3. Let every one of us pleaſe his neighbour, for his good to edification; for even Chriſt pleaſed not himſelf; but as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me; His example in this is proponed for our imitation, and we are called, and oblidged to ſtudy conformity thereunto; ſee alſo how Chriſt preſſeth it upon his Diſciples, John 13. v. 13, 14.15. Who, when he had waſhed their feet affectionatly, humbly, and Self-denyedly, ſayes to them, I have given you an example, that ye ſhould do as I have done to you.
3ly. It is called for, as it is a requiſit qualification of Chriſts followers; and ſo we come to the 2d Branch, which I propoſed for clearing of this matter; Self-denyall fits and qualifies fo… following of Chriſt, and for all other Duties; … that before a man can to any purpoſe follo… Chriſt, he muſt needs be thus qualified; for th… clearing whereof, ye may conſider, how it fi… and qualifies a man for any Dutie that Chriſt ca… him to. 1. In ſo far as it makes him ſingle i… taking directions from Chriſt, and ſuffers him not to be byaſſed, by himſelf, or by Selfie reſpect to any thing within or without himſelf, an… this ſeems to be Chriſts great deſign, and ſcope as to Peter here, that before he can ſuitably follow him, he muſt be at a point with forgoing his life; Therefore in the following words, he ſays, whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it, ſignifieing thereby, that a man that is not denyed to life; let be to the external comforts, conveniencies, and accommodations thereof, is no in a fit capacitie to do the Duties to which Chriſ… calls him. 2ly. Conſider, that as it qualifies for Duty, ſo it guards againſt ſnares; with the rightly Self-denyed man, death and life have no… great weight, that by which he is mainly ſwayed being conſcience of Duty, & regard to the glory of Chriſt. He is ſo crucified to the world, and the world ſo crucified to him, that it hath little or no influence on him, to make him flinſh, or draw back from what Chriſt calls him to; Therefore Paul ſayes, Act. 20.24. In reference to Bonds, and Impriſonments, that were to attend him in every place; None of theſe things move me, neither do I count my life dear unto my ſelf, ſo that I may finiſh my courſe with joy, &c. Selfineſs expoſes and caſts a man open to many ſnares, and is like ſome intanglement, which Self-denyal rids him of delivers him from, & guards him againſt; Therefore …e Apoſtle exhorting Timothy to this, tells him, …hat no man that goeth a warfare, intangles him…lf with the affairs of this life, The Self-denyed …an layes by all intanglements, that are ready …n every occaſion to be pull-backs to him from Duty; he ſhakes off theſe, and ſo is free, for the …arfare that he is called to; or he is like to a …an, who being well armed is not much, if at …ll hurt by ſtroaks. Laſtly. It qualifies by keep…ng the man in ſolid peace, and ſweetly chear…ng contentment, in enjoying what he hath: and …as there is no greater diſcouragement, impediment …nd obſtruction in following of Chriſt, than an…iety, fretting, and mal-contentment; So there …s no greater qualification fitting for following of him, than inward calm ſerenity and peace, ariſing from a holy Self-denyedneſs of Spirit; for ſuch a man hath not (in a manner) a will or wit of his own to be thuarted and contradicted; he hath no Self-pleaſure to be marred, no Self-credit to be robbed of, no Self-eaſe to be diſturbed, no Idol to be bereft of; he is denyed, and dead, in a great meaſure to all theſe; Therefore Paul ſayes, Philip. 4.11, I have learned in whatſoever ſtate I am, therewith to be content; He is meet for any condition, he can eaſily digeſt all things, and fret at nothing; He knows how to be abaſed, and how to abound, every where, and in all things; he is inſtructed to be full, and to be hungry, to abound, and ſuffer need, and can do all things through Chriſt who ſtrengthens him; and v. 18. He has all, and abounds: A moſt excellent and deſirable qualification of a man who thus is, as one having nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things; He hath no anxious perplexing project, nor diſquieting fore-caſting thoughts that he leans to, or depends on, but is content with whatever God gives him, and carves out to him; he hath no Selfie-deſigns, and ſo can meet with no great diſſapointment; and therefore is fitted to ſuffer adverſitie, and not to be caſt down by it, and to bear proſperity, and not to be puft up by it; for he is not, as to his ſatisfaction bottomed on Creatures, but on Chriſt, and therefore is neither up nor down, as the Creature-comforts ebb or flow, ſtay or remove, but reſts on a ſolid foundation.
And ſo we come to the 3d Branch propoſed, viz. The abſolute neceſſity of this Grace or Duty, which will appear, if we conſider theſe things. 1. The nature of Selfineſs, and of Chriſts way, and how inconſiſtent the one is with the other, Selfineſs, or living to our ſelves, and living to Chriſt, being, (as we ſhew) always oppoſed one to another in the Scripture; Therefore a man muſt either deny himſelf, or deny living to Chriſt; when a man follows the counſel of Self; he rejects Chriſts counſel; where Self is taken in, Chriſt is keeped at the door; and where Self is ſet up, Chriſt is thruſt down, and made, as it were, a ſtepping ſtone for Self to come at it's point, and as a ſtirrup for Self to mount to the Saddle by; Self ſubordinats all things to it ſelf, and Chriſt among the reſt, and therefore, whoſoever would follow Chriſt, and live to him, muſt needs deny themſelves. 2ly. Conſider more particularly, the way wherin Chriſt calls his followers to walk, and the Duties that he requires of them, or the nature of the race that he wills them to run; and in every piece of it, we will find ſomething oppoſit and contradictory to Self; look to believing in Chriſt, it deſtroyes Self, neither can domining Selfineſs conſiſt with it, it quite excludes all boaſting on ſelfie accounts: Look to ſuffering for Chriſt, no man can take up the Croſs and follow Chriſt, ti…l firſt he deny himſelf; will any man, unleſs he be ſelf-denyed in a conſiderable meaſure, think ye, hazard, or part with his Houſe, Land, Eſtate, Wife, Children, or Life, for that which carnal wiſdom and corrupt Self will be ready to repreſent, but as a little momentuous matter: as Peter ſaid to our Lord, ſo it will be ready to ſay, Spare and pitie thy ſelf; No, ſays Chriſt to Peter, and to all his followers, reſolve to take up your Croſs, and follow me; and in order thereto, deny your ſelf, your eaſe, profit, pleaſure, credit, &c. in a preſent World. 3ly. If we conſider the manner of doing theſe Duties which Chriſt calls for, this qualification of them will be found to be neceſſary, yea, whether it be doing or ſuffering; we are called to follow him therein in a ſingle ſincere and denyed manner, if we would pleaſe him, not only to do Duty, but to do it from a right principle, and to a right end; not only to bear the Croſs, but to bear it patiently, and chearfully; will ever a man think ye follow and honour Chriſt that way, if he get not victory over himſelf? will he ſuffer the loſs of his Goods, and take the ſpoiling of them joyfully, if they be his Idol? will he ſuffer reproach for Chriſt, if he cannot indure to have the leaſt word ſpoken to the prejudice of his name, on any account? will he endure to be put to wandering up and down, without any certain dwelling place, in hunger, and cold, and nakedneſs, if he be addicted to his eaſe, and pleaſure? or will he hazard his Life, or turn his back on Houſes, Lands, Wife, and Children, if his affections be inordinatly carried forth towards them? 4ly. Conſider tha… the end which all Chriſts followers ſhould have before them, whether in doing, or ſuffering, is exceeding inconſiſtent with Selfineſs; for they are called to doing of Duties, in obedience to his command, and with regard to his honour, without incroaching, or trenching thereon; and when they have done all, and ſuffered to the yond moſt; they are not to eſteem of themſelves the more highly on that account, but to reckon themſelves the more oblidged to Chriſt, who hath thus helped, and honoured them; and not to be as the Phariſees who did all to be ſeen of men; They had two great ends before them, in all they did, which he will by no means endure in his followers; one was eſtimation and applauſe from men, the other ſome merited reward from God; Therefore, in oppoſition to theſe, Chriſt ſays, Matth. 6.13. Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does; in any good that ye do, be denyed to your ſelves, take no notice of it, as affecting eſtimation from it, as having confidence in it, let not your ſelves think that ye have done ſome worthy deed; For this end makes Duties that are good in themſelves, to be as no Duties on Gods account; Ephraim is reputed an empty vine, when he brings forth fruit only to himſelf: Now before we come to the Uſe, take a word or two of Warning, or Caution; and 1. Conſider, that when we ſpeak of Selfineſs, or Self, we ſpeak not of it here, as it is taken for a ſinful corruption in man ſimply, and in it ſelf, but as it is lawful, yet venting it ſelf inordinatly, and ſo ſinfully; as a mans reſpect to his own well-being ſimply is lawful, but when it vents it ſelf, (as I ſaid) inordinatly, and ſinfully it is unlawfull, as when it comes in oppoſition to, or in competition with Chriſt, or any thing that is Chriſts; a man may, no doubt, lawfully ſeek to ſave his Life, or his Goods, or Name; but when it comes to this, that he muſt either hazard the loſs of theſe, or wound his own Conſcience, or the profeſſion of Religion, or deny Chriſt a teſtimony, when called for; in that caſe, he muſt be, as if he had not a Life, Goods, or Name; or Credit. 2ly. Conſider, That when we ſpeak of Self-denyal, it is not ſo to be underſtood, as if a man could be compleatly, & perfectly denyed to himſelf, or as if he could be quite without the reach of being hurt by any Tentation to Selfineſs; for, ſo long as corrupt nature, in the remainder of it, is in men, there will never be abſolute perfection in Self denyal; but that which we mean is, that a man ſincerely ſtudy to mortifie all inordinat reſpect to himſelf; That when a tentation to it aſſaults, he endeavour honeſtly to repell and refute it, and with holy peremptorineſs deny to grant what it ſe…ks, nay, to abominat it, as Chriſt doth, that ſinful and unſeaſonable motion of Peters, for ſaving his Life; This is it that the ſaints are called to, even when the Tentation cometh, to ſuppreſſe, bear, and beat it down: Thus, our Lord, John 21.18. notably reconciles theſe two, when he ſayes to Peter, When thou waſt young, thou girdedſt thy ſelf, and walkedſt whither thou wouldſt, but when thou ſhalt be old, thou ſhalt ſtretch forth thy hands, and another ſhall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldeſt not; thus he ſpoke, ſignifying by what death he ſhould glorifie God; Peter had a natural deſire, not to die a violent death and therefore in this reſpect, was led whither he would not; yet it is ſaid, that Peter, by laying down his life, and ſuffering a violent death, glorified God, becauſe the debate he had with Self was decided in Chriſts favours, (to ſpeak ſo) and the tentation to pitie Self, was not hearkned to, but reſiſted and overcome.
In the third place, according to the method propoſed, we come to to the Uſes of the Doctrine, which are three, the firſt whereof ſhews what is the Duty that the followers of Chriſt are called to. The Second exhorts to it. The Third reproves ſhort-coming in it, and diſcovers the riſe of this ſhort-coming.
The Firſt Uſe then ſerves to ſhew the great Duty that the follower of Chriſt is called to, or what a Chriſtian ſhould be, even a Self-denyed man; If we follow the Duty in application, it will be found to comprehend many things; more generally. 1. It is a complication of all, or at leaſt of many Graces, and Duties, …s of Patience, Submiſſion, Singleneſs, Sincerity, Meekneſs, Humility, or lowlineſs of Mind, thinking well, and highly of God, and meanly of our ſelves. &c. As it is a complication of many Graces, and Duties; ſo 2ly. It is an antidot againſt many vices, and evils, againſt Pride, High conceit, Haſtineſs, Paſſion (which is not taken much heed to) Fretting, Grudging, Diſcontentment, Diſquietneſs, Anxiety, and many moe evils, which we will not now particularize; But ſhall more particularly draw the Uſe to a few things, which the Scripture points at, and which a man muſt neceſſarily be denyed to, or elſe he is not fit to follow Chriſt. 1. He muſt be denyed to the principles of carnal Reaſon, to his own wit, to the counſel of fleſh and blood, he muſt not conſult therewith (as the great Apoſtle tells us, Gal. 1.16. he heeded it not, and which is one of the main things intended here;) he muſt not be much up nor down, with external conveniencies, or inconveniencies, or events, which carnal reaſon uſeth to ſtretch very broad. 2ly. He muſt be denyed to his credit and eſtimation, and in that, be like to a little Child; and in this reſpect, he that is Miniſter and Servant of all ſhall be greateſt of all; he muſt nor be like the Phariſees, who ſought the uppermoſt ſeats at feaſts, and greetings in the market, Nor love, or ſeek to be called Rabbi, but he muſt be content to bear reproach, and not to fret nor canker under it. 3ly, He muſt be denyed to his eaſe, outward accommodation, or pleaſure; he muſt not ſeek to pleaſe himſelf; his great deſign muſt not be to have, or maintain an eaſie life to himſelf in the World; but he muſt be content, to accept of any condition God carves out to him herein. 4ly. He muſt be denyed to his profit, as he muſt be crucified to all creature-comforts in general, ſo to this in particular; he muſt not ſeek his own things only, but the things of others alſo. 5ly. He muſt be denyed to his own Righteouſneſs, Gifts, Priviledges and Parts, to his good works, and whatever is commendable, and good in himſelf, and ſo account of himſelf, as if he had them not, counting all theſe things to be but loſs and dung that he may win Chriſt, and be found in him. 6ly. He muſt be denyed to his own ſtrength and ability, and to Self-confidence, deadned to every good thing in himſelf, ſo as to reſt on it. 1 Cor. 1.9. We received (ſaith the Apoſtle) the ſentence of death in our ſelves, that we might learn not to truſt in our ſelves; Truſting in our ſelves, is a very ordinary fault, and it's a hard matter to go about Dutie, without lipning to our ſelves. 7ly. He muſt be denyed to all inordinat love and affection, to all near and dear natural relations, to Wife, Huſband, Father, Mother, Children, Brother and Siſter,, yea, and to his own life alſo, however love to theſe be not only lawful, but a commanded and commendable Duty, yet when they come in competition with Chriſt, and any concern of his, we muſt carry towards them, as if we hated them.
The 2d Uſe ſerves for exhortation to this Duty; Take, O take Chriſt for your Patern, and learn at him, to deny your ſelves, and let his example be a motive to ſtir you up to it, as well as a Coppie and Patern for your imitation; For 1. Chriſt came not to do his own will, but the will of him that ſent him. 2ly. In all his converſation, he pleaſed not himſelf; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached his father f…ll on him 3ly. The manner of his deportment was in much patience, meekneſs and lowlineſs of Spirit, when he was buffeted he bleſsed & p…ayed even for his perſecutors when he was ſpitte… o… & e…ed, he… evil… not again. 4ly. Let us look to him … Sufferings, O! how ſubmiſſive is he there? F…her (ſayeth he moſt ſweetly) not my will, but thine be done; Was there ever ſuch a Cup of Wrath put in the hand of any to drink, as was put in his? at which, though he had a ſinleſs natural reluctance, yet he will not have a will of his own, in that caſe, but ſubmits to his Fathers will; he will not hear on that ear (to ſpeak ſo with reverence) but with his mouth he contradicts the ſinleſs reluctance, and averſion of his holy innocent humane nature. 5ly. In a word, look to him in his Birth, all along in his Life, in his Suffering, and Dying, there is nothing in all theſe, but it ſpeaks out ſomewhat of his denying himſelf: as all the ſteps and degrees of his humiliation, and ſtouping ſo very low, ſmells ſtrong of Self-denyal, ſo they ſerve to teach his Diſciples, how to follow him in that way, and to provock and ſtir them up thereto: Therefore, in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we exhort you to ſtudy this Leſſon well, and to learn it of him; even to live ſo in the World, as if there were nothing in it to tempt you; to live as if ye were dead, & as if all were dead about you, in reſpect of being ſwayed by any inordinat reſpect to your ſelves; and ſo much the rather, becauſe, at this time, God ſeems to be calling more eſpecially to it, the Croſs being at our door, to which there will be no kindly ſtouping without Self-denyall, Men will not without this indure to be troubled with quartering of Souldiers in their houſes, let be to loſe all they have in the wor…d which they have been long a winning; they will rather reaſon thus with themſelves, What will become of us, and of our houſes and families, if we hold by this, or if we do not the other thing? we will therefore comply, and not ſtrive againſt the ſtream, & thereby bring ruine on our ſelves, and ours: make therefore Chriſt your Patern, and believe, that as he requireth this of you at all times, ſo in a ſpecial manner at this time, when the tryal is come, and Self fawns and hangs on us, pleading for Self-pity, and perſwaſion: And to preſſe the exhortation, conſider the neceſſity of it, If any man (ſayes the Lord) will follow me, let him deny himſelf; If ye think Chriſt worthy the following, ye muſt reſolve to part with Self; the young rich man muſt ſell all that he hath, and take up his Croſs, and follow Chriſt, or elſe part with Chriſt, and go back to the World, and that will be a woful parting; It is on this account ordinarily, that men part with Chriſt, whether it be eternally, or for a time only; ſuch as will not deny themſelves in Juſtification, they deprive themſelves of Chriſts Righteouſneſs; ſuch as will adhere to the World, will get no more; Selfineſs made Demas forſake Chriſt, and imbrace a preſent World; It made many to preach circumciſion, to eſchew perſecution, and to take a wrong way in the matter of Juſtification, as the Apoſtle ſhews, Gal 6. It prevailed that far with Peter, as to make him deny his Maſter. But ye will readily ſay, this ſeems to be very hard, not only in reference to the end, which is heaven and glory, but in reference to the wa… unto it, to tell men, that they muſt deny themſelves, ere ever they can well enter, let be proceed in the way to heaven; There is here a twofold great difficultie, not only to deny our Eſtates, Friends, Relations, Natur…l Reaſon, Wit, Will, Senſe, Opinion, Reputation (that ſticks cloſe and long) but alſo to be content to be accounted and cal…d fools, and to be mocked, and cryed out up…n, as the very offſcourings of the World, even … deny Life it ſelf, and to chooſe Death, even a …iolent Death: I confeſs this is indeed hard, even …ery hard to Fleſh and Blood; but I muſt alſo …y, that it is a hard and difficult buſineſs, to fol…ow Chriſt, and to continue in following of him, … all his Tentations; Remember therefore, and …onder the one, as well as the other; when ye …re diſpoſed to think it hard to deny your ſelves, …emember, and conſider alſo, that it is hard, …nd difficult to win to Heaven, It's a strait gate, …nd a narrow way that leads to it, and but few …nd it; It's hard to keep a good Conſcience in …ollowing him, and therefore it's no marvel, …hat the qualifications ſeem to be hard, that are …equired of all them that are called to walk in …hat way: Yet let me ſay further, that though … be hard and difficult ſimply conſidered, …et it is not ſo comparatively conſidered, viz. …us, That a man muſt reſolve either to deny …imſelf, or renounce and part with precious …eſus Chriſt, that pearl of great price; Is there any …ompariſion betwixt Self and him? With whom, … we ſuffer, we ſhal alſo reign with him; whom if we …eny, he will alſo deny us; If we reſolve to live …ithout regard to him, and prefer Self to him, …aſting the Ballance to the ſide of our ſelves, he …ill live without us, and rid himſelf of us; doth …ot the word ſubjoined here, a little after …e Text plainly hold forth the abſolute ne…ſſity of Self-denyal, and the dreadful prejudice … Self-ſeeking, Self-love, and of Self-preference? Him that denyes me before men, him will I de… before my Father, and the holy angels; If we conſider aright, and believe the incomparable wort… and matchleſs excellency of Chriſt, and the unſpeakable advantages that wait on Self-denye… following of him, eſpecially at the cloſe of o… race and courſe, with the ſweet facility in ru… ning of it out, that his promiſed aſſiſting-grac… can cauſe, it will not be found ſo very hard, an… inſuperably difficult a buſſineſs to follow Chriſ… in the way of Self-denyal, as carnal reaſon repreſents it to be, to make men skar at it and decline it, the great gain that comes at laſt, wi… to an infinit over-plus, make up all the loſs.
The 3d Uſe ſerves, to reprove our ſhort-coming in this great Duty of following Chriſt; an… to ſhew the riſe of it; First I ſay, it is groun… of reproof for, and points at our great diſconformity to Chriſt, in this Grace of Self-denyal▪ Ah! ſhould we not, as dear Children, follow him therein? if ſo, how dreadfully diſconfor… are we unto him? How lamentably little are w… like to the name that we bear? We are called Chriſtians, and are found very unlike Chriſt, living much, or altogether to our ſelves, ſwayed by Self, and Carnal Reaſon, in our walk, fretting and foaming under the Croſs, diſconten… with our Condition and Lot, Selfie in our ſpeaking and dealing, unwilling to quite our ow… Will, come of it what will, reſolute to ſerve our own pleaſure and eaſe, and to be ſomewhat in the World, though we ſhould be eternally ruined thereby: When our Grace is ſtretched, even to the utmoſt length of the Charity that we can warrantably give it, what obſervable veſtige, or footſtep will it be found to have of beautiful conformity to Chriſt, and particularly of conformity to him in Self-denyall, wherein Chriſtians ought in a ſpecial manner to reſemble Chriſt? We have been long profeſſing to follow Chriſt, and yet, alas! we have ſcarcely ſtepped this firſt ſtep; what meaneth the fainting, and fear that is at but the noiſe of trouble? what meaneth the ſtrong propenſion and benſil that is to keep off the Croſs, though with the loſs of a good Conſcience? Certainly it flows from Selfineſs, and from our not being as weaned Children; What meaneth the great conceit that we have of our ſelves, and of any thing we have or do? When the left hand ſhould not know what the right hand doth; if we do any good deed, all the World (as it were) muſt hear and know of it; This ſure, argues a great deal of Selfineſs; O! then let us all be aſhamed of our great dîſconformity, and unlikeneſs to the Patern, and of our lamentable ſhort-coming in this reſpect. 2ly. I ſay, it diſcovers to us, and lets us ſee whence it cometh, that we thrive ſo ill, and come ſo little ſpeed in following of Chriſt; It's even from this, ſome one Self-Idol or another, and till this be denyed, we will not thrive, nor make progreſs in following Chriſt; Some one concern of Self or another, gets too much of the hearts love and eſteem; There is therefore a neceſſity of being denyed and mortified to all theſe, otherwiſe we will ſtill be clogged, intangled, made to halt and ſtick, and be keeped from going forward in the way of following Chriſt: I ſhall cloſ… this Diſcourſe with one word of advertiſemen… and it is this, that ye would not look at Se… denyall, as a common (if I may ſpeak ſo) Grac… or Duty, that is eaſily reached, and come b… but as ſuch an one that is (as it were) the ro… from which many other Graces ſpring, and … foundation on which many other Duties are bui… and as having in it a pre-diſpoſing fitneſs for ev… ry other Duty; and withall, as being that which calms, and quiets the mind of a Chriſtian, a… guards his heart againſt the perplexity, a… torturing anxiety and vexation that in a time tryal and trouble, carnal and unmortified perſo… are troubled with; Now God himſelf help … to it, and to more of it for Chriſts ſa… AMEN.