Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
SElf-ſeeking opens the eares of men to Satan,7. Attentive to evill counſell. and corrupt Counſellors, makes men ready to give audience to Satans ſuggeſtions, and the perſwaſions of his inſtruments, prone to entertaine any ungracious counſell that may promote their owne carnall ends, and further the accompliſhment of their fleſhly and worldly purpoſes. This makes men hearken to corrupt teachers, Satans trumpeters. As the Iſraelites hearkened to f2 Sam. 20.2.Sheba the ſonne of Bichri when he blew the trumpet of Rebellion, and drew the people from David: This makes men apt to receive him that gJoh. 5.43.comes in his owne name, with a humane, carnall, and deceitfull doctrine, when like the deafe adder they ſtop their eares againſt him that comes in Gods name, preaching Chriſt ſincerely, ſeeking Gods glory, and handling the word of God truly. Self-ſeekers are h1 Joh. 4.5.of the world, worldly minded, carnally diſpoſed, and therefore they heare him that speaketh of the world, that delivereth a carnall and earthly doctrine to them. The iRev 13.3. 1 Kin 21.20.world wonders after the beaſt, all ſelf-ſeekers are very ready to become Antichriſts followers. Ahab was a man that ſold himſelfe to commit wickedneſſe, a great ſelf-ſeeker, and when the Devill became a k1 Kin. 22.22.lying ſpirit in the mouth of his Prophets, he gave them full and ready audience, followed their counſell though to his utter ruine, contrary to the charge of the true Prophet: Self-ſeeking makes a man a ready embracer, a great admirer of corrupt perſwaſion, a prophane deſpiſer of wholſome admonition; our firſt Parents inclining to ſelf-ſeeking gave preſent entertainment to Satans counſell, and lGen. 3.eat of the forbidden Tree: Self-ſeeking makes the heart to Satans ſuggeſtions like tinder to the fire, it kindles without any reſiſtance. Judas having a worldly and ſelf-ſeeking ſpirit, his heart was mIoh. 13.2.open to entertaine Satan, as ready to betray Chriſt for gaine, as the Devill was to ſuggeſt the thought, or the Prieſts to offer the money: Self-ſeekers are of all others the fitteſt ſubject to receive Satans counſels, to ſwallow his hookes when they are baited with ſomething ſutable to their owne luſts, and tending to their owne ends, there is no power nor poſſibility for that man to decline Satans temptations, who is ſtrongly addicted to ſelf-ſeeking. Satan ſeldome failes of accompliſhing his end, in ſuch as are given to the ſeeking of their owne ends.
8. Servile and abaſing.8. Self-ſeeking doth exceedingly abaſe man, it makes man, the Lord of the creature, to become the ſervant of the creature; It fils him with baſe thoughts about the creature, with baſe counſels to gaine the creature, with baſe and ſervile love to the creature, with baſe confidence in the creature, with baſe ſervices under the creature; Self-ſeekers are even the moſt baſe of all perſons: Such are under the creature and their owne luſts, as Iſrael under Pharaohs burthens and taskmaſters: Man by ſelf-ſeeking ſpoiles himſelfe both of corporall and ſpirituall freedome; therefore theſe are ſtiled the nMat. 6.24.ſervants of Mammon. The ſervant is not his own but his Maſters, goes and comes at his Maſters command, cannot diſpoſe of himſelfe, but is diſpoſed by his Maſter, works not for himſelfe but for his Maſter. Thus ſelf-ſeekers are not their owne, but the creatures, goe and come at the command of the creature: As the ſouldiers in the Goſpell went and came at the command of the Centurion,Mat. 8.8. and did what he would have them: They cannot diſpoſe themſelves to any good duty, they cannot put themſelves upon the ſervice of Chriſt, they cannot marry themſelves unto Chriſt; but are altogether at the diſpoſall of the creature; they are ſo under the power of the creature, that with the invited gueſts in the Parable, they cannot oLu. 14.1….come to Chriſt: They cannot intend Chriſt, the honour of Chriſt, and the everlaſting welfare of their owne ſoules; the creature and their owne luſts are the prime and ultimate objects of their intendments; they can looke neither above nor beyond theſe: And the Apoſtle expreſſeth the ſhamefull abaſement of ſuch men by terming their pPhil. 3.19.belly their God, and their glory their ſhame; their belly their God, true worſhippers put themſelves under God, ſtudy how to pleaſe God, referre all to to the glory of God: Self-ſeekers proſtrate themſelves under the creature, ſtudy how to pleaſe their luſts, and referre all to their owne corrupt and carnall ends, and that wealth, that honour, that eaſe, that pleaſure, that applauſe wherein they now glory proves their ſhame at the laſt. The preſent condition of ſelf-ſeekers is a wretched bondage, and their latter end moſt ſhamefull and ignominious.
9. Self-ſeeking makes a man both an Idolater and an Idoll. An Idolater in ſerving the creature and his owne luſts,9. Idolatrous. and an Idoll in exalting and ſetting up himſelfe in the roome of God: Self-ſeekers bow downe to the creature, and to their owne baſe and carnall affections: As Gideons many thouſands qIudg. 7.6. Gen. 49.14, 15bowed downe to the waters. Jacob propheſied of Iſſachar, Iſſachar is a ſtrong Aſle couching downe between two burthens, and he ſaw that reſt was good, and the land that it was pleaſant, and bowed his ſhoulder to beare, and became a ſervant unto tribute: Such baſe, ſloathfull, and ſtupid aſſes are all ſelf-ſeekers, couching downe between the creature and their fleſhly luſts as between two burthens: They ſee it appeares to them in their carnall apprehenſion, that the creature is good, that riches, honours, pleaſures are much to be deſired, and that the fulfilling of their owne luſts is very pleaſant, and therefore they bow downe the ſhoulders to beare the commands and injunctions of the creature, and all the impoſitions of the fleſh, and become ſervants unto tribute: To theſe they pay the tribute of diſtracting thoughts, of tormenting cares, of carnall confidence of inordinate love, and of hard ſervice and baſe ſervitude, worſhipping and ſerving (as the Apoſtle ſaith) the rRom. 1.25.creature more then the Creator. And for this cauſe Saint Paul ſtileth covetous ſelf-ſeekers Idolaters, becauſe their ſelf-ſeeking doth alienate them from God, and drawes that love and confidence, joy and delight which they ſhould place in God to the creature; and that ſervice which they ſhould imploy for God, and that ſubjection which they ſhould yeeld to God, they beſtow about, and yeeld unto the creature and their owne luſts. And as they are Idolaters for their proſtration of themſelves to the creature and their owne corrupt affections: ſo they are Idols, For the exalting of themſelues above God, minding, intending, and ſeeking themſelves and not God, they adore and ſerve themſelves and not the Lord, his ſ ſervants yee are (ſaith Saint Paul) to whom ye obey: ſRom. 6.16.Self-ſeekers obey not God, but themſelves, they conforme not themſelves to the rules of Gods word, but to the dictates of their owne hearts; they propoſe not the glory of God, but their owne ends, and therefore they ſerve, and adore themſelves and not God: Self-ſeeking excludes the ſoule of man from all communion with the true God, and carries it to the world as to a falſe God, and ſo proves a double abomination in the ſight of God.
10. Self-ſeeking is ever attended with ſelf-looſing. He that ſeekes himſelf and not Chriſt,10. Self-loſing. loſeth both himſelf and Chriſt: He that ſeeks himſelfe takes a falſe rule to direct him, erreth in his ſeeking, and therefore loſeth in ſtead of finding: He builds his worke upon a falſe foundation, and therefore ſinks in ſtead of ſtanding, like the houſe built upon the ſand in the Parable: He puts himſelfe out of Gods ſervice, and therefore miſſeth his great Lord and Maſters wages: He levels all his arrowes to a falſe marke, and therefore like an Archer that ſhoots below the marke, he ſhoots in vaine: He leaves out God, God is not in his tPſal. 10.4.thoughts, he takes not God with him, he takes not Gods counſell to guide him, Gods power to aſſiſt him, Gods bleſſing to make his undertaking proſperous and ſucceſſefull; and therefore in ſtead of a bleſſing the curſe attends and waits upon him: He intends not God, but himſelfe, and therefore God leaves him to himſelfe, to prove the Author and workman of his owne ruine. Preſent ſelf-ſeekers and ſelf-gainers prove in the event the greateſt ſelf-loſers. The laſt end and iſſue never anſwers the expectation of ſelf-ſeekers; their labour like the labour of the Oſtritch is in vaine: The Oſtritch leaveth her uJob. 39 16.egges in the duſt, the foot cruſheth them, and the wilde beast breaketh them. Self-ſeekers lay all their labours in the duſt, all their care & deſire, all their induſtry and endeavour is about the things which are here below; they lay all their egges in the duſt, and all their labours at laſt are cruſht and brought to naught; Rahel had wGen. 35 16, 17.hard labour, but the birth of her belly proved the death of her body: Self-ſeekers have hard labour, they labour like a woman in travell, but their birth proves their death, their gaine turnes to their loſſe, their pleaſure to their torment, their honour to their ſhame. Againſt ſuch the Lord denounceth woe in ſtead of joy, ſhame in ſtead of glory, and deſolation in ſtead of exaltation. xHab. 1.Woe (ſaith the Lord) to him that coveteth an evill covetouſneſſe to his houſe, that he may ſet his neſt on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evill: Thou haſt conſulted ſhame to thy houſe by cutting off many people, and haſt ſinned againſt thy ſoule: For the ſtone ſhall cry out of the wall, and the beame out of the timber ſhall anſwer it. Woe to him that buildeth a Towne with bloud, and ſtabliſheth a City by iniquity: Behold is it not of the Lord of Hoaſts, that the people ſhall labour in the very fire, and the people ſhall weary themſelves for very vanity. Very great and ſhamefull are the loſſes which wait on ſelf-ſeekers; their riches proves their poverty, their refuge becomes their ruine, and their exaltation their ſhamefull downfall; Very great is that mans unhappineſſe who in the prophane neglect of God and Chriſt Jeſus, labours to fill and furniſh himſelfe with earthly abilities: Self-ſeekers build on falſe promiſes, and feed themſelves with deceitfull expectations: The Lord turnes their imaginary calme into a tempeſtuous ſtorme, their deviſed paradiſe into a troubleſome wilderneſſe, and their intended crowne into reall ſhame. The laſt event of their undertaking doth ever croſſe their firſt intention; that which is unlawfully ſought and gotten proveth the inſtrument of mans great diſcomfort and trouble. He that labours for himſelfe, and not for God and Chriſt Jeſus, is vaine in his labours, like him that builds on the ſand, his houſe ſinketh as faſt as he erects it: Like him that weaves a piece of cloth in or over the fire, the fire burnes it as faſt as he weaves it. Loſſe, vexation, ſhame and ruine is the recompence and portion of ſelf-ſeeking: The eſtate of him that hath nothing is farre more pleaſant, bleſſed and comfortable, then of him that hath a great abundance by ſelf-ſeeking. Of ſuch the Lord ſaith by the Prophet, declaring the vanity, perill, and perniciouſneſſe of their labours, they have yHoſ. 8.7.ſowne the wind, they have laboured in vaine, as he that caſteth forth an empty hand, ſtrives to ſow but ſowes not, and they ſhall reape the whirlewinde; their harveſt, the fruit of their labours ſhall be more troubleſome then their firſt undertakings; they that will be rich (ſaith the Apoſtle) they whoſe bent and inclination is to themſelves, and to the world, who chiefly mind themſelves and things earthly, fall into z1 Tim. 6.9.temptation and a ſnare, and into many fooliſh and hurtfull lusts, which drown men in deſtruction and perdition. Moſt wretched and uncomfortable is the gaine of ſelf-ſeeking, Satan hath great advantage againſt them, they expoſe themſelves to many temptations, they lay themſelves open to his arrowes to wound them, the world like a ſnare intangles them, their luſts grow ſtrong within them, and get Lordſhip over them; and they make ſhipwracke of ſoule and body, ſplitting the ſhip of their ſoules upon the rocke of worldly riches, and what they ſuppoſed ſhould have been a ſtaffe to ſuſtaine them, becomes a burthen oppreſſing them, and what they thought would have been a ſpring refreſhing them, becomes a Sea ſwallowing and utterly conſuming them. There is no other cauſe of ſelf-ſeeking but inbondagement to Satan, inthralment to the world, ſervitude to corruption, ſeparation from God, ſelf-condemnation from mans owne conſcience; emptineſſe in the greateſt worldly fulneſſe, ſtraights in the midſt of all ſublunary ſufficiency, and a tempepeſtuous Sea of diſmall agitations, toſſings, and terrours in the ſoule of man: Looke upon all ſelf-ſeekers, from the firſt to the laſt, and you ſhall find them all ſelf-loſers; Adam ſought himſelfe the bettering of his condition, but loſt that bleſſed Image in which God created him, and that pleaſant Paradiſe wherein the Lord had ſet him: Cain ſought himſelfe, and ſlew his brother Abel, but he loſt himſelfe, he became a fugitive and vagabond upon the earth: Gen. 4.12.Abſolon ſought himſelfe, he ſtrove much to ſeat himſelfe in his Fathers Throne; but he loſt his life in the battell: Gehazi ſought himſelfe, he ran after Naaman for two change of garments; but he proved a ſhamefull loſer, he ſought change of rayment, but God changed his cleane into a leprous skinne. The Babyloniſh King ſought himſelfe, he ſaid, he would exalt his Throne above the Starres of God, and aſcend above the height of the clouds, and be like the moſt High: But he loſt himſelfe, he was brought downe to hell, to the ſides of the pit; caſt out of his grave like an abominable branch, and as a carkaiſe troden under foot. Judas ſought himſelfe, he ſold his Maſter to gaine a few pieces of ſilver, but he loſt himſelfe, in the iſſue and upſhot he went away and hanged himſelfe. Invaluable is the loſſe of ſelf-ſeeking, heerby men looſe their ſpirituall freedome and become bondmen to their own luſts, to Satan and the world, hereby they looſe their communion and acquaintance with God, and goe out like Caine from the preſence of the Lord, and are ſpirituall vagabonds upon the Earth, hereby they looſe the benefit of all Gods ordinances, living under them as the blind man under the Sun, receiving no light from them, as Rocks in the midſt of a River, no way ſoftned nor made fruitfull by them; hereby they looſe the love of God, as a woman that ſeeks ſtrange lovers looſeth the love of her husband; hereby they looſe the peace and comfort of their ſoules,Pſ. 127.2. and pierce themſelves thorough with many ſorrowes, they make their bed a bed of thornes, and their feaſt becomes gravell to their teeth and gall to their palate, and at laſt they looſe their ſoules and bodies forever. Happy is that mans loſſe that looſeth all with the gain of Chriſt, curſed is that mans gain that wins the world with the loſſe of Chriſt, he that hath Chriſt hath alſo the true ſweet and comfortable uſe of what he doth poſſeſſe, he that hath not Chriſt is a very ſlave and bondman in the midſt of his greateſt poſſeſſion, the ſelf-ſeeker neither truly enjoyes himſelf, nor any thing els.
11. Selfe-ſeeking works the heart of man to a baſe and ſlender eſteeme of holy and heavenly things; 11. Undervaluing holy thingsChriſt his ordinances and benefits are nothing precious in the eyes of ſelfe-ſeekers, their eyes are blinded, and ſee not the beauties of Chriſt, their palats are diſtempered, and taſt not the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt; their hand is withered, they cannot receive Chriſt; they commit aJam. 4.4.ſpirituall adultery with the world, and cannot love Chriſt; nothing but the creature is precious in the eyes of ſelf-ſeekers: Eſau preferred a bGen. 25.32.meſſe of pottage above his birth-right, the men of Shechem eſteemed the cJud. 9 9.bramble above the Vine, the Olive and the Fig-tree; the ſelf-ſeeker prefers the poore, low and empty things, the very bramble of the world, above Chriſt the true and living Vine, above the ordinances of Chriſt, whoſe fruit is better then the fruit of the Olive and the Fig-tree, and above the holy and heavenly inheritance, the bleſſed birth-right of Gods new-borne children: the Phariſees were great ſelf-ſeekers, they dJoh. 12.loved the praiſe of men more then the praiſe of God, they did all their workes to be ſeene of men; and as they were great ſeekers of themſelves, ſo they were ſtrange undervaluers of Chriſt; they ſaw no eIſa. 53.2, 3.beauty nor comelineſſe in him for which they ſhould deſire him, they deſpiſed and eſteemed him not, they derided his doctrine, they nouriſhed in themſelves a diſhonourable opinion of his perſon, they ſaid of him, Is not this the fMat. 13.Carpenters ſonne, is not his mother called Mary, and they were offended in him; they reviled and deſpiſed him, by reaſon of the externall humility of his perſon, they drew matter of calumniation from the lownes of his outward condition; ſuch as judge of Chriſt and his ordinances according to the outward appearance, are ever filled with baſe and contemptible apprehenſions; the Gaderines were gMat. 8.34.great Swine-maſters, and like their Swine they were fall of ſwiniſh diſpoſitions, groveling upon the Earth and minding only things earthly, trampling under their feet like Swine the precious things which Chriſt did caſt before them, and when the uncleane ſpirit which Chriſt caſt out, carried their Swine into the Sea headlong, they deſired Chriſt to depart from them; ſelf-ſeekers value the baſeſt things of the world above the choiſeſt things of God, they had rather be deprived of Chriſt Jeſus, then of the leaſt and loweſt of the creatures.
12. Seven evill branches of this unhappy root. 1 Imbondagement.12. Self-ſeeking ſhortly is a root of many unhappy branches, a ſpring of many bitter ſtreams. 1. It imbondageth men to their corrupt and carnall luſts, makes them the ſervants of corruption, and puts them under the power and command of the world, it robs them as the hLu. 10.thieves in the Parable did the man travelling betweene Jericho and Jeruſalem, of all their ſpirituall abilities, it wounds them in their underſtandings that they cannot ſee God; as the Philiſtines put out Sampſons eyes and made a ſlave of him; it wounds them in their wils that they have no liberty, no inclination, no diſpoſition to chooſe or imbrace Chriſt; it wounds them in the hand of their faith, that they cannot believe in Chriſt, they cannot imbrace nor lay hold on Chriſt, it puts them under the creature as a ſervant under the command of his Maſter, as an adulterer under the power of the Harlot.
2.Enmity. Self-ſeeking filleth man with enmity againſt his fellow brethren; other mens ſucceſſe and happineſſe, is a ſelf-ſeekers anguiſh. Joſephs brethren being led by a ſelf ſeeking ſpirit, hated him, becauſe his Father loved him, the increaſe of their indignation againſt him was according to the increaſe of his Fathers love towards him; this moved Saul to envy and eye David, to lay ſnares for his life; he that is given to ſelf-ſeeking is farre from all true love to his fellow-brethren, their proſperity is a great eye-ſore unto him.
3. Self-ſeeking makes men mercileſſe and cruell, 3 Cruelty.the lives of them who ecclipſe the honour, or hinder the gain, or diſturbe the pleaſure of ſelf-ſeekers are of no eſteem with them. Why did iGen. 27.42.Eſau plot the death of Jacob? Why did Joſephs brethren conſpire againſt him, and caſt him into the pit? but by reaſon of that dominion which ſelf-ſeeking luſts had within them. Self-ſeeking diſſolves the ſtrongeſt bonds and obligations of naturall affection, and turns fraternall unity into unnaturall and mortall enmity.
4. Self-ſeeking fils men with cauſleſſe,4.Cauſles jealouſies. baſe and curſed jealouſies over others, and makes them wrong interpreters of other mens actions, and preſumptuous and injurious expounders of other mens hid and ſecret purpoſes; this ſelf-ſeeking luſt made Pharaoh jealous over the Iſraelites, leaſt they ſhould kEx. 1.10.joyne with his enemies, and make warre againſt him: This made Herod jealous of Chriſt, fearing leaſt Chriſt would take his crown and Kingdom from him; what made the chief Prieſts and Phariſees jealous of Chriſt, preaching many heavenly Sermons, and working many miracles among them; but an ambitious and ſelf-ſeeking luſt of theirs, they feared leaſt therby they ſhould looſe their place and Nation; Chriſt came as a Servant to miniſter to them, to ſuffer for them, to bring them to an heavenly Kingdom, and they out of their ſelf-ſeeking humour ſuſpected him, leaſt by his meanes they ſhould looſe their preſent juriſdiction; ſelf-ſeekers are very uncharitable in their conſtructions of other mens purpoſes and undertakings.
5. Soule-torturing grief.5. Self-ſeeking creates much needles, unhappy and ſoul-torturing griefe, and anguiſh in the hearts of ſelf-ſeekers, like gall in the cup, a thorne in the foot and ſtrong winde in the Sea, it imbitters their eſtate, troubles their walke and makes their inward man a very tempeſt; it makes their food bread of lPſ 127.2.ſorrows, their bed a bed of thornes, and their day a day of clouds; ſelf-ſeeking Ahab is m1 Kin 21.ſicke upon his bed for want of Naboths vineyard; ſelf-ſeeking Pharaoh is grieved becauſe the Iſraelite multiplieth: the ſelf-ſeekers in the Pſalmiſt are grieved, nPſ 112.10.gnaſh with the teeth and melt away to ſee the proſperity of the godly and the fruſtration of their owne deſires; every ſelf-ſeeker is a ſelf-tormentor, he that is given unto ſelf-ſeeking needs none beſides himſelfe to moleſt and vex him; he carries his executioner ſtill within him.
6. Unſucceſſefullneſſe.6. Self-ſeeking uſually proves unſucceſſefull, the event doth contradict their expectation; Rebecca out of her ſtrong affection ſought by ſiniſter meanes to get the oGen. 27.15.bleſſing for Jacob, ſhe waited not for it in Gods way, ſhe obtained it in her owne way, and when ſhe had procured it, how fared it, ſhe was greatly croſſed Eſau purpoſed to pver. 42, 43.kill Jacob, Jacob is ſent away and becomes a ſtranger to his mother; the croſſes of ſelf-ſeekers ever exceed their comforts; Sarah was very deſirous of children, the Lord reſtrained her from bearing, ſhe qGen. 16.2, 3, 4gives her maid Hagar to her husband, but what was the iſſue of it; Hagar conceived, and Sarah was despiſed in her eyes, the birth of ſelf-ſeeking proves uncomfortable, the ſelf-ſeekers intended inſtrument of conſolation, turns to an inſtrument of vexation; Lot rGen. 13.10, 11.beheld all the plain of Jordan that it was well watered every where, and he choſe it for his habitation, and pitched his tent toward Sodome; But it came to paſſe that the King of Shinar with three other Kings, ſGen. 14.12.tooke Lot and all his goods and departed, thus was Lot croſſed in his choiſe; the chiefeſt worldly fullneſſe is often attended with the greateſt croſſes, and men meet with moſt diſquiet, where they promiſe themſelves moſt comfort; it is the Lords and not the worlds preſence that miniſters both ſafety and contentation to Gods ſervants.
7.7. Loſſe of the comfort of preſent havings. Self-ſeeking takes away the comfort of what man poſſeſſeth for the preſent; the having of all is as nothing to him that is poſſeſſed with a ſpirit of ſelf-ſeeking; Ahabs crown and kingdome neither content nor comfort him, having a luſting humour after Naboths vineyard, the want of this doth more moleſt and vex him, then the having of all the reſidue doth ſolace him, for this he came heavy and t1 Kin. 21 4.displeaſed to his houſe, laid him downe upon his bed, turned away his face and would eate no bread: Moſt unhappy and wretched is the eſtate and condition of that perſon whom God delivers over to the luſt and humour of ſelf-ſeeking, this makes him apprehend the Sunne of his proſperity, as a dark cloud wherin is no light, and the deepe river of his earthly abundance, as an empty pit wherin are no waters. Haman was highly honoured by Ahaſuerus, yet having an ambitious and ſelf-ſeeking luſt within him, when he had related all his honours, concluded, All this uHeſt. 5.13.availes me nothing ſo long as I ſee Mordecai the Jew ſitting at the Kings gate: Many a gracious poore man that hath nothing of the world, hath more ſatisfaction then he that hath the greateſt earthly abundance with an iniatiable greedy and ſelf-ſeeking luſt within him: great is the vanity, emptineſſe and vexation of worldly fullneſſe without the bleſſed preſence of Chriſt Jeſus; happy is the ſoule to whom God gives freedome from the luſt of ſelf-ſeeking.Self-ſeeking luſt how to be handled. And this inſatiable, polluting, baſe and imbondaging luſt, let us mortifie and put to death with all the concomitants and attendants of it, as Joſhua deſtroied ſelf-ſeeking Achan with all that appertained to him; this let us wound with godly ſorrow, ſelf-denyall and a vocation of our hearts from the world, as Joab with three darts thruſt through ſelf-ſeeking Abſolom; this let us root up as a moſt pernicious weed out of the garden of our ſouls; this let us put to death, as a moſt dangerous traitor and mutinous rebell in the common-weale of our hearts; let us daily ſtrive for the increaſe of our liberty from ſelf-ſeeking, as from the moſt loathſome of all ſpots, the moſt ſervile of all imbondagements the moſt ſly and ſubtle of all ſnares, the moſt mortall of all diſeaſes, and the moſt prevalent of all inticing, ſoule-deceiving and ſoule-ſlaying inſtruments.