Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
VOluntary and cheerfull deſertion and leaving of all for Chriſt. 6. Deſertion of all.He that denyes himſelfe will deny all things elſe for Chriſt; Ruth in love to Naomi left her father and mother, and the land of her wRuth 2.11.nativity, and came unto a people which ſhe knew not theretofore. The man that denies himſelfe will for the love he hath to Chriſt, leave father and mother, and the land of his nativity, whatſoever is moſt neare and deare unto him, and come to Chriſt, whom before this worke of ſelf-denyall he knew not; he that denyes himſelfe ſeeth ſo much worth in Chriſt, and finds in him ſo much love to Chriſt, that he will leave all to enjoy Chriſt; he leaves all for the preſent, in reſpect of affection, his love to the creature in compariſon of his love to Chriſt is a comparative xLuk. 14.26.hatred; he leaves all in reſpect of price and eſtimation, Chriſt in his eye the yCant. 5.10.faireſt of ten thouſand: A vine, a lilley, a glorious Prince, a bright and ſhining Sunne: The creature a thorne, a weed, a beggar, a very glo-worme, a thing of zProv. 23.5.nought; he leaves all in reſpect of ſervice and ſubjection, he is not under the power of the creature, he is not the ſervant of the creature, he a1 Cor. 7.20.poſſeſſeth as if he poſſeſſed not, and he is ready actually to leave all, whenſoever he ſhall be called to it, as a woman leaves her bPſal. 45.Fathers houſe, and her owne people, to cohabite with her husband; he that denyes himſelfe leaves his friends with cDeut. 33.8, 9Levi, leaves his countrey with dGen. 12.1.Abraham, leaves his eIoh 9.place of dignity with the blinde man, leaves his fMat. 4.22.poſſeſſions with the Diſciples, and is ready with Paul to leave his life for the teſtimony, honour, and ſervice of Chriſt; he chuſeth rather to enjoy Chriſt with the loſſe of all, then to loſe Chriſt with the gaine of all the world can affoord him: Where ſelf-denyall dwels, and beares dominion, Chriſt is infinitely more deare then all the treaſure of the world; he that denyes himſelfe, chuſeth rather to be the ſervant of Chriſt in the loweſt worldly emptineſſe, then to ſerve himſelfe, and be a ſtranger to Chriſt in the greateſt earthly fulneſſe.
7. Mans pleaſing and delighting himſelfe in Chriſt under the croſſe.7. Mans pleaſing and delighting himſelfe in Christ under the croſſe and hatred of the world. He that denyes himſelfe is well pleaſed, and fully ſatisfied with Chriſt, though the world hate him, riſe up againſt him, poure great contempt upon him, and miniſter much trouble to him; the bride pleaſeth her ſelfe in the bridegroome, though her other friends become ſtrangers to her, or turne enemies againſt her, though many troubles and diſaſters attend her, yet the enjoyment of her husband mitigates and ſweetens all, and comfortably anſwers all. The ſoule that is married unto Chriſt, pleaſeth and delighteth it ſelfe in Chriſt, though all friends according to the fleſh become ſtrangers, or prove enemies, yet Chriſt is in ſtead of all friends, though many clouds of ſorrow and ſtormes of trouble ariſe, and no ſtar of worldly comfort appeares; yet Chriſt is a Sunne, in ſtead of all lights, a rocke, in ſtead of all ſupporters, and a haven, in ſtead of all hiding places. Chriſt to him that denyes himſelfe, is an gIſa 32.2.hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeſt; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the ſhadow of a great rocke in a weary land: Chriſt is in ſtead of all, and much more then all to him that for Chriſts ſake denyes all, and is denyed of all. Chriſt is a recompence anſwering all loſſes, to his holy and humble ſervants, hPſal. 73.25, 26.whom have I in haven (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) but thee, and there is none upon the earth that I deſire beſide thee, my fleſh and my heart faileth, but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever: The world never brings a gracious and humbled man ſo low, but he ſees power enough in Chriſt to raiſe him up, never makes him ſo empty, but he ſees fulneſſe enough in Chriſt to repleniſh him, never ſo hates him, but he ſees love enough in Chriſt to comfort him, never ſo filleth him with trouble, but he ſees peace enough in Chriſt to quiet him; and this makes him that denyes himſelfe, when he iIſa. 50.10.walks in darkneſſe, and hath no light, to truſt in the name of the Lord, and to ſtay himſelfe upon his God: This makes him account it all ioy kIam. 1.7.to fall into manifold temptations for Chriſts ſake; all temptations and troubles being to him that denyes himſelfe, arguments of his ſeparation from the world, pledges of his effectuall calling, teſtimonies of the Devils and the ſinfull worlds hatred againſt him, phyſicke to cure and purge out many unhappy diſeaſes of ſinne, trumpets to awaken him, preſervatives againſt ſecurity, conflicts to try his faith and love to Chriſt, and meanes of the endearement of his ſoule to Chriſt, Chriſt ſweetning them unto him, Chriſt being to him in the midſt of them, as the honey in the belly of the Lyon unto Sampſon; as the Arke to Noah in the deluge, apprehending, taſting, and pleaſing himſelfe in the love of Chriſt, he doth glory in tribulation, and though he is in heavineſſe through manifold temptations, yet beleeving in Chriſt, he m1 Pet. 1.8.reioyceth with ioy unspeakable and full of glory. Chriſt to him that denyes himſelfe is a crowne in diſgrace to honour him, a friend in heavineſſe to ſolace him, a Sunne in darkneſſe to enlighten him, a precious pearle in poverty to enrich him, a helper in all deſertions to ſuſtaine him, and a fountaine in all wants to ſupply him; ſweet and pleaſant, ſatisfactory and ſoule-raviſhing are Chriſts miniſtrations to mortified and humble ſoules in their Chriſtian ſufferings.
8. Valuing of Chriſts croſſe above the worlds crowne8. The prizing and valuing of Chriſts Croſſe above the worlds Crowne. He that indeed denyes himſelfe, eſteemes it more happy, more excellent, and more honourable to partake of Chriſts ſufferings, then of the worlds rejoycings, to be conformed unto Chriſt in holy ſorrowes and afflictions, then to be conformed to the world in carnall pleaſures, and fleſhly exaltations; he preferres the poverty, reproach, exilement, bondage, and death which doth uſually attend Chriſt in the Goſpell, above the riches, honour, favour, liberty, and life which the world miniſters to her followers. Thus Moſes denying himſelfe, nHeb 11.26.eſteemed the reproach of Chriſt greater riches then the treaſures of Egypt. The reproach of Chriſt, the diſgrace, loſſe, trouble, and perſecutions with which the world doth purſue Chriſt truly preached and ſincerely profeſſed in the Goſpell, was of more eſteeme with Moſes then all the treaſures of Egypt, then all the honours, riches, favours, and contentments which the world can affoord without Chriſt. Chriſts poverty, priſon, contempt, hatred, perſecution, is of greater price with him that denyes himſelfe, then the riches, liberty, crowne, favour and peace which the world beſtowes upon her choiſeſt favourites and followers. There is more dignity in the contempt of a Chriſtian, then in the crowne of a worldling; there is more joy in Chriſtian ſufferings, then in worldly pleaſures. The loſſe which man ſuſtaines for Chriſt, is greater gaine then the winning of the whole world without Chriſt; the Devill and the world are much miſtaken in their offering of violence, wrongs and injuries to Chriſts members; the poverty, ſorrow, ſhame, trouble, bondage, which they impoſe upon them, prove riches, joy, honour, peace, and freedome to them; Men are much deceived in their judgements, ſuppoſing Chriſtian ſufferings miſerable and contumelious; the wife, ſubject, ſouldier, ſervant repute it an honour to ſuffer for their Husband, Soveraigne, Generall, Lord and Maſter, and doubtleſſe he that denyes himſelfe, cannot but account it as an honour to ſuffer for his ſpirituall Husband, King, Captaine, Lord and Saviour: He that denyes himſelfe will chuſe with David to be a oPſal 84.10.door-keeper in the houſe of God, rather then dwell in the tents of wickedneſſe; to live in any low, poor, contemptible, and deſpiſed condition, enjoying communion with Chriſt, rather then partake of all worldly fulneſſe without Chriſt. The Lord Jeſus is a humble ſouls fulneſſe, whether it hath much or little of the world; a little with Chriſt is honourable, and full of contentation, the greateſt abundance without Chriſt is ſhamefull, and attended with much diſtraction; therefore the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelfe, and ſuch as he was, men denying themſelves and enjoying Chriſt, that they were as p2 Cor 6.9, 10.unknown, and yet well known, as dying and behold we live, as chastened and not killed, as ſorrowfull yet alway reioycing, as poore yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet poſſeſſing all things. God is wonderfull in honouring, protecting, delivering, rejoycing, and ſatisfying the ſoules of the humble, in ſanctifying and ſweetning their low, poore, and ſad condition: The Lord makes them ſee ſuch glory ſpringing out of their ignominy, and ſuch light ſhining out of their darkneſſe, that they qAct. 5.41.reioyce they are accounted worthy, that they are vouchſafed this honour to ſuffer for Chriſts name; they rejoyce in rCol. 1 24.filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Chriſt, ſuffering for Chriſt, being thereby made conformable to Chriſt, and having thereby communion with Chriſt, and Chriſt taking their ſufferings as his ſufferings; Chriſt ſuffering in them, and they for him, they are very joyfull in ſuffering; the more a man denyes himſelfe, the more he rejoyceth in the croſſe of Chriſt, in Chriſt crucified, for his ſake, and in his owne ſufferings for Chriſts ſake.
9. Mans making it his honour to honour Chriſt.9. Man making it his greatest honour to honour Chriſt. He that denyes himſelfe, is 1. ſo inflamed with love to Chriſt, that as a wife reputes it her choiſeſt matrimoniall honour to advance her husbands honour, to be according to Solomons phraſe, a ſProv. 12.4.crowne to her husband, by her ſubjection under him, by her choiſe, ſober, and pious carriage towards him, by her fidelity to him, and by her induſtry and labour for him: ſo the man that denyes himſelfe, reputes it his higheſt honour to honour Chriſt, to be a crowne to Chriſt his ſpirituall husband, by his gracious ſubjection under Chriſt, by his holy walking towards Chriſt, by his godly labour and induſtry for Chriſt 2. He that denyes himſelfe, hath his heart put into ſuch a holy and humble frame, made ſo graciouſly ſubject unto Chriſt, and is ſo ſtrongly and fully devoted to the ſervice of Chriſt, that as a good ſervant takes it as his, prime glory, to honour his Maſter, to advance his Maſters credit and profit: ſo he that denyes himſelfe, like the good ſervant of Chriſt, taketh it for a ſpeciall honour to ſerve Chriſt, to have tRom. 6.21. Gal. 1.10.his fruit unto holineſſe, to pleaſe Chriſt, and not himſelfe or others. 3. He that denyes himſelfe, is ſo ſo ſenſible of, ſo experienced in the vanity, emptineſſe, baſeneſſe, and fugitiveneſſe of the honour that comes from men; ſo out of love and liking with, and ſo low prizing and eſteeming the applauſe and praiſe of men, that he accounts all other honour as no honour, to that which ariſeth from the honouring of Chriſt. He eſteemes it a greater honour to ſerve Chriſt in true holineſſe, in the loweſt and pooreſt condition, then to command nations, and rule kingdomes, remaining a ſtranger to Chriſts Scepter and ſervice; for he that in theſe things (ſaith the Apoſtle) in holineſſe and true righteouſneſſe uRom. 14.18.ſerveth Chriſt is acceptable to God and approved of men. Gods acceptation, and good mens teſtimony is a crowne of much honour to them that ſerve the Lord Jeſus in true righteouſneſſe. 4. He that denyes himſelfe is ſo wrought out of himſelfe, ſo taken off from himſelfe, from minding, intending, and ſeeking himſelfe, that he reputes all his labour loſt, if it doth not bring ſome glory to Chriſt, it is in his eye an arrow below the marke, a caſting of ſeed upon the ſand,Gal 6.8. a ſowing to the fleſh; he reputes it a baſe and unworthy ſervice which terminates in himſelfe, and not in Chriſt, it is an abomination to him to be of their number who wRom 16.18.ſerve their owne belly, their owne luſt of pride, pleaſure, or covetouſneſſe, and not Chriſt. 5. He that denyes himſelfe, is ſo taken up with the thought of Chriſt, with the admiration of Chriſt; his ſoule doth ſo pleaſe and delight it ſelfe in Chriſt, that he eſteemes Chriſts ſervice a Paradiſe, for the pleaſures of it, a rich ſtore-houſe, for the treaſures of it, a wall of fire, for the ſafety of it, and a high preferment, a ſingular crowne for the glory which it miniſtreth, and this indeed is the ſumme of that which our Saviour propoſeth as an inducement, encouragement, and wages to his ſervants. If any man (ſaith he) xIoh. 12.26.ſerve me, let him follow me, and where I am there ſhall alſo my ſervant be; if any man ſerve me him will my father honour. Chriſts ſervice is a good mans crowne and comfort, and therefore he that denyes himſelfe referres all to the glory of God and Chriſt; and this is his glory, joy, and rejoycing, to be the ſervant of Chriſt, to approve himſelfe to Chriſt, by y2 Cor. 1.12.having his converſation not in fleſhly wiſedome, but in ſimplicity, and in godly ſincerity.
Laſtly, ſincerity, humility, piety and plainneſſe of heart, Sincere heart.accompanies and argues ſelf-denyall in Gods children. He that denyes himſelfe, hath 1. a ſincere heart, his heart like Chriſts coat, is without ſeame; he is a true Nathaniell in whom is zIoh. ….47.no guile; Ioh. 19.23.ſelf-denyall abhorres and abandons hypocriſie farre from the heart, it puts it ſelfe upon the tryall; aPſal. 139.23.ſearch me O Lord and try me, if there be any evill way within me, and lead me in the way that is everlaſting;Ionah 1. it ſearcheth it ſelfe, as the Maſter in Jonah ſearched the ſhip; if there be any diſobedience, any luſt, any carnall or ſiniſter reſpect there, it caſts it out, it drownes it in the teares of godly ſorrow, as the Maſter of the ſhip caſt Jonah into the ſea; he is very ſevere againſt ſinne,… not onelyonly in others, but chiefly in himſelfe, his owne ſinne is moſt odious in his eye; as a man is moſt ſenſible of and moſt troubled with a moate in his owne eye, or a diſeaſe in his owne fleſh; he is moſt jealous and ſuſpitious of his owne heart, as beſt acquainted with the deceitfulneſſe thereof; he is the b1 Tim. 1.15.worſt of ſinners in his owne eye, he will not ſpare nor ſuffer ſinne upon himſelfe, as a man will not ſuffer a ſpot upon his owne fleſh, but ſpeedily waſh it away; nor a diſeaſe in his owne body, but haſtens the purging of it out; as a traveller will not knowingly walke in a falſe path, but haſtens himſelfe into his right way, ſo he cPſal. 119.60.conſidereth his wayes, maketh haſte and turneth unto the teſtimonies of the Lord: As Aſa ſpared not his owne mother, but depoſed her being an Idolatreſſe; ſo this man ſpares not his owne ſinne,Hab. 1.16. though a mother ſinne, be it never ſo deare or pleaſant, he will depoſe it; as God is a God of pure eyes, and cannot behold iniquity, ſo is ſuch a man, a man of a pure heart, and he cannot behold iniquity with allowance in himſelfe.
2 Humble heart2 He hath a humble heart; the proud man, the ſelf-lover, who hath not denyed himſelfe, doth all for the praiſe of men, his lamp will not burne without this oyle, his mill will not turne unleſſe it hath this wind or water to drive it; but he that hath denyed himſelfe is humble, he aymes at the glory of God, he ſeeks not himſelfe, but God in what he doth, he leanes not upon himſelfe, but upon God in whatſoever he doth, he leanes on Gods wiſedome to guide him, on Gods power to ſupport him, on Gods bleſſing to make all ſucceſſefull, and when the worke is done, and men would deifie him, he continues humble, hee putteth all the glory from himſelfe unto God, his rejoycing is not in himſelfe, but in the Lord.
3. Pious heart.3. He hath a pious heart, a heart cheriſhing an dPſ 119.104.univerſall hatred of all ſinne, univerſally bent and inclined to obſerve the whole will of God, having a diſpoſition and frame of ſoule anſwerable to the ePſal. 40.8.whole Law of God, reſolved in nothing willingly to offend God, endeavouring to the utmoſt to walke in fCol. 1.10.all well-pleaſing towards God. All ſinne is as gravell to his teeth, gall to his palate, ſnares to his feet, and a heavy burthen on his backe, his ſinne is more troubleſome to him, then all affliction, as bad or worſe then death it ſelfe; but the worke of righteouſneſſe is his joy; this is the ſeed he ſowes, the race he runs, to this he gives himſelfe, this is his meat and drinke, this is the joy and rejoycing of his heart, this is the element in which he deſires to live, and wherein he pleaſeth and delighteth himſelfe; as the fiſh in the water, he gPſal. 112.1.delighteth greatly in Gods commandements, to know them, to meditate upon them, to receive direction from them, to doe all things in obedience to them.
4. He hath a plaine and open heart; 4 Plaine heart.he will not ſmother nor conceale his ſinne,hIoſ. 7. as Achan hid his golden wedge and Babyloniſh garment, as Rachel ſate upon and covered her Idols; he will not diſguiſe and faine himſelfe to be another then he is, as Jeroboams wife h1 Kin. 14.diſguiſed her ſelfe, and faigned her ſelfe to be another then ſhe was: He doth not deſire that the Prophets ſhould propheſie ſmooth things and deceits unto him;Iſa 30.10. 1 King. 22. he will not with Ahab have the meſſengers of the Lord bid him proſper in a way which the Lord allowes not; but his deſire is to have his heart ranſacked, his ſinne opened,Pſal. 141, 5. the eſtate of his ſoule truly diſcovered; he ſaith with the Pſalmiſt, let the righteous ſmite me, by diſcovering my ſinne, by reproving me for what is amiſſe, by wounding my conſcience, and humbling my ſoule for my corruption; he is a moſt welcome meſſenger to him, that moſt clearly and fully ſets his ſin before him; he rejoyceth in the detection of his ſinne, as a rich man in the detection of a theefe, that lyes in ambuſh to rob him, as a ſicke man in the finding out, and purging away of the diſeaſe which would bring death upon him.
5. He hath a heart grieving at evill, 5. Heart-grieving at evill. Ezi… 9.and reioycing in goodneſſe and good things: He grieveth for his owne and other mens ſinnes, for the diſhonour done to God; he that grieves for his owne and not for other mens ſins, grieves rather out of ſelf-love, fearing ſome plague which will fall upon him for ſinne, then out of any true love to God, for the diſhonour which ſinne is unto God; for God is diſhonoured by other mens ſinnes as well as ours; he therefore that denyes himſelfe, mournes with David, becauſe kPſ. 119 …16.other men keep not the Law of God; Gods diſhonour is the prime motive of true and godly ſorrow; the more a man denyes himſelfe, the more his ſoule is humbled and grieved, becauſe Gods name is diſhonoured: He likewiſe that denyes himſelfe, rejoyceth when God is honoured, whoſoever be the inſtrument. Many can rejoyce when God hath been glorified by ſome act of their owne, but are not joyfully affected, but rather grieved, when God is honoured by ſome worke of others, wherein themſelves have been no ſharers: Men are often very dangerous ſelf-lovers in their holieſt and moſt honourable performances. It argues a humble, ſweet and gracious diſpoſition of mens affections, to be able to rejoyce in the godly ſervice of others; a humble ſoule is joyfull and thankfull that God is honoured, the Church benefited, the Goſpell preached, the cauſe and kingdome of Chriſt promoted by others, as if himſelfe had been the inſtrument; Gods glory is a humble mans maine deſire and intendment, and is much joyed to ſee the ſame accompliſhed; and in theſe characters as in plaine letters, may all men reade the truth and power of their ſelf-denyall, and accordingly judge of their condition.