A Treatise of Self-Denial, Chapter 4 · Section 1
SECT. I. Of Information.
IF this be ſo, that Self-denial is of ſuch neceſsity, that without it, it is impoſsible for any one to come after Chriſt; Then there are but few that doe come after Chriſt. The reaſon is, becauſe there are but few that doe deny themſelves. That there are but few that doe deny themſelves, will plainly appear, if wee ſet aſide all thoſe,
I Amongſt Miniſters.
That are blinde and ignorant, dumbe doggs that cannot bark, Iſa. 56.10.
That deſire to be Teachers of the Goſpel, underſtanding neither what they ſay, nor whereof they affirm, 1 Tim. 1.7. wreſting the Scriptures to their own and other mens deſtruction, 1 Pet. 3.16,
That are ſloathful and negligent, lazie Doggs that will not bark, ſleeping, lying down, and loving to ſlumber, Iſa. 56.10. that hide their talent, Mat. 25.18.
That ſpend more of their time in the Kitchen, in the Fields, in the Barn, and the Market-place, Matth. 20.3. than they doe in their ſtudies.
That never think of their Sermons till Friday night, or Satterday; that is, that never ſtudy till needs they muſt.
That are covetous and catching greedy doggs, which can never have enough, that look all of them to their owne way, every one for his gaine from his quarter, Iſa. 56.11.
Some will ſpend and ſome will ſpare, and ſome will lay it up in ſtore, A cure of ſouls they care not fore ſo they mowe money take, Whether her ſouls be won or lore, her profits they will not forſake. Chaucer, The Plowmans Tale. fol. XCVII. With change of many manner meats, with ſong and ſolace ſitting long, And filleth her wombe, and faſt fretes, and from the meat to the gonge, And after meat with Harp and Song, and each man mote hem Lords call, And hote ſpices ever among, ſuch falſe faytours foule bem fall. ibid. fol. XCIII.That feed themſelves, but not the flock; that eat the fat, and cloath themſelves with the Wool, but doe not ſtrengthen the diſeaſed, nor heal that which is ſick, nor bind up that which is broken, nor bring againe that which is driven away, nor ſeek that which is loſt, but with force and with cruelty doe rule over them, Ezek. 34.2, 3, 4.
That are given to Luxury and Riot, that ſay, Come yee, I will fetch Wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong drink, and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant, Iſa. 56.12.
That are the greateſt Faſhion-mongers of any in their Pariſh, that put themſelves into ſtrange apparrel, that powder their hair, and trick up themſelves in ſuch ſort, as they ſeem to be rather Actors in a Play, than Preachers of a Crucified Chriſt.
That love the uppermoſt roomes at feaſts, and the chief ſeates in the Synagogues, and greetings in the Markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, Mat. 23.6, 7.
That love to have the preheminence amongſt their Brethren, with Diotrophes, 3 Epiſt. of John, verſ. 9. and therefore praete with malicious words againſt others more worthy than themſelves, as he did, ibid. verſ. 10.
That get ſuch Aſsiſtance as may ſerve as a foile, and may not be able to ecliſpe them, and if they have any ſuch endeavour to remove them, envying them becauſe they doe excel, and hating them becauſe they find better acceptance among the people than themſelves.
That ſpeak perverſe things, to draw Diſciples after them, Act. 20.30.
That doe foreign, ſerve ſome opinion already taken up by ſome riſing party, and wreſt the Scripture for the juſtification of it.
That make parties, and maintaine Factions amongſt their people, by that means to carry on their owne ends the better.
That make uſe of the favour and authority of ſome Great man, to over-awe their people, from marking their miſdemeanours, and proſecuting of them.
That hate thoſe of their Brethren, that deale moſt faithfully with them, in telling them of their faults, and can in no wiſe endure to be reproved.
That hate the moſt godly in their Pariſh.
That will not countenance the people in examining their Doctrine with the Baereans, leſt they ſhould come to bee as wiſe as themſelves.
That dare not purge their Congregations, ſeperating the precious from the vile, at the adminiſtration of the Sacraments, leaſt their Tythes ſhould not bee paid.
That are Time-ſervers, and Man-pleaſers, Gal. 1.10.
That ſpeake placentia, ſmooth things, Iſa. 30.10. eſpecially to great men, daubing them with untempered morter, ſeeing vanity, and divining lyes unto them, ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not ſpoken, Ezek. 22.27, 28.
That would bee accounted Univerſity men, when indeed they are not.
That make uſe of ſuch words in their Sermons as they doe not underſtand, not know how to pronounce, that they might be thought to be learned.
That binde heavie burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on mens ſhoulders, but they themſelves will not move them with one of their fingers, Mat. 23.4.
That having put their hands to the Plow, doe afterwards look back, Luk. 9.62. that leave off preaching, when they have gotten great eſtates. — All thoſe
II. Amongſt Magiſtrates.
That count Religion a matter of indifferency; whether there bee preaching, or no preaching; Sabbaths, or no Sabbaths; Sacraments, or no Sacraments, all is one to them, like Gallio, they care for none of thoſe things, Acts 18.17.
That take up a forme of godlineſs, to keep up a good opinion of themſelves amongſt the godly, but deny the power of it, according to that Atheiſtical precept of Machiavel, Oportet Principem religentem eſſe, religioſum nefas.
That notwithſtanding they make a great profeſſion, yet refuſe to be members of any particular Church of Chriſt upon earth, being loath to acknowledge the power of Church-Officers over them, and fearing to bee called to account for their irregular proceedings, the command of Chriſt to the contrary notwithſtanding.
That make and foment Diviſions amongſt Profeſſors, the better to rule them all, according to that devilliſh principle, Divide, & impera.
That have no zeal for God in any thing wherein their owne private interest is not concerned.
That care more to bee great, than to be good.
That deſire the ſociety and company of good Miniſters, only by that means to be the more honoured before the people, 1 Sam. 15.30.
That hear them gladly ſo long as they preach general truths, but when they once come to reprove them for their Herodias, the darling ſin that apparently reigns in them, then they caſt them off, it may be perſecute them, as Herod did John the Baptiſt.
That follow the adminiſtration of Juſtice only as a Trade for gain; that love with ſhame, Give yee, Hoſ. 4.18.
That make uſe of their authority chiefly for the raiſing of themſelves, their Families, and Allyes, without reſpect to any thing but conſanguinity and affinity, Iſa. 22.25.
That care not to undoe a Nation, ſo they may ſet up themſelves upon the ruines of it.
That caſt off the rule of the Law, and governe Arbitrarily, rendring no other account of many of their actions; but, Sic volo, ſic jubeo, ſtat pro ratione voluntas.
That over-awe men from their right by the fear of their authority, the thing is unreaſonable to bee yeelded to, a moſt unjuſt thing, yet being ſet on by ſome friend whom they have a mind to pleaſure, though they doe not peremptorily require it to be done, yet they intimate ſo much as that they would not bee well pleaſed if it ſhould not bee done, which is enough to the poor oppreſſed Defendant, (ſearing to make ſo great a man his enemy) againſt all right to part with his right.
That carry their Bias in their Pockets and can clap it on, and take it off as may beſt ſerve their turn to play their owne game.
That are Willows, and not Oakes, that will turne with the ſtreame which way ſo ever it runs.
That firſt make a neceſsity, and then plead it as a juſt reaſon of their unreaſonable undertakings.
That ſet ſome a work to act the part of enemies to the ſtate, purpoſely to betray others, or to get intelligence of the enemies proceedings.
That help the ungodly, which was the ſin of Jehoſaphat, for which the Prophet Hanani reproved him, 2 Chron. 19.2.
That ſpare thoſe whom God would have deſtroyed, which was the ſin of Saul, for which Samuel reproved him, 1 Sam. 15.17, 18, 19.22. and of Ahab, for which one of-the Sons of the Prophets propheſied his deſtruction, 1 King. 20.42.
That make good Lawes, and are the firſt that break them themſelves.
That doe greatly multiply to themſelves ſilver and gold, contrary to that, Deut. 17.17. and their heart is lifted up above their brethren, verſ. 20.
That are as Heifers, that are taught, and love to tread out the corn, Hoſ. 10.11.
That build up what they have deſtroyed, and deſtroy what they have built up.
That are not a terrour to evil works, but to the good, contrary to that, Rom. 13.3. that bear the ſword in vaine, contrary to that, verſ. 4.
III. Amongſt Husbands.
That doe not love their Wives, but are bitter againſt them, Col 3.19.
That doe not provide for them, Exod. 21.12.
That doe deale treacherouſly with them, Mal. 2.15.
That love them more than Chriſt. Luk. 14.26.
That follow their wicked counſel, Gen. 3.17.
That neigh after their neighbours wives, Jer. 5.8.
IV. Amongſt Wives.
That doe not love their Husbands, Tit. 2.4.
That will not ſubmit unto them, Ephe. 5.22. Col. 3.18. Tit. 2.5.
That tempt them to ſin, Gen. 3.6. Judg. 14.15. Job 2.9. 1 King. 11.3, 4.
That are Complotters with their Huſbands in any wickedneſſe, Acts 5.2.
That encourage them to any thing that is evil, 1 King. 21.5.
That deſpiſe them in their hearts, and ſcoffe at them for their zeal in the wayes of God, 2 Sam. 6.20.
That loathe their Husbands, Ezekiel 16.45.
That caſt their eyes upon others to luſt after them, Gen. 39.7.
That take Strangers inſtead of their Husbands, Prov. 7.19.
V. Amongſt Parents.
That honour their Sons above God, 1 Sam. 2.29.
That doe not reſtraine them from their ſinful courſes, 1 Sam. 3.13. but ſuffer them to have their owne wills, Proverbs 29.15.
That doe not chaſten them betimes, Prov. 13.24.
That let their ſoul spare for their crying, Prov. 19.18.
That miſ-place their affection upon the unworthieſt of their Children, Gen. 25.28.
That provoke them to wrath, Epheſ 6.4. and diſcourage them by their harſh and auſtere, and unnatural carriage towards them.
That lay up ill-gotten goods for them, Hab. 2.9, 10.
VI. Amongſt Children.
That love Father and Mother more than Chriſt, Mat. 10.37.
That approve of their ſins, and live in the practiſe of them, Pſal. 40.13. Jerem. 7.18.
That preferre the Father before the Mother in their reſpects, or the Mother before the Father, honouring one, and deſpiſing the other.
That honour them only in ſhew and pretence, 2 Sam. 14.32. Mat. 21.28, 30. but for their owne ends, 2 Sam. 14.33. That ſet light by them, Ezek. 22.7.
That deſpiſe their inſtruction, Prov. 15.5. and their commands, Prov. 30.17.
That deſpiſe them when they grow old, Prov. 23.22.
That reproach them, Gen. 9.22, 25. 1 Sam. 15.3. and curſe them, Prov. 30.11. and give them froward and perverſe anſwers, Gen. 34.29.
That conceit themſelves wiſer than their Parents, fitter to manage their place than they, 2 Sam. 15.3.
That upbraid them with what they have done for them, Luke 15.28.
That envie the expreſſions of their Parents love to their other Brothers or Siſters, Gen. 37.4. Luke 15.28, 29.
That think much to relieve their Parents in their wants, Mar. 7.10, 11, 12. Jer. 22.13. Mal. 3.5. Col. 4.1.
That rob them, and waſte their eſtates, Prov. 28.24.
VII. Amongſt Maſters.
That pinch them in their Dyet, that defraud them of their Wages, Gen. 31.7.
That will not allow them time for Meditation, and prayer in ſecret, but call them up early to their work, and as ſoon as they be out of their Beds ſet them about it.
That doe not inſtruct them in the Principles of Religion, that doe not command them to ſerve the Lord, Gen. 18.19.
That doe not reſtraine them from prophaning the Lords Day:
That covet their Neighbours Manſervant, or his Maid-ſervant, and entice them away.
VIII. Amongſt Servants.
That are not obedient to their Maſters with fear and trembling, in ſingleneſſe of their heart as unto Chriſt, but ſerve them with eye-ſervice, as men-pleaſers, not as the ſervants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing ſervice as to the Lord, and not to men, Epheſ. 6.5, 6, 7. Col. 3.22, 23.
That can bee content to bee ſubject to Maſters that be good and gentle, but not to the froward; that cannot out of Conſcience towards God endute grief, ſuffering wrongfully; that cannot when they doe well and ſuffer for it, take it patiently. Contrary to that, 1 Pet. 2.18, 19, 20.
That being reproved, anſwer again, contrary to that, Tit. 2.9.
That purloyn, ſhewing no good fidelity; contrary to that, verſ. 10.
That are prodigal of their Maſters time, but ſparing of their owne, will ſpend little or none of that in the ſervice of God.
IX. Amongſt Buyers.
That diſ-commend the Commodity before they have bought it, ſaying, It is naught, it is naught; that they may get it at an undervalue, but when they are gone their way then they boast, Prov. 20.14. glorying and applauding themſelves in the good bargain they have made.
That ſay in their hearts, and in their words too (it being their Principle) Let the Seller look to himſelf, Ile buy as cheap as I can.
That doe wiſh for their Neighbours goods, that they might have them, either for nothing, or for half the worth, and if it could be ſo, would count it the beſt Market that ever they made.
That get ſome to intice the Seller, bribing Servants, &c. that hee may by that means bee the more eaſily perſwaded to part with his commodity.
That take advantage of the Sellers ignorance, or neceſsity.
That ſwallow up the poore and needy, even to make the poore of the Land to faile.
That borrow other mens money, and pay them out of extorted Purchaſes, gotten by that money.
That doe ingtoſſe Commodities, and fore-ſtall the Market.
That joyn houſe to houſe, that lay field to field till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midſt of the earth, Iſa. 5.8.
That will out-bid another, purpoſely to get the bargaine from him, before they know his mind, whether hee will not give the ſame price.
That buy ſtollen goods, or things which the Seller has no power to alienate.
That buy upon the Sabbath Day.
X. Amongſt Sellers.
That over-commend their Commodities, ſaying, They are ſo good, or of ſuch a ſort, that they gave ſo much for them, and were offered ſo much for them, when their Conſciences in the meane while tell them that they doe but lye.
That raiſe up falſe reports, ſaying, that they are grown ſcarce, that there is like to be Warre, &c. (which they know to be falſe) purpoſely to make them go off the ſooner.
That promiſe to uſe men kindly, and to ſell cheaper than others (when they intend no ſuch matter) purpoſely to draw men in.
That invite men into their houſes, and give them good entertainment, but afterwards ſet it down in the prizes of the Commodities that they buy.
That raiſe an ill report of their neighbour Tradeſ-men, to get off their Cuſtomers.
That goe to the Ale-houſes, and ſpend ſo much upon their Chapmen till they make them drunk, that they may make a better bargaine.
That make a great profeſsion of Religion, that they may be the rather truſted.
That ſell one thing for another.
That ſay, When will the New Moon bee gone, that wee may ſell Corn? and the Sabbath, that wee may ſet forth Wheat, making the Ephah ſmall, and the Shekle great, and falſifying the ballances by deceit? That wee may buy the poor for ſilver, and the needy for a pair of ſhooes; yea, and ſell the refuſe of the Wheat? Amos 8.5, 6.
That ſell unlawful Commodities, as Cards and Dice, Beauty ſpots, &c.
That aske double the price; that ſo they may abate.
That make this their Principle, Let the buyer look to himſelf.
That ſell good Commodities at firſt, that they may put off bad afterwards.
That ſophiſticate their Wares.
That keep falſe Accompts.
That keep all till a dear time.
That murmur when God ſends a plentiful year, becauſe they cannot ſell ſo dear as before.
That rejoyce at the newes of a Shipwrack, wherein ſome ſtore of the Commodity that they ſell is caſt away, becauſe then that which they have will not lye upon their hands, but goe off at any rate.
That will allow no time for Family prayer, and reading of the Word, leſt they ſhould loſe ſome Cuſtomers in the mean while.
That will not keep up Family duties, for fear of diſpleaſing ſuch Cuſtomers as doe not affect religion.
If we ſet aſide all theſe, how few will there be left that doe in deed, and in truth deny themſelves, and conſequently, how few that doe come after Chriſt!
Obj. But muſt all theſe bee ſet aſide for ſuch as doe not deny themſelves? Are none ſuch to be taken for Self-denying perſons?
Anſw. None ſuch as doe live in any of the fore-mentioned Evils, either of Omiſsion or Commiſsion, are to be taken fo… Self-denying perſons. To live in any one ſin is inconſiſtent with Self-denial, for that conſiſts in integrity lVires on Numb. 14. Serm. before the Parl.of averſion from ſin, and converſion to God, Quoad Aſſenſum & conatum, though it doth not exclude all ſin, yet it excludes all reigning ſin; it will not endure that a man ſhould caſt off ſome ſins, and retaine fome other in deliciis; nor will it allow that one ſhould plough here, and make a bawk there; though one ſhould doe never ſo many things, with Herod, Mar. 6.20. yet if there be but one thing lacking, as in the young man, Luke 18.22. ſuch an one doth not truly deny himſelf in any thing, and though hee abandon never ſo many evils, yet if hee continue in the allowed practiſe of but one known ſin with Naaman, 2 King. 5.18. hee doth but deceive himſelf, his religion is in vain, Jam. 1.26. As hee doth not come after Chriſt in the way of holineſs, ſo hee cannot come after him to eternal happineſs.
Obj. I but when all theſe are ſet aſide, it may bee thoſe that are left, namely. thoſe that doe in deed and in truth deny themſelves, will for all that bee found to bee the greater number.
Anſw. No, for the Apoſtle tells us, that All ſeek their owne, not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts, Phil. 2.21. which I am ſure is true of all Natural men, and they are the greateſt number even under the Goſpel, for many are called, but few are …hoſen, Mat. 20.16. therefore there are but few that doe deny themſelves, and conſequently but few that doe come after Chriſt.
Obj. Well, ſuppoſe there are but few that doe come after Chriſt, what follows then?
Anſw. Why then it follows
1 That the greateſt part are Hypocrites, for to profeſſe to come after Chriſt (as all that call themſelves Chriſtians doe) and in the mean while to ſeek themſelves, and not Chriſt, is to play the Hypocrites, and you know what is their portion, Job 8.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. and Chap. 15.34. and Mat. 24.51.
2 That every one hath cauſe to bee jealous of himſelf, and to try what manner of perſon hee is. But of this beneath Sect. 2. Subſect. 2.
3 That there is great need of preaching and preſſing this Doctrine of Self-denial, and therefore I ſhall apply it ſecondly by way,