A Treatise of Self-Denial, Chapter 4 · Section 2 · Subsection 2 · Sub-subsection 19 – Sub-subsection 20
The Nineteenth Direction.
19 Imitate the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
See what an example of Self-denial hee hath given you.
1 Though hee was the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2.8. and Jam. 2.1. The brightneſs of the Fathers glory, Heb. 1.3. yet bee ſought not his own glory, Joh. 8.50. Though hee was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to bee equal to God, Phil. 2.6. yet hee made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ſervant, and was made in the likeneſs of man, and being found in faſhion as a man, hee humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs, verſ. 7.8.
Now, think with your ſelves what the glory is, that of right muſtsAt the very instant wherein the Son advanced our nature into the higheſt pitch of dignity, by admitting it into the unity of his ſacred perſon, that nature ſo aſſumed, was worthy to bee crowned with all glory and bonour; and hee in that nature might them have ſet himſelf down at the right hand of the Throne of God—If hee had minded only his own things, hee might at the very firſt have attained unto the joy that was ſet before him; but looking on the things of others, hee choſe rather to come by a tedious way, and weariſome journey unto it, not challenging the priviledge of a Son, but taking upon him the form of a mean ſervant. Whereupon in the dayes of his fleſh, bee did not ſerve as an honourable Commander in the Lords Hoſt, but as an ordinary Souldier; hee made himſelfe of no reputation; for the time, as it were, emptying himſelfe of his high State And Dignity. Biſhop Uſher, Myſtery of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God. page 10. needs accompany the perſonal preſence of God in a man, whom hee hath taken up to bee one perſon with him. Conſider what glory it is that Christ hath now in heaven ſince his aſcenſion and ſeſſion at Gods right hand there; why, this was his right and due the very firſt moment of his Incarnation; onelyonly hee was contented to bee a while without it, for the accompliſhing of the work of our Redemption.
2 Though hee was the Heire of all things, Heb. 1.2. Though the earth was his, and the fulneſs thereof, 1 Cor. 10.26, 28. yet hee ſought not his owne wealth, but became poor for our ſakes, 2 Cor. 8.9. The foxes have holes, and the birds of the aire have neaſts, but the Son of man had not where to lay his head, Matth. 8.20.
3 Though all power in heaven, and in earth was given to him, Matth. 28.18. yet (being called to ſuffer) hee would not ſave himſelf, Matth. 16.23. Though hee could have preſt Legions of Angels, yet hee would not permit any one to ſtrike a blow in his quarrel, Matth. 26.52, 53. but voluntarily ſubjected himſelf to the power and force of his blood-thirſty enemies.
I might here multiply particulars, but that I haſten to a concluſion. There is ſcarce any one duty of Self-denial, but wee have an example of it in the practice of our Saviour, and therefore it is requiſite that wee have it continually in our eye. And it will bee of great advantage, what ever it bee wherein wee are called to deny our ſelves, not only by way of Direction for it, but by way oftBecauſe the ſoul never worketh better than when it is raiſed up by ſome ſtrong and ſweet affection, let us look upon our nature as it is in Chriſt, in whom it is pure, ſweet, calme, meeke, every way lovely. This ſight is a changing ſight. Love is an affection of imitation, wee affect a likeneſs to him wee love. Let us learn of Chriſt to hee humble, and meeke, and then wee ſhall finde reſt to our ſoules. The ſetting of an excellent Idea and platform before us, will raiſe and draw up our ſoules higher, and make us ſenſible of the leaſt moving of ſpirit that ſhall be contrary to that, the attainment whereof wee have in our deſires. Hee will hardly attain to mean things, that ſets not before him higher perſection. Sibbs Souls Conflict. c. o. 137. Motive to it, which is the reaſon that from hence, the ſeveral duties of Self-denial are ſo frequently in the Scripture preſt upon us.
1 By our Saviour himſelf, Take my yoak upon you, and learn of mee, for I am meek and lowly in heart, Matth. 11.29. When the mother of Zebedees children deſired that her two ſons might ſit, the one on his right hand, and the other on the left hand in his Kingdome, and the other Diſciples were moved with indignation againſt the two Brethren, hee called them unto him, and ſaid, Yee know that the Princes of the Gentiles exerciſe dominion over them, but it ſhall not bee ſo among you; but whoſoever will bee great among you, let him bee your miniſter; and whoſoever will bee chief among you, let him bee your ſervant, even as the Son of man came not to bee miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, and to give his life a ranſome for many, Matth. 20.27, 28. So after hee had waſhed his Diſciples feet, Joh. 13.5. hee ſaid unto them, Know you what I have done to you? Yee call mee Maſter and Lord, and yee ſay well; for ſo I am. If I then, your Lord and Maſter, have waſhed your feet, yee alſo ought to waſh one anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that yee ſhould do as I have done unto you, verſ. 14, 16.
2 By the Apoſtles. Wee that are ſtrong (ſaith Paul) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to pleaſe our ſelves. Let every one of us pleaſe his neighbour for his good to edification, For even Chriſt pleaſed not himſelf, Rom. 15.1, 2, 3. Again, 2 Cor. 8.7. exhorting them to liberality, hee thus preſſeth the exhortation, verſ. 9. For yee know the grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that though hee was rich, yet for your ſakes hee became poor, that yee through his poverty might bee rich. And Phil. 2.2. preſſing to love and concord, thus hee perſwades them, verſ. 3.4. Let nothing bee done through ſtrife or vain-glory, but in lowlineſs of minde, let each eſteem other better than themſelves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man alſo on the things of others. Let this minde bee in you, which was alſo in Chriſt Jeſus, who being in the form of God, made himſelf of no reputation, but humbled himſelf, &c. verſ. 5.6, 7. Peter exhorting ſervants to bee ſubject to their Maſters, not onelyonly to the good and gentle, but alſo to the froward, and that even when they do well, and ſuffer for it, they ſhould take it patiently, gives this reaſon, 1 Pet. 2.21. for even hereunto were yee called; becauſe Chriſt alſo ſuffered for us, leaving us an example, that yee ſhould follow his ſteps, who did no ſin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when hee was reviled, reviled not again, when hee ſuffered, hee threatned not, but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly, verſ. 22, 23. Hee that ſaith hee abideth in him, ought himſelf alſo, ſo to walke, even as he walked, 1 Joh. 2.6.
The Twentieth Direction.
20 Bee much in Prayer.
After the putting on of the whole Armour of God, to which the Apoſtle exhorts, Eph. 6.16, 17. hee preſcribes Praying alwayes with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance, verſ. 18. in like manner after all the Directions that have been given to help you in the practice of Self-denial, this I would commend unto you, as without which, all other means are ineffectual.
ConſideruSelf-denial is not of our ſelves, but of God, who only can take us out of our ſelves, Dr. Sibbs Souls Conflict. God muſt inable you or elſe you will never do it. Self-denial is the gift of God.
Object. 1. Why is it required then?
Anſw. Not becauſe it is in your power, but becauſe it is your duty.
Object. 2 Well then, God can give it if he pleaſe.
Anſw. True, hee can, but will not, unleſs hee bee ſought to for it. Yee have not, becauſe yee aske not, Jam. 4.2.
Object. 3. But if I pray, will hee hear mee?
Anſw. Try, and ſee what will come of it.
Conſider, God is a God hearing prayer, Pſal. 65.2. and hee hath ſaid, Aske and it ſhall bee given you; Seek, and yee ſhall finde; Knock and it ſhall bee opened to you, Matth. 7.7.
Object. 4. But will hee give this? this gift of Self-denial?
Anſw. Hee is the giver of every good and perfect gift, Jam. 1.17. and this is one of them.
Object. 5. But my want is ſo great, &c.
Anſw. Hee gives liberally, bountifully.
Object. 6. But I have nothing to move him.
Anſw. Hee gives freely, Iſa. 55.1.
Object. 7. It may bee once or ſo, but what if one come often, again and again?
Anſw. Hee upbraideth not.
Object. 8. But it is onelyonly to ſome that hee gives thus liberally and freely, hee will not do ſo to ſuch an one as I am.
Anſw. To all men. Hee giveth to all men liberally, Jam. 1.5. that is, to all that ask of him, all that ask in faith, verſ. 6.
Obj. 9. But what if he hath decreed not to give?
Anſw. What if hee hath decreed that hee will give? the one is as likely as the other. Bee not ſolicitous concerning the will of his decree, but attend to the will of his Precept.
Object. 10. But I have prayed, and yet cannot deny my ſelf.
Anſw. Yee ask and receive not, becauſe yee ask amiſs, Jam. 4.3. Ask in faith, ask importunately, ask again and again. Paul prayed thrice againſt the thorn in the fleſh, that it might depart from him, and at length obtained a gracious anſwer, 2 Cor. 12.8, 9. Therefore pray continually, pray without ceaſing, and it will not bee long ere thou get the victory.
Draw mee, wee will run after thee, Cant. ….4.
Turn thou mee, and I ſhall bee turned, Jer. 31.18.
A [vvIt was no ill wiſh of him that deſired God, to free him from an ill man, himſelf. Dr. Sibbs Souls Conflict cap. 5.62. malo homine] meipſo Libera me Domine. Luther.
THE END