What Wesley Left Out

~142 words

the Uſe we make of em 
too little. = ns 


1 would not be underſtood, M ADAM | 


as if I in any Degree deſigned to leſſen 


the Externals of Religion; which I only | 
wiſh to ſee cleared from popular Mi- 
ſtakes and Prejudices. Every Means is 


to be valued according to what it con- 
tributeth towards obtaining the End for 


which it is deſigned. And as the Deſign 
of Chriſtianity is undoubtedly the Heco 
very of the Image of God oriented by | 

e 0 the 


The Epiſtle Dedicatory: 


the firſt Tranſgreſſion; ſo any Thing, the 
nearer it approacheth to that E NO, 
the nobler it is in its Nature. But Rill 
it is but a Meaus, which ought to be 
improved, and at laſt reſolved into the 


faid ultimate Exd of Religion. Miſtakes 


are always dangerous: But then they 
are of a more dangerous Tendency, when 


they happen to be committed in Things of 


great Weight and Importance; the Dignity 
of the Subject ill managed, adding no ſmall 
Aggravation to the Miſmanagement it ſelf. 
If in the Government of Kingdoms and 
Countries, a falſe Step be taken, it muſt 
needs be attended with fatal Conſequen- 
ces. But theſe Miſtakes, as they endanger 
.only the Safety of Bodies and Eſtates; 
ſo they do not come up at all to ſuch 
Miſtakes as invade the Safety of the ve 


ry Souls of Men. 


Thus hath

~196 words

the higheſt Innocency, to be with. 
out all Self-will. This alſo is the higheſt Simpli- 
city, to be like a Child, in whom Self-love and 

Self-honour hath not yet got the Aſcendant. 
: S. tr. Of this total Surrender to the divine 
An Example Will, and of this entire unlimited Subjection to 
fd 82 „ the ſovereign Order of God, our Lord JESUS 
ons 5 CHRIST, the moſt compleat and abſolute 
3 Image of God, was a molt perfect Example 
dom in Man. While 


* , 


Boox I. Of the Divine Image in Man. 7 
while he liv'd upon Earth. He ſacrific'd and 
conſecrated his Will to God his Father, in per- 
fett Obedience, Humility and Meekneſs, freely 
depriving himſelf of all Honour and Eſteem; 
of all Intereſt and Self-love; of all Pleaſure 
and Joy; and permitting, God alone to think, 
ſpeak, and do every thing in Him, and by 
Him. Ina'Word: He had always the Will 
and Pleaſure of God for his own; which God 
himſelf teſtified by that Voice from Heaven 
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. Matt. ili. 17. 
§. 12. This JESUS CHRIST, Bleſſed for , ehe per- 
ever, is the True Image of God, out of whom fa Tims F of 
nothing did ſhine forth but God himſelf, and Gra. ; 
ſuch Manifeſtations as are agreeable to his Nature: 
Such as, Love, Mercy, Long- ſuffering, Patience, 
Meekneſs, Gentleneſs, Affection towards Mankind, 
Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, Conſolation, Life, and 
Bleſſed neſs everlaſting. For by him, the invifi- 
ble God was willing to be ſeen, and to be made 
known to Men. He is alſo after a more ſub- 
lime Manner, the Image of God; that is, accord- 
ing to his Divinity, by Virtue whereof he is the 
true God himſelf, or the expreſs and eſſential I- 
mage of his Father's Glory, in the infinite Splen- 
dor of the uncreated Light. But of this I have 
no more to ſay at preſent; my Deſign being 
here to ſpeak of him only as he converſed, and 
liv'd in his holy Humanity, when he dwelt upon 
Earth: V 
Fi. 13. In ſuch an holy Innocency as this, the hich Image 
Image of God was alſo conferr'd on Adam at appeared, and 
the Beginning, which he ſhoald have kept in 4%½ Pe ed 
true Humility and Obedience. He ſhould have“ Adam. 
conſidered that he was not

~379 words

Rights of the divine Majeſty, even to be W wh 
as God. 5 N ine 


How it is con- F. 3. This Apoſtacy (for indeed nothing leſs 
2 ; and was it) was firſt begotten in the Heart: And he 
gow then 


being there conceiv'd, was afterward, by eating ty, 
brought forth. of the forbidden Fruit, brought forth. Of which, © an 
E . : there is a very lively Similitude in the Crime Be 


of Abſalom, ſet before us as a Picture to reflet W; 
on. For Firſt, Abſalom was the Son of a King: W an 
And Adam is called the Son of God. Secondly : lit 
There was none ſo praiſed as he for his Beauty: he 
And the Beauty of Adam, in the Likeneſs of fo 
God, was above that of all the viſible Creatures. G 
Thirdly : Abſalom was the Favourite of goa 

1 ther; 


Throne he began fooliſhly to get; being diſ. Prov. viii. 30. 


Book J. Of the Fall of Man. 11 
ther, as Adam might be term'd a Favourite 
of God. FER”. . 

§. 4. But let us alſo conſider wherein the 
Fall of Abſalom, and of his Sin againſt his Fa- Compariſon 
ther, did conſiſt. Firſt, in his Heart, he turned betwiæt A- 
away frow his Father towards himſelf; and thence dam and Ab- 
forgetting the high Prerogative which he, as a m. 
Son, enjoyed, was for ſerting up himſelf, inſtead 
of his Father, notwithſtanding he did fo ten- 
derly love him. And therefore not contented 
to be the King's Son, nor the moſt beautiful Man 
in the Land; (ſince from the very Sole of his 
Foot, even to the Crown of his Head, there 
was no Blemiſh in him ;) nor laftly, To be the 28am. xiv. 25. 
moſt dear and beloved one of his Father, as did 
evidently appear from his Tears and Lamentati- Chap.xviii. 3. 
on for him. I ſay, Abſalom not contented 


/ 


with all this Glory, plotted now to uſurp even 


the Royal Dignity it ſelf ; and having once en- 
tertained ſuch Thoughts in his Mind, he ſoon 
after profeſs'd himſelf an open Enemy of him 
that begat him, and did not ſtick to lay Snares 


for his very Life. 


§. 5. So in like Manner Man proceeded 7. 
when he invaded his Maker's Nera ee knows- on Oe 
ing not

~323 words

the very 
Image of Satan. my 

& 11. But now, who could ever have once The bad 
ſuſpected at firſt, that in ſuch a young, weak, g,", & Ale. 
puny Infant, ſuch a Sink of all manner of Wick- ;;., in ebe 


edneſs ſhould be found? Or, that he ſhould have Heart even of © 6 


ſuch a venomous Baſilisk lie within him unſeen? 4 C419. 

Or, that ſuch a wicked and peſtilential Heart, 

could lie hid in ſuch a ſeemingly innocent Babe? 

I fay; Who could have ever once thought this, 

unleſs Man himſelf, by his ſinful and abomina- 

ble Life, by the Imagination of his Thoughts ; 

being only evil continually,and deſperately bent to Gen. vi. 5. 

what is bad, did not of his own accord bring 1.21. 

the ſame to Light, and from his Childhood, 

expreſs what was before concealed, as in a lit- 

tle Seed! 5 5 33 
&. 12. O Root, moſt vile, and moſt accurſ. The Plague of 

ed! from whence there grows up after this man- accufſed 

ner the Tree of Evil, bearing for Fruit all man-. 

ner of Plagues after its Kind! O Seed of the 

Serpent, and Spawn of Vipers, moſt dreadful, 

moſt hateful! Out of which ſo abominable a 


Monſter, ſo deform'd and ſo foul an Image, is Heb. xk 13. 


bred within, and doth thence bud forth, accord- 


ing as it is excited by outward Temptations, 
and ſtirred up by the Scandals of the World. 
And this might very well be the Reaſon why 


the bleſſed Jeſus was ſo careful, as ſtrictly to for- Matt. xvii1 5. 

bid, that any, by bad Example, ſhould offend lit. Luk. xvil. 2. 

tle Children, as conſidering, that in them the 

Seed of the Serpent licth hid, as a deadly Poiſon 
| | in 


16 
— TN. 


of: the Fall of Man. 


ue I 


in a venomous Worm, and which-4 is ready to 

. forth into Act, if an oppartonity” be of. 
e 

8. 13. Learn e 0 Man, to koon 

© eefſity of this

~474 words

the Spirit of Impiety and Athciſm. In 
which heavenly Change conſiſts the whole new 
Life, and the Eile& of the new. Creature with- 

in us, x 
5 Y&. 9. For as in Adam we are all ſpiritually 
* 243 FR. and unable to perform ay Works 
Regeneration, | . ates 
Min ze. than thoſe of Death and Darkzeſs: Even ſo in 
ſtored by Faith Chriſt we matt be raiſed again to the Works ol 
in Chriſt to Light and Life. As by carnal Generation we 
Life, have inherited the Sin of Adam; ſo by Faith, 
TR we mult inherit the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt. As 
by the Fleſh of Adam, Pride, Covetouſnels, 
Luſt, and all kind of Uncleanneſs, are deriv'd 
on us; fo by the Spirit of Chriſt, our ns 
| | | | ought 


um, 
10! 
Ve: 
the 
and- 
the 
30d, 
Na- 
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pirit 
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it of 
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tead 

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it ure 
ught 


Book I. 


_—_ 


Of Man's Reſtauration. 23 
ought to be renewed, and all Pride, Covetouſ- 
neſs, Luſt, and Envy, mortified within us. 
Thus is it neceſſary that we, from Chriſt, ſhould 
draw a new Spirit, a new Heart, and Mind, as 
we drew from Adam a fleſhly Mind, and a 
Heart ſubje& to Sin and Vanity. | 

F. 10. Now by reaſon of this great Work of n l geo! 
Regeneration, Chriſt is called the Everlaſting Fa- ruin muſt 
ther, and we are renawed in Him to Life eter- proceed from 
nal, being regenerated here into his Likeneſs, hisnew Life: 
and by his Spirit become new Creatures. And | 
from this Principle of the gem Birth, that is, 
from CHRIST himſelf, from his Spirit, and 
from an unfeigned Faith, all our Works ought 
to proceed, if ever they ſhall prove an accepta- 
ble Sacrifice unto the Lord. . N 
F. 11. Henceforth we live now in the new The Nature of 
Birth, and the new Birth doth live in us: We e new Birth 
are in Chriſt, and Chriſt in us: We live “ : 
the Spirit of Chriſt, and the Spirit of Chriſt . 325+ 
liveth in us. This Regeneration, and the Fruits 
attending it, St. Paul calleth to be renewed in the 
Spirit of our Mind, to put off the Old Man, to be, 
transformed into the Image of God: And again: 1 
To be rencwed in Knowledge after the Image of , Cor. iii. 18. 
Him that created us: Alſo Regeneration, and Re- Cal. jii. 10. 
novation of the Holy Ghoſt. It is alſo called the Tir. iii. 5. 
taking away the ſtouy Heart, and giving us an EZek. S119, 
Heart of Fleſh. And from hence it appears, 
how from the bleſſed Incarnation of Jeſus Chriſt, 
Man's Regeneration does proceed. Likewiſe : 
As Man by Ambition, Pride, and Diſobedience, 
turned himſelf from God; fo his Apaſtacy 
could not be expiated and removed but by the 
extreme Humility, Lowlineßs, and Obedience 
of the Son of God. And again: As Chriſt in his 
Converſation on Earth was moſt humble a- 
mong Men, ſo it is neceſſary that he ſhould be 
the fare in thee, O Man! that he ſhould 


C4 live 


— 
8 " = — 6 — — — — 2 — ane. ter 0 
2 5 — ; "=. W SIO ot r 3 
1 8 * = 2232 5 pd 
5 VVV ib R n n : rſt : 
* r EI" Fe „ dls NN — FP 9 — 4 
b — _” " 1 2. alas 3 * = * 
- AC. os — > . — 0 — ren Tos _— —_—  — w 4 4 
* — / l r 


Eph. iv. 22. 


— —4—ꝙ—— i — 


— I Of Man's Reftauration. Cp. III. 
live in thee, and reyive the Image of God 
in thy Soul. 7 


Chriſtians

~1,798 words

live with him in Eternity” 
The Necrfſity F. 6. Whilſt a Man is diſtracted and toſ⸗- 
of crucifying fed about with worldly Deſires and Deſigns, 
the Fleſh,that he is not capable of any ſettled Peace and 
he Spirit may Tranquillity of Heart. Therefore thou muſt 
be quicken®. qie to the Fleſh, and to the World, before 
e thou canſt be in a Condition of living again 
red by ſeveral unto Chriſt. And this Dying to Self, and 
Images in Living to CHRIST, hath been repreſented to 
Scripture, us under ſeveral Types and Hiſtories of the 
1, Of Sarah, old Teſtament. Thus Sarah, when by rex 
fon of her old Age ſhe was unfit to bring 

forth Children, ſhe then conceived and brovght 

forth Iſaac, the Son of the free-woman, which 

is by Interpretation, Laughter; and who proved 

the Seed of the Promiſe. Hereby is ſig- 

nified the Birth of ſpiritual Joy and Com- 

fort. Unleſs the Luſt of the Fleſh be firſ 

put to Death, it will not be poſſible for 


thee to conceive and to bring forth the divine 


8.4 


Joy of the Spirit. 


RY 


Boo 


9. 
Exa 
cerni 
CUume 
had 
eartl 
unto 
long 
Wot 
the | 
he h 
himſ 
favor 
5 
into 
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the V 
fore 
Hero 
Sirit 
and 
Subti 
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plicit 
tain 
whil, 
St. P 
Trut 
me. 
dead, 
Jour 
may 
to be 
in a! 
that 
Life 1 
ſtle: 
in th 
Walk 


Book I. and Living to CHRIST. + 


* 8. 7. The ſame is alſo ſet forth in the 2. Of Abra- 
o || Example of Abraham : For the Promiſe con- bam. 
r cerning Chriſt, and the Seal thereof by Cir- Gen. zii. l. 
+. | cumciſion, was not given to him, till ne 
'n bad firſt left his Father's Houſe, and his 

ee || carthly Inheritance. This again is a Figure 

at ! unto us, and doth viſibly ſhew us, that as 

to long as a Man hath his Heart fixed upon this 

ez World, even ſo long is he unprepared to receive 

de, the Promiſe which is by Chriſt. And as long as 

nd he has not freely quitted the World, or deny'd 

ee, himſelf,it is impoſſible he ſhould taſte Chriſt,or to 

an © favour the Things which are Chriſt's. 135 „ 
ch . 8. Herod being dead, Chriſt returned Mat. ii. 19,20 
jen into Fudea. This doth inſinuate unto us, that 3. Of the Ex- 
riſe Jas long as the Heart doth play the Fox with tle of Chriſt 
reſt che World, Chriſt cannot enter into it. There- ag * 
fore thou muſt die, O Man! to the Fox 
toſ.Herod; that is, to the deceitful and cunning 

zus, Sirit of this World, that ſo Jeſus may come 

and and live in thee again. For the perverſe 

goſt | Subtilty of the World, and the corrupt Po- 

ore I liticks of it, can never agree with the Sim- 

,ain plicity of the Goſpel of Chriſt, It is cer- 

and tain that Chriſt cannot live in thy Soul, 

to] whilſt Adam bears the Sway there. Hence 

the St. Paul being thus dead, could ſay of a 4. Of Paul. 
rea- Truth: I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in Gal. it. 29: 

ring ne. And in another Place he faith: Te are Cal. iii. 3. 

ugbe f dead, when yet he writes to the living; and 

hich your Life is hid with ng. But: then a Man 

ored may be truly ſaid to be dead, when he ceaſes 

ſig- to be what he was before. Thus if Sin die 


dom- in a Man, he is properly ſaid to be dead in 
that reſpect; becauſe he ceaſes to live that 
Life which he lived before. Again, ſays the Apo- 
ſtle: 1f we live in the Spirit, let us alſo walk Gal. v. 25. | 
in the Spirit. If we live in Chriſt, we muſt — 
walk even as he walked. For it is not e- | 
G 2 nough 


_ whatGodhath 


K 


84 O Dying to Self, . Cup. XII. 
usb to... boaſt of the Spirit, in Word 
whilſt the Words are not ſupported by Works, 
and whilſt Faith is not evidenced by the 
Fruits thereof. Nay,, it is ſaid unto all: If 


Rom. viii: 13. ye live after the Fleſh, ye. ſhalt die : But if ye 


through the Spirit, do mortifie the Deeds of the 
Boch, ye ſhall live. But, „ 

The great E. F. 9, Many are like Saul, who ſkew not A. 
ere gag the King of the Amale kit es, according as God 
condemn'd 4% bad commanded him, but caſt him into Pri- 
Death e xem- ſon: So theſe, in like manner, do hide for 
plifyd, a little while. (and as it were impriſon) 
1 Sam, xv. their Luſts and ſinful Deſires, that upon 
| Occaſion they may the more fecretly indulge 
them. But let us beware of this Levity, 

and let us not only hide our Sin for a while, 

but by laying the Ax of Mortification to 

the very Root, utterly deſtroy it. Unleſs 

this be done in good earneſt, we ſhall be 

caſt out, with Saul, from our Kingdom, and 


ſhall loſe the Crown of everlaſting Life. Thus 


doth the. whole Scripture, with all its Hiſto- 
ries, Types, and Figures, point ont Jeſus 
Chriſt, as he is to be expreſſed in our Life 
and Converſation. Not to mention here the 
Book of Nature, or of the great World with- 

out us; which alſo does abundantly declare 
the Nature of God, and his Love towards 
o . 


1 Hypocri-. S. 10. There are in the World a ſort of 


eicalChriſtian Men not unlike to Trees, being ever chang- 
Dry a ed with the Motion of the Times. For as 
Tune-lerver. Trees eaſily loſe their Leaves at the Ap- 
proach of the Winter, but as eaſily recover 

chem again, when the Seaſon becomes more 

kind and favourable: Even ſo many Per- 

ſons, in the Winter of Adverſity, do hide 

their Luſts for a While, and repreſs the Pro- 
Penſions of their corrupt Nature; who yet 

| 9 im- 


1 


Boox I. and Living to C HRISTI. 85 
immediately, upon a proſperous Turn of af. 
3 he, cots, | 
; fairs, break out again as at the firſt, and 
f recruit themſelves with freſh Supplies of Va- 
- I nity. This is the genuine Mark of all Hypocrites. 
e Whereas nothing can be more abhorred by 
a true Chriſtian, who, in all Seaſons, and un- 
. der all Revolutions, be they publick or pri- 
4 vate, is always the ſame, and unalterably fix- 
: ed in God. Both in Proſperity and Adver- 
r I fity, in Plenty and Poverty, he maintaineth 
KL uniform Piety, and ſteddily adhereth to 
n God, taking, with a reſigned Mind, all thoſe 
ge Things that Providence doth caſt upon him. 
y §. 11. In the Hiſtory of Ahab, we have Not fo ſpark, 
bs another Inſtance not much unlike to that of yy 2 5 
to | Szul, and which doth no leſs deſerve our 5% 3 
of, earneſt Reflection, leſt we be impoſed upon 


be dy a natural Tenderneſs for our ſpiritual 
nd Enemies, againſt the Appointment of God. 
ns For when God delivered the King of 5 lie Xing 1x. 42. 
to- into his Hands, on Condition to hold him in e 
% Friſon, and to make him feel that God was 

ife J ſtronger than all his Enemies, and would in 

the due time require of the Blaſphemers of his 

th. | Name a juſt Puniſhment; he ſlighting the 

are Command of God, ſaluted him as his Pro- 

ther, and ſo diſmiſs'd him. For which Diſ- 
obedience, in giving Life to a Man deſerv- 

Ing ta die, the Sentence of Death is pronoun- 

ced upon himſelf by God's Commandment, 

and his own Life is required inſtead of the 
captive King whom he had releasd, As it 
accordingly ſoon after came to paſs. Like 
unto him are they who feed ol cheriſh in 
their Boſom, their own Luſts, God's and their 
Enemies, which are appointed to Deſtruction, 
and fo voluntarily do draw upon themſelves : 
Death and eternal Damnation, I 


G 3 6 13; 


Chap.xxil.37 


a. 
£4 , 1 * Gs 4 - — — i = . 
.. ̃⅛—t.Ä—— — — — E 


86 of Dying w Self, Cv. XII. I B. 


Mort ification F. 12. It is certain, that without Morti. 
bereto re- fication of the Fleſh, neither Prayer, nor Pi- © 


ir d. ety, nor any Work of the Spirit, can be e- 1 © 
ver perfected in Man. And to repreſent this | I 
to us, it pleaſed God to appoint that all the m 
= | Beaſts ſhould be put to Death which ap- ttb 
Exod. xix. 12 proached the holy Mountain of Sinai. This WW th 
is an Allegory, written for our InſtruQion, to 
For how much more ought we to ſlay our he. 
ſtial Luſts and brutal Affections, if ever we of 


would aſcend the ' Mountain of God, offer 1s, 

up the Incenſe of Prayer and ſpiritual Sa- an 

crifices, and meditate upon the divine Word? oy 

If we do otherwiſe, we are judged already, th 

and ſhall he for ever baniſhed from the W. 

| Lord's Preſence. „ 

1» S- 13. We read that a new Name was gi- Col 

of Jaco g ven to Jacob, even the Name of ISRAEL, 8⁰ 

of 2 which is interpreted a Champion, or a Prince th 
FRY of God. This was done after he had in to 

Ger, XXII. wreſtling with the Angel beheld the Face |. My 

8 of God; wherefore alſo he called the Name on 

of the Place PENUEL, which ſignifieth | ba 

the divine Preſence, or God's Face and fami- di 

liar Appearance. But before he was ho- th. 

= noured with this new Name, he was called pl 
Ben. xxvii, Jacob, which pointeth out a Supplanter : For pe 
36. fo truly he was. After his Example, ought © #5 
we alſo, through the divine Spirit, to tread & 

0 


down our own ſinful Affections, and ſupplant 

the Power of Satan in the elder Birth of u 
Nature, that we may become a ſpiritual Ir on 
rael, or a Prince and Captain of God. With- Le 
out we ſtrictly follow theſe Steps of Jacob, | Pe 
we ſhall never arrive to the bleſſed PE-: der 
NUEL, or to the Vifion of the divine we 

Glory. In a Word: we muſt be Jacob, be- 
fore ye can be: Dragh eee 7 


that is, if thou art in good earneſt to match 


that ſo at length thou 'mayeſt be united 


ſtricter Enquiry, they diſcover that they had 


divine Beauty, and conſequently abhorred in 


temptibly of our ſelves, that ſo in Time 
we may enjoy the ſpiritual Rachel. 


- Back I. % Livin co CHRIST: © 


S. 14. The ſame Jacob, that he might Of the true 


enjoy the beautiful and well-favoured Ra- 5 
chel, was conſtrained to take firſt the home- nee, 5 
ly and blear- eyed Leah. So thou, in like Flee: 


Gen. xxix. 
17, 25- 


thy Soul to the uncreated Wiſdom, I mean, 
to Chriſt, the Supplanter of Satan, the Trea- 
der down of Sin, and Subduer of the Birth 
of the Serpent; thou muſt firſt take Leah; that 
is, thou muſt be diſpleaſed with thy ſelf, 
and thy animal Man: Thou muſt hate thy 
own Deformity, thou muſt deny thy ſelf, 


manner, if thou art in Love with Rachel, 


with Chriſt again in a ſpiritual Marriage. But 
here, alas! many deceive themſelves, (as Fa- 
cob was by Laban) thinking verily they have 
rotten the well-favoured Rachel; that is, that 
they lead a Life truly Chriſtian and pleaſing 
to God Almighty; when afterwards, upon 


only to do with Leab; that is, that they 
have led a Life void of Grace, Virtue, and 


the Sight of God. Let us therefore be diſ- 
pleas'd at our ſelves; let us be ſure to ap- 
pear ill. favoured in our own Eyes; and as it 
is ſaid of Leah, that ſhe was deſpis'd in her 
Father's Houſe ; ſo alſo let us be content 
to be deſpiſed and hated, that ſo the Lord 
may look upon our Affliction, (as he did up- 
on hers,) by making us fruitful in Grace. 
Let us put on true Humility, with Meek- 
neſs and Patience, let us think * moſt con- 


T7 r 


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I 


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88 of Dying to Self, &. Crap. XII. 


The Servitude F. 15. Conſider, moreover, with what A- 
andSufferings lacrity ” Garoh did undergo the Service of ſe- 


ef Jacob ml ven 5 ſeven Years, for the ſake of the 
fee ½ beloved Rachel. Her Love mitigated the 
f erm 1 Hardneſs of his Labour to ſuch a Degree, 
as if ſeven Vears had been but ſo many Days. 
In like manner hath our moſt faithful Spouſe, 


Chriſt Jeſus, undergone Three and Thirty 


Years Service for the Good of our Souls, 


and hath abundantly fulfilled what is ſpoken 


by Jacab concerning his Service: In the Da 
Gen. xxl. 40 ihe Drought conſumed me, and the Froſt by 
Night ; and my Sleep departed from mine Eyes. 


Mart. x. 28. Thus is the Son of Man not come to be ſery- 
ed

~231 words

to ſuffer for his ſake. Nay, even to lay 

down our natural Life, if need be. 


The Ferrical F. 3, Conſider Moſes for the Encouragement be 
Inflance of of thy Faith, whereof ſo honourable a Menti- tho 
3 ,, On is made by the Holy Ghoſt. For, by Faith ſl in 
7 8 when be was come to Years, he refuſed to be called 
R the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter; chooſing rather wh 
to ſuffer Affuttion with the People of God, than 5 

to enjoy the Pleaſures of Sin for a Seaſon: Ell © 


ſteeming the Reproach of Chriſt, Lor for Qhiilt] £© 

2 greater Riches than the Treaſures in Egypt. 
Of Daniel. F. 4. Conſider Daniel, who was ſet apart 

Pan. i. 4, 8. with his Companions by the King of Babylon, ſl th, 

and choſen from among the reſt of the Cap- be 

tives, c attend in his Court. He was to have 


oy Di 
a daily Proviſion both of the King's Meat and hi 
Wine, till he ſhould be fit to miniſter in the] me 


Royal Preſence, and to diſcharge the Offices 
to which he was trained up at the Kings tn. 
Coſt. But he and his Companions refuſed} | 


The 


- 


Boox I. and evangelical Self-denial. 91 | 


the King's Portion, with all the Delicacies 
of a profuſe Court, and deſired to be only 
fed with Pulſe and Water. This they did, 
leſt they ſhould be defiled with the King's 
Meat, or with the Wine which be drank. They . 
deſpiſed the Enticements of Babylon, in or- 
der to attain that Wiſdom which is from a- 
bove, and which only dwells in a Heart 


that keeps it ſelf free from the Pollutions 


of a prophane World. In liks manner muſt. 
thou alſo abhor the Pleaſures of Sin, as ſo many 
Diſhes of Babylon's Court, and never drink of 
the Wine of Fornication, which the Spirit of 
this World offers to thee; if ever thou long- | 
eſt to have Chriſt, the eternal Wiſdom of 
God, enter into thy Soul. For as theſe young 
Men were made more beautiful by their ſo- 
her and abſtemiaus Life, ſatisfying Nature 
with Pulſe and Water; ſo be thou firmly 
perſwaded, that thy Soul will be more fair 
and beautiful in God's Eyes, even ſo as to 
be Partaker of the divine Nature it ſelf, if 


thou doſt but eſcape the Corruption that is 2 Pet. i. 4. 


in the World through Laſt. 2 

$. 5- Conſider the Example of St. Paul, 7, bft

~94 words

the Man, into whoſe 

| Heart ſo divine a Grace is infuſed, as may 
wholly withdraw it from theſe inferior Things, 
from worldly Honours and Riches, Luſts and 
Pleaſures; an exalt it again to the ſuper- 
nal Light and Glory in Heaven: This muſt 
be obtained by daily Prayers and Supplica- 
tions, ſince 1t is not poſlible for a true Chri- 
{tian to live without them 
Prov. xxx. J. S. 7- When Agur prayed to the Lord, 
Twofold Ex- he was graciouſly pleaſed to hear him. Two 
erciſ: of a things, ſays he, I deſire of thee, O deny them 
Chriſtian. not before Idie. Give me neither Riches nor Poverty; 
but feed me with the Food of my Allowance. Even 
ſo let a Chriſtian pray in like manner : Two 
Things I deſire of thee, O Lord, even theſe F 
© Two: That I may die to my Self, and to cov 
© the World: Since without theſe Two it is 
© utterly impoſſible for me to live, or to be 
ea true ' Chriſtian.” If thou thinkeſt other- app 
wiſe, thou doſt certainly deceive thy ſelf, by 
5 and thou ſhalt hear at laſt from the Month 
Matt. vii. 23. f Chriſt this dreadful Sentence: I know I Ma 
xxv. 12. You not. But, ; 
§. 8. Notwithſtanding it be a grievous ſl h 


A ſpiritual

~376 words

ſo the Image of God, defaced. by Sin, and 

deſtroyed in Man, might by his Spirit be re- 

vived, and that Man might become again the 

Temple and Houſe of God to all Ererflity y. 

FS. 17. Now this being duly conſidered, The Madneſs 

as certainly it onght to be; why ſhould then of Man not 

a Man debaſe his Soul under the Things of be purſue the 

this World, Honours and Pleaſures, Luſts End ef his 

and Riches? This truly would prove a done © oe 

Madneſs. He ſhould rather reaſon with him- _ 

ſelf in this manner: © Surely, ſhall 1 give my 

Soul, which Chriſt hath ſo dearly bought, 

for an handful of Gold and Silver, for this 

fading World, or. for the Honour and Pleas 

* ſure which it can afford me? No; God for- 

* bid! For what would this be, than to 

* caſt Jewels into the Mire, and Pearls be- 

pl fore the Swine, for them to trample War: =; 

* their Feet? This is alſo the Mind of the Matt. vii. 6. 

Lord, when he faith: What is a Man profit. 

ed, if he ſhall gain the whole World; and loſe vi. 264 

vis own Soul ? Or what ſhall a Man give in 5 
VVV Exchange 


— 


2 


ot Of Contempt of the Wild, Crray, NIV. 


Exchange or bis Soul? The whole World, 
alas! with all the Power and Glory thereof 
cannot fo much as ſave one Soul from eter. 
nal Deſtruction : Since the Soul is Immor. 
tal; but the World cond away, and al 
that is in it. on 


* : . * 4 4 —— 


- * « 
— — . | 1 
q . " ; : GS LE a 


CHAP. xIV. 


The true Chriſtian” 8 Hatred of hig 
own Life, and Contempt of the World, 
85 according to the wage phe of Chriſt. 


Luke XIV. 26. 


77 any . come to me, and hate not hi 
Father, and Mother, and Wife, ana Chil- 
dren, aud Brethren, and Siſters, yea, and 
72 own Life alſo, he cannot be my Diſ- 
ciple. 

Joh. XII. 25. He that loveth his Life, ſal 

loſe it; and he that hateth his Lum thus 
 Warla, ſhall 2 6 it unto 60 eternal. 


| re er -H A T a Man may thus hare himſelf, it 
e Self. Denial will be needful that, in the firſt Place, 


he Wee to love himſelf. Secondly, That he dai- 
ly die unto Sin: And, Thirdly, That he main- 
tain a aaily Combat with himſelf, or 4 
_ continual Warfare with his Fleſh or ani- 
mal Nature. 


Se!f-Love the F. 2. Firſt, There is nothing upon the 


ſoſt Enemy of whole Earth more pernicious to a Man, and 


le Sul. nothing a greater Obſtruction to his eternal 


Salvation, than to love himſelf. This is not 
_ 


Book I. - Of Contempt of the World. 


to be underſtood of that natural Love, where- 


by a Man takes due Care of his Preſervati- 
on; but only of that carnal and inordinate 
Love, or Affection, which maketh a Man 
wholly concerned about himſelf, without any 


Regard to the ſupreme Being and Author of 


Life. 


bimſelf, is an Idolater, and maketh himſelf a 
Cod. Whatever a Man loveth, in that his 


Heart doth reſt and rejoice. He is brought 


thereby into Bondage, whatever it be, and 
is devoted tO it- Man 1n this State 1s become 


a Servant, and is deprived of his genuine Li- 
berty, wherein he. was created at firſt. In

~404 words

is not grounded upon God! How doth it va- 

niſh away of a ſadden, without any com- 
fortable Effect left dehind it? Upon the 


whole, remember this Word: 'Forſake all Thing 


and then Fane thou, by Faith, find all Things * 
92 


Jain. 


elated in its ſelf, and catches the Applauſe 


Ns 


Boox I, Of Contempt of the World. 

For no Lover of himſelf and of the 
RA,, eur find God ²·rãůaꝛ ͥ ͥͤͤ iid 
F. 7. All inordinate Self-love is begotten Self-Love 
of the World, and not of God: It is earth- the greateſt 
ly, and the chief Enemy to the true and Olſtace to 
heavenly Wiſdom. This Wiſdom doth not *7#* Man. 
ſeek the Applauſe and Praiſes of Men. And 
though it be in it ſelf a precious Pearl, yet 
appearing every where in its native Simpli- 
city, without Art and Study, it is but little 
made of in the World, and is almoſt ſunk 
into Oblivion. And therefore, though many 
boaſt and make a great Noiſe of this Wiſ- 
dom, yet doth this heavenly Jewel conceal it 
ſelf from us, whilſt in our Life and Manners 
we are alienated from it. But if thou wilt 
poſſeſs thy ſelf of it, O Man! then lay a- 5 N 
fide all humane Wiſdom, which pufleth up, 1 
together with all  Self- Applauſe, and Self- N 
Love. It is then thou exchangeſt this human #1 
and earthly Wiſdom, which the World ad- N 
mireth, for a divine and celeſtial one. In- 
ſtead of the Wiſdom of this World, which is 


101 


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of Men, thou haſt a Wiſdom heſtowed vp- 
on thee, which is ſo far from making a Fi- 
gure in the World, that it is deſpiſed by 
it, and caſt away; which however is of 3 
divine Pedigree, and of an eternal Duration. 
F. 8. But it is impoſſible to love God, un- Th 2» 
leſs thou hate firſt thy ſelf; that is, unleſs e ν fe 
thou be ſincerely diſpleaſed with thy ſelf and in Gd. 
thy Sins; unleſs thou crucifieſt thy own 
Fleſh, and the corrupt Propenſions of Self- ill: 
For how much more a Man endeavours to 
love God, ſo much more doth he ſtrive to 
ſubdue the Luſt of the Fleſh, and his own 
ſenſual Appetite. Again: The further thou 
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102 


* 


Of Contempt of the World. Chap. XIV, 


the Power of the good Spirit of God; ſo 


much the nearer doſt thou by Faith approach 


unto God, and to his divine Love. For ay 


the inward Peace doth much depend on 


Leiſure and Emptineſs from the Deſires of 


the Things of the World ; ſo when this 


Peace is once eſtabliſhed within, and the 


Chiſt the 
May, the 


Truth, and 


tbe Life. 


Heart got looſe from the Ties to the Crea- 


ture, it doth then freely return into God, 
, 
S. 9. Whoever is now ſincerely diſpoſed 


to deny himſelf, muſt certainly not follow 


his own Will, but the Will of Chriſt. I an, 


Joh. ir, 6. faith

~161 words

not fight under his Banner? 


"Tis true, every one will now be counted 
a Chriſtian, and expects to be ſaved by Chriſt's 
Death: But how few are there that do imi- 
fate his Lite and Manners? If a Chriſtian's 


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104 


Of Contempt of the World. Cap. XIV. 


Character was, that he ſhould lay out for 


great Eſtates and Honours, our Lord had 
never commanded him freely to bear his Loſs 


for the ſake of an eternal and ſovereign 


Good. Do but behold the Life and Doctrine 
of Chriſt, and thou ſhalt own that there is 
nothing more unlike than the World and He. 
Behold that Manger, that Stable, thoſe Swad- 
ling-Cloaths! Are not they a lively Mirror 
of the Contempt of worldly Things? And 


can any one ſay, that his Example will draw 
thee off from the right Way? No indeed! 


His Life compared with his Doctrine, is the 


only Means to bring thee into the right 
Way, and to guard thee againſt the Delu- 


ſions and Errors of this World. Therefore 


That Chriſt's. 


he hath declared himſelf, that he is both the 
Way and the Truth. „ 


& 12. If then the Lord bath choſe to en- 


Doctrine and ter into his Glory by the Way of Contempt 
Ex amplemuſt and Reproaches, why ſhouldſt thou attempt to 


of be ſe para- make thy Way to Hell by worldly Pomp 


and Vanity? Return therefore, O deluded 


Soul, and