Fifthly, It is also needful to deny our selves, our desires, lusts and affections; to make over all our interest in our lives, or whatsoever is dear unto us; inure our hearts calmly to the heat and opposition, though of dearest friends, and the reproaches and revilings of men though abject and vile. This our Saviour lays down as a fundamental principle, If any man will come after me, 1let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow ⟨p. 162⟩me. 2He that loveth Father or Mother more then me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth Son or Daughter more then me, 3is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. The necessity of this resolution he more fully sets out unto us in two parables, of a builder that must be able to count his cost and charges, and means to defray them, before he take that work in hand; otherwise to begin to build, being unable to make an end, were to lay the foundation of his disgrace, in the loss of his cost and pains: And a Prince, who before he undertake war, must have sure trial of his own ability and skill to discover his enemies strength, otherwise to bid him battle, were rashly to provoke an enemy to his own loss and danger.4 The conclusion of these inductions is this, So likewise, whosoever he be of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my Disciple. The Merchant that would purchase the pearl of price, must sell all that he hath to buy it; He must sell his sins, which is properly all we have of our own) and renounce his interest in the world, and whatsoever natural contentment he might promise himself in the things of this world. The meaning is not, that rich men must forgo their wealth, and betake themselves to voluntary poverty; for riches well used be great instruments of doing good: But they must cast the world out of their affections, and make over their interest in whatsoever is most dear unto them: they must prefer the kingdom of Heaven before the whole world, and therefore renounce both themselves, and all the desires of the flesh, that nothing may hinder the enjoying of so rich a treasure. Christ doth make love unto us, and by many fair, sweet and precious promises doth allure and entice us to embrace him, but will be received by way of Matrimonial covenant;
Fiftly, It is also needfull to denie our selues, our desires, lusts and affections; to make ouer all our interest in our liues, or whatsoeuer is deare vnto vs; inure our hearts calmely to the heate and opposition, though of dearest friends, and the reproaches and reuilings of men though abiect and vile. This our Sauiour layes downe as a fundamentall principle, If any man will come after me, 1let him denie himselfe, and take vp his crosse, and follow ⟨p. 162⟩me. 2He that loueth Father or Mother more then mee, is not worthy of me: and he that loueth Sonne or Daught•r more then me, 3is not worthy of me. And hee that taketh not his crosse, and followeth after mee, is not worthy of mee. The necessitie of this resolution hee more fully sets out vnto vs in two parables, of a builder that must be able to count his cost and charges, and meanes to defray them, before hee take that worke in hand; otherwise to begin to build, being vnable to make an end, were to lay the foundation of his disgrace, in the losse of his cost and paines: And a Prince, who before he vndertake warre, must haue sure triall of his owne abilitie and skill to discouer his enemies strength, otherwise to bid him battaile, were rashly to prouoke an enemie to his owne losse and danger.4 The conclusion of these inductions is this, So likewise, whosoeuer hee bee of you, that forsaketh not all that hee hath, hee cannot be my Disciple. The Merchant that would purchase the pearle of price, must sell all that he hath to buy it; Hee must sell his sinnes, which is properly all wee haue of our owne) and renounce his interest in the world, and whatsoeuer naturall contentment hee might promise himselfe in the things of this world. The meaning is not, that rich men must forgoe their wealth, and betake themselues to voluntarie pouertie; for riches well vsed be great instruments of doing good: But they must cast the world out of their affections, and make ouer their interest in whatsoeuer is most deare vnto them: they must preferre the kingdome of Heauen before the whole world, and therefore renounce both themselues, and all the desires of the flesh, that nothing may hinder the enioying of so rich a treasure. Christ doth make loue vnto vs, and by many faire, sweet and precious promises doth allure and intice vs to embrace him, but will bee receiued by way of Matrimoniall couenant;
- 1Math. 16.24.
- 2Math. 10.37, 38
- 3Luke 14.25.
- 4Luke 14.33. Mat. 13.44, 45.
