A03599:242
The Christians two chief lessons viz. self-denial, and self-trial. As also the privilege of…The Christians tvvo chiefe lessons viz. selfe-deniall, and selfe-tryall. As also the priviledge of…
The Christians two chief lessons viz. self-denial, and self-trial. As also the privilege of adoption and trial thereof. In three treatises on the texts following: viz. Matt. 16.24. 2 Cor. 13.5. John 1.12,13. By T.H.The Christians tvvo chiefe lessons viz. selfe-deniall, and selfe-tryall. As also the priviledge of adoption and triall thereof. In three treatises on the texts following: viz. Matt. 16.24. 2 Cor. 13.5. Iohn 1.12,13. By T.H.
London: printed by T. Badger for P. Stephens and C. Meredith, 1640
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4 The fourth note is most pregnant. See if thou be content to give up all to Christ, give money, parts, profits, and praise, and let Christ do what he will with them; art thou content to resign up all into his hands, if Christ may be honoured with any thing of them? art thou content to loose it? then hast thou denied Self: if the heart resolves to let Christ alone with them, I have nothing to do with any, then let Christ take life and parts, and whatsoever it be to procure his honour and praise: ⟨p. 57⟩nay, a self-denying heart is content Christ should take away his corruptions, and counts it a great blessing too. The soul hath nothing to do with Prosperity and Liberty, therefore submits and obeys Christ, Acts 2.45.1 All those (saith the Text) that were to profess Christ, sold all, and none had any thing of his own: so let that be the frame of thy heart, sell all, and say, I have no honour, liberty, or ease, but I give all to Christ, and let him do what he will with them. In time of persecution, say liberty is not mine, let Christ dispose of all, this is a heart worth gold. But when thou hast some reservations, I will profess Christ, but he shall yield to me in this, to give me life; this I will not part with in any case; this heart never denied Self. Therefore let us do as Mephi••sheth, Let him take all, sith my Lord the King is returned in peace; 2 Sam. 19.30.2 so is it here, if carnal reasoning be parting stakes with Christ, no, saith the soul, let him take all, sith God is mine in Christ. Lay now your hearts to this touchstone: dost thou find these? then thou art grounded on a good foundation; thou mayest be shaken, but shalt not be overthrown, but if in examination and trial, thou canst not find all these in thee; thou art a coloured hypocrite, varnished over for a while, but it will not hold, and in the end, thou and thy profession will vanish like smoke. Christ will purge thee of this Self, or else he will never do good to thee.