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…

Secondly, again, if we can deny our selves, God will not deny us, the time will come, we shall be ashamed of self-safety, when the time of persecution ⟨p. 63⟩approacheth, or when the day of death comes, and you are going the way of all flesh: where then is the glory and beauty of all that you expected? what now is become of your wit and policy that you doted upon? then all those parts and gifts, all that pride add stoutness, all will fail you, miserable comforters that they are: now the carnal wretch will say I prized life before Christ, now I must part from it; here now is all the comfort I can find in these, I may go to hell. It is just, God should deny us, if we deny him. God may say, go to those Gods whom you have honoured: go now to your Cups and Queans, and let them pacify your consciences: thus it is just God should deny us, because we have denied him, but if we deny our selves, God will not deny us.

Secondly, againe, if wee can deny our selves, God will not deny us, the time will come, we shall be ashamed of selfe-safety, when the time of persecution ⟨p. 63⟩approacheth, or when the day of death comes, and you are going the way of all flesh: where then is the glory and beauty of all that you expected? what now is become of your wit and policie that you doted upon? then all those parts and gifts, all that pride add stoutnesse, all will faile you, miserable comforters that they are: now the carnall wretch will say I prized life before Christ, now I must part from it; here now is all the comfort I can finde in these, I may goe to hell. It is just, God should deny us, if we deny him. God may say, goe to those Gods whom you have honoured: goe now to your Cups and Queanes, and let them pacifie your consciences: thus it is just God should deny us, because we have denyed him, but if we deny our selves, God will not deny us.

Means. 3 Thirdly, maintain in thy soul the authority of the truth: thou seest the evil of Self, and self-seeking, and the good of self-denial, then let the commandment of God be above thee, let that be the supreme over thy soul, and be moved in the power of this. There will be a God for ever in thy soul, and therefore set up the truth, and let that be the spring of thy actions, and this will crush all privy pride and secret corruptions: he that will free himself from being an hired servant, must hire himself: and it was the policy of David, he went to Achis, and then he thought himself free from Saul, so give up thy self to he command of God, so Saul and Self will not seek after thee, because there is a greater God there,