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…

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, Rom. 8▪ 2.¹ The law of the spirit of life hath made me free from sin and death: look to the word daily, set up the […] of ⟨p. 64⟩the spirit of life in thy heart, and it will free thee from the law of sin and death; as now in conference, in reproving of sin, a man would have his parts seen, but set up a command; reprove, and do all in virtue of that, that Self may shake his ears and be gone, Gal. 5.16.² Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Many times the Saints are much perplexed, because that self presseth into duties, that they are weary of the work; they cannot pray, but pride presseth in upon them, though Self stir, yet fetch a command against it; attend not to the stir of distemper, but take a command. If there be a flaw in the Evidence of a mans land, he will keep his land still, but he will mend his title; so if Self carry thee to duty, keep duty still, but mend thy tenure. John 4.44.³ The woman of Samaria comes into the City, and tells of Christ; now that was an occasion to them to hear Christ, but their faith was set upon the word of our Saviour: so go to the truth, and take up duty, not because Self eggs, but because God commands. Look how high an action begins, so high it will end: let Gods command rule us, and it will be to his glory.