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…

1 A self-denying heart doth basely esteem of these base things: so much as you prize a thing, so much you are grieved for the loss of it; a woman that marvellously esteems her child, when she ⟨p. 88⟩loseth her child, she loseth her life: if men would esteem jewels as pebbles, the Jeweller would be no more grieved for the loss of them then for pebbles; so he that esteemeth his honour, (as the ambitious) his life, as the natural man, his honour and his life are his Gods; take away his God, and he sinks; but a self-denying heart placeth no worth in these; if riches be gone, there is but a shadow gone; if life be gone, there is but a bubble broken, Acts 20.24.¹ Paul counted not his life dear, as who should say, if he had counted his life dear, he had not finished his course with joy. A rich man cares not to lose six pence, so saith Paul, I count not my life dear: all men forsook Paul, save only the house of Onesiphorus, yet this troubled not Paul, because he had this self-denial.

1 A selfe-denying heart doth basely esteeme of these base things: so much as you prize a thing, so much you are grieved for the losse of it; a woman that marvellously esteemes her childe, when shee ⟨p. 88⟩loseth her childe, she loseth her life: if men would esteeme jewels as pebbles, the Ieweller would be no more grieved for the losse of them then for pebbles; so he that esteemeth his honour, (as the ambitious) his life, as the naturall man, his honour and his life are his Gods; take away his God, and he sinkes; but a selfe-denying heart placeth no worth in these; if riches be gone, there is but a shadow gone; if life be gone, there is but a bubble broken, Acts 20.24.¹ Paul counted not his life dear, as who should say, if he had counted his life dear, he had not finished his course with joy. A rich man cares not to lose sixe pence, so saith Paul, I count not my life deare: all men forsook Paul, save onely the house of Onesiphorus, yet this troubled not Paul, because he had this selfe-denyall.