When therefore this is considered by a man, then he will say, I will be content to deny my self, and seek the LORD, when my self comes into competition with any commandment of his. And let not this seem strange to you, that the best way to make a mans self happy, is to resign up himself to the ⟨p. 146⟩utmost to glorify God. You see in common experience that take a Corn that is fallen into the ground: if it continue whole, it perisheth; but if it die, it brings forth an hundred fold. 1 Cor. 15. 36. That which thou sowest, says the Apostle, is not quickened, 1except it dye. The Apostle there speaks it of the resurrection: but we may truly apply it to the resurrection 2of a sinner here; that except a man die, that is, be willing to let all he hath go, and to expose himself to what the Lord shall put upon him, that he perisheth indeed; but if he die, then he is quickened, he shall be a gainer by it; even in this life he shall have an hundred fold. And when this is considered of throughly by a man, he will easily seek Gods face with neglect of himself. And that thus when ever a man suffers any thing for a good conscience in obedience to God, it is the best way to provide for himself; that this I say, is not a mere notion, may appear by comparing those places together; the first where it is said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self, and thou shalt love God above all, even above thy self; and with it also that other, Deut. 10. 13, 14. Thou shalt keep the Commandments of the Lord, which I command thee for thy good. 3Now put both together: this is Gods commandment, to love God above thy self; and all the Commandments are given for thy wealth, for thy good, therefore this amongst the rest. And therefore denying our selves, when God and our selves come in to competition, is the best way to provide for our selves: therefore set it down for a conclusion, that to have God alone, and to seek his face ⟨p. 147⟩thus, is your happiness. The end of every thing is the perfection of it; now God is the end of the creature, and therefore to get him, is to get thy perfection and happiness. Again, we have all from him, as the branch hath all from the root; and therefore as the way for the branch to keep life in it self, is to keep close to the root; and when it is broken off it dies, so we so long as we cleave to and seek the Lord, we are preserved.
When therefore this is considered by a man, then he will say, I will be content to deny my selfe, and seeke the LORD, when my selfe comes into competition with any commandement of his. And let not this seeme strange to you, that the best way to make a mans selfe happy, is to resigne up himselfe to the ⟨p. 146⟩utmost to glorify God. You see in common experience that take a Corne that is fallen into the ground: if it continue whole, it perisheth; but if it die, it brings forth an hundred fold. 1 Cor. 15. 36. That which thou sowest, says the Apostle, is not quickened, 1except it dye. The Apostle there speakes it of the resurrection: but we may truly apply it to the resurrection 2of a sinner here; that except a man die, that is, be willing to let all hee hath goe, and to expose himselfe to what the Lord shall put upon him, that he perisheth indeed; but if he die, then he is quickned, he shall be a gainer by it; even in this life he shall have an hundred fold. And when this is considered of throughly by a man, he will easily seeke Gods face with neglect of himselfe. And that thus when ever a man suffers any thing for a good conscience in obedience to God, it is the best way to provide for himself; that this I say, is not a mere notion, may appeare by comparing those places together; the first where it is said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe, and thou shalt love God above all, even above thy selfe; and with it also that other, Deut. 10. 13, 14. Thou shalt keepe the Commandements of the Lord, which I command thee for thy good. 3Now put both together: this is Gods commandement, to love God above thy selfe; and all the Commandements are given for thy wealth, for thy good, therefore this amongst the rest. And therefore denying our selves, when God and our selves come in to competition, is the best way to provide for our selves: therefore set it downe for a conclusion, that to have God alone, and to seeke his face ⟨p. 147⟩thus, is your happinesse. The end of every thing is the perfection of it; now God is the end of the creature, and therefore to get him, is to get thy perfection and happinesse. Againe, we have all from him, as the branch hath all from the root; and therefore as the way for the branch to keepe life in it selfe, is to keepe close to the root; and when it is broken off it dies, so we so long as we cleave to and seeke the Lord, we are preserved.
- 11 Cor. 15. 36
- 2Simile.
- 3Deut. 10. 13. 14.
