Consider what opinion thou hast of thy self 1Every man that is regenerate, at his regeneration changeth his opinion of himself, as Saint Paul, 2Rom. 7. It is no longer I, but sin. Before he was Regenerate, sin was himself; but now there was a new Lord come into the house, that renewed-self, the Regenerate part; and that which before was wholly himself, he now speaks of as one crept in, as of an Inmate, that should not be there. Now if thou reckonest the Regenerate part thy self, then thou hast sought the Lords presence: for that part is thereby strengthened. The perfection of this self stands in conjunction with the Lord, and so ⟨p. 156⟩seeks him; if not, but thou accountest flesh in thee thy self, it is impossible thou shouldest seek God aright, for God and it are contraries: A regenerate man says, let me have God, and what ever I lose, whether life, liberty, yet my self is safe; he considers still chiefly, whether doth this tend to the safety of my self or no? and though he is content, and would have the outward man do well too; as if I have a fair house to dwell in, I would have it 3safe; yet if it be set on fire, it is no great matter, so long as my self is kept safe. Take a man who hath clothes on, if he can keep his clothes whole, it is well; but if they be rent, he cares not, so his body be safe; so where the regenerate part is The self, if the outward man can be kept safe, it is well, he had rather have it so; but however, so the regenerate part be safe, he cares not much; for he accounts it but as the renting of his clothes: but take another man, that as yet is no other then he was borne at first, into whom no new man is come to dwell, he thinks thus with himself, sure I must not destroy my self; I would keep a good conscience, but not so as to destroy my self; and it is impossible, that what a man reckons himself, he should suffer to be destroyed: therefore when discredit, imprisonment, &c. comes, all these are reckoned wounds given to himself, he lets God go to defend and save himself harmless. All this difference comes from the difference of opinion, that a man hath of what is himself.4
Consider what opinion thou hast of thy selfe 1Every man that is regenerate, at his regeneration changeth his opinion of himselfe, as Saint Paul, 2Rom. 7. It is no longer I, but sinne. Before he was Regenerate, sin was himselfe; but now there was a new Lord come into the house, that renewed-selfe, the Regenerate part; and that which before was wholly himselfe, he now speakes of as one crept in, as of an Inmate, that should not be there. Now if thou reckonest the Regenerate part thy selfe, then thou hast sought the Lords presence: for that part is thereby strengthened. The perfection of this selfe stands in conjunction with the Lord, and so ⟨p. 156⟩seekes him; if not, but thou accountest flesh in thee thy selfe, it is impossible thou shouldest seeke God aright, for God and it are contraries: A regenerate man sayes, let me have God, and what ever I lose, whether life, liberty, yet my selfe is safe; he considers still chiefly, whether doth this tend to the safety of my selfe or no? and though he is content, and would have the outward man doe well too; as if I have a faire house to dwell in, I would have it 3safe; yet if it be set on fire, it is no great matter, so long as my selfe is kept safe. Take a man who hath cloathes on, if he can keep his cloathes whole, it is well; but if they be rent, he cares not, so his bo dy be safe; so where the regenerate part is The selfe, if the outward man can be kept safe, it is well, he had rather have it so; but however, so the regenerate part be safe, he cares not much; for he accounts it but as the renting of his cloathes: but take another man, that as yet is no other then he was borne at first, into whom no new man is come to dwell, he thinkes thus with himselfe, sure I must not destroy my selfe; I would keepe a good conscience, but not so as to destroy my selfe; and it is impossible, that what a man reckons himselfe, he should suffer to be destroyed: therefore when discredit, imprisonment, &c. comes, all these are reckoned wounds given to himselfe, he lets God goe to defend and save himselfe harmelesse. All this difference comes from the difference of opinion, that a man hath of what is himselfe.4
- 1Rule 1.
- 2By our opinion of our selves. Rom. 7.
- 3Simile.
- 4Quest. How know to opinion of our selves.
