1But now it will be objected, how is it possible that a man should deny himself! In shunning sin may he not have an eye unto hell; and in walking the ways of God, may he have an eye to heaven? To this I answer that we deny not but that a man may love himself,2 §1for its impossible that he should do otherwise; for i•s impossible but that the will should be carried to that which is good, or apprehended to be good: and it is a sin for a man to hurt himself, it is a sin ⟨p. 17⟩for a man to kill himself, and every hurt is a degree to that, and God would not command that which is sinful,3 and again useth those as motives to seek salvation. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand; If you will come in behold here is a kingdom for you,4 fear not him that killeth the body, &c. The ways of wisdom are ways of pleasure:5 And lastly it §2is a plant that God himself hath planted in the hearts of men,6 and such plants as our heavenly father hath planted, no man ought to pluck up. This is the work of nature, and that which is opus naturae est opus authoris, naturae. ⟨p. 18⟩And grace doth not take away nature, gratia non tollit naturam, sed attollit, it doth not take it away but it reforms it; it doth not extinguish it, but sets it in order, it doth not dry up this stream, but turns it into the right channel, it doth not extirpate these plants, but as the horse rider takes not away the nature from the horse, but doth guide him: so it takes not the desire of nature away, but guides it aright; and if we do it in all desires of nature, we must needs do it in the chiefest desire, in the desire of salvation; but we would have a man to deny himself no further then the want ⟨p. 19⟩thereof doth hurt him. Now the way to hurt your selves, is to make your selves the end, but the way for a man to do good to himself, is not to follow his own will, nor to seek himself, but to seek God, when his will comes in opposition with any command of Gods: for that is the difference between a regenerate and an unregenerate man, the unregenerate man thinks his best way to get comfort, is to rely on himself and the creatures, not to seek it from God: but the regenerate man seeing the vanity of the creature, and the fullness of God, rejects these things and only ⟨p. 20⟩follows God, and serves with a willing heart and mind: Both seek their own good but a diverse way.
1But now it will bee objected, how is it possible that a man should deny himselfe! In shunning sin may he not have an eye unto hell; and in walking the wayes of God, may he have an eye to heaven? To this I answer that we deny not but that a man may love himselfe,2 §1for its impossible that he should do otherwise; for i•s impossible but that the will should bee carried to that which is good, or apprehended to be good: and it is a sinne for a man to hurt himselfe, it is a sinne ⟨p. 17⟩for a man to kill himselfe, and every hurt is a degree to that, and God would not command that which is sinfull,3 and againe useth those as motives to seeke salvation. Repent for the kingdome of God is at hand; If you will come in behold here is a kingdome for you,4 feare not him that killeth the body, &c. The wayes of wisedome are wayes of pleasure:5 And lastly it §2is a plant that God himselfe hath planted in the hearts of men,6 and such plants as our heavenly father hath planted, no man ought to plucke up. This is the worke of nature, and that which is opus naturae est opus authoris, naturae. ⟨p. 18⟩And grace doth not take away nature, gratia non tollit naturam, sed attollit, it doth not take it away but it reformes it; it doth not extinguish it, but sets it in order, it doth not dry up this streame, but turnes it into the right channell, it doth not extirpate these plants, but as the horse rider takes not away the nature frō the horse, but doth guide him: so it takes not the desire of nature away, but guides it aright; and if wee doe it in all desires of nature, wee must needs doe it in the chiefest desire, in the desire of salvation; but we would have a man to deny himselfe no further then the want ⟨p. 19⟩thereof doth hurt him. Now the way to hurt your selves, is to make your selves the end, but the way for a man to doe good to himselfe, is not to follow his owne will, nor to seeke himselfe, but to seeke God, when his will comes in opposition with any command of Gods: for that is the difference betweene a regenerate and an unregenerate man, the unregenerate man thinkes his best way to get comfort, is to rely on himselfe and the creatures, not to seeke it from God: but the regenerate man seeing the vanitie of the creature, and the fulnesse of God, rejects these things and onely
- 1Object.
- 2Answ.
- 3Matth 3.2.
- 4Matth. 10 28.
- 5Prov. 3.17.
- 6Matth. 15.13.
