Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. Christ is to be followed in his great Self-denial. It had been a great Stoop in the Son of God; if his Deity had been veiled with the Nature of Angels: a greater Stoop, it would have been to be made Flesh; though he had been born of an Empress; and had been as glorious a Temporal Monarch, as the Jews fancied he would be. But this is exceedingly amazing to behold Him, that thought it no robbery to be equal with God, making himself of no reputation, and taking upon him the form of a Servant, Phil. 2.7. He did not abhor a poor Virgins Womb; nor afterwards to be laid in a Manger. And though he was Lord of all, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich; 2 Cor. 8.9. thus he pleased not himself. Rom. 15.3. neither did he seek himself and his own honour, but the honour and glory of him that sent him. Joh. 7.18.

How can he be a follower of Christ who is so utterly unlike him in being selfish? Our Lord knew the prevalency of self-love; and how opposite 'tis to the love of God, and care of the Soul: therefore he strictly requires Self-denial. Luk. 9.23. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, [Greek or Hebrew], seipsum abdicet, as Beza translates it. Self-abdication is called for; a man must have no regard to himself, to his own ends and inclinations; as they are opposite unto, and lead him away from God, and from his Duty. Oh, act as new Creatures, and as those that are not your former selves! seek not your own things. Let nothing be done through vain glory; be ever diffident, and jealous of your selves. Self is the Enemy that is always present; and most within us, and that has the greatest power to sway us: We are not our own, we are bought with a price; we should glorify the Lord that has bought us, as those that are Debtors, not to our selves, but of our selves to Him.