Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

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.

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, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, 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 glorifie the Lord that has bought us, as those that are Debtors, not to our selves, but of our selves to Him.