Rule 4. In every action let God be uppermost; but in religious Actions let God be all. Let none of your actions terminate in your selves, but labour to be able in sincerity to give this account of any thing you set about, that this you do because it is pleasing unto God, because this is his will concerning you. Set a mark upon this Caution. Beware in those Actions wherein self may bear a part, lest it should sweep Stakes and carry all. You may in your common actions have an eye to your outward commodity, and comfortable being in the world: but this must not be the chief thing much less the all that you design herein: for by looking no higher then self you incur this double mischief. 1. You lose so much from your own account. 2. You usurp upon the great Prerogatives of God. I fear we are not aware of the fearful evil that is in self-seeking; It is no less then jostling God beside the Throne, and setting our selves in his room. It is Gods great Prerogative, and the proper Worship that is due to him as God, that he should be the last end of all the operations of us his Creatures, and that all our motions should terminate in him. Now when we eye our own commodity and not God; or look to this more then unto God, we arrogate the divine Prerogative to our selves, and set our selves above him, which is no less then heinous Idolatry: And if it be such a heinous sin to bow down to an Image, which is but the giving Gods outward worship to the Creature, ⟨p. 54⟩how much more to seek and honour our selves before God? which is to give his inward worship, which of all is the principal, to the Creature. Oh how many that pass for good Christians will be found heinous Idolaters! because they have sought their own carnal ends more then God and his glory. And many real Christians, though they mainly design God and his glory, yet in many particular actions contract great guilt by looking no higher then themselves in what they do. I know you cannot be always thinking of God: yet I would have you never to forget what you have been taught, In the entrance of every solemn action to remember God and make him your end, Lie down in the Name of God every Evening: Go forth in his Name every Morning, resolving to undertake all for him. When you enter upon your Callings, sit down to your Meals, make any Journey, or visit, do it as unto the Lord, with a design to please him therein.
Rule 4. In every action let God be uppermost; but in religious Actions let God be all. Let none of your actions terminate in your selves, but labour to be able in sincerity to give this account of any thing you set about, that this you do because it is pleasing unto God, because this is his will concerning you. Set a mark upon this Caution. Beware in those Actions wherein self may bear a part, lest it should sweep Stakes and carry all. You may in your common actions have an eye to your outward commodity, and comfortable being in the world: but this must not be the chief thing much less the all that you design herein: for by looking no higher then self you incur this double mischief. 1. You lose so much from your own account. 2. You usurp upon the great Prerogatives of God. I fear we are not aware of the fearful evil that is in self-seeking; It is no less then justling God beside the Throne, and setting our selves in his room. It is Gods great Prerogative, and the proper Worship that is due to him as God, that he should be the last end of all the operations of us his Creatures, and that all our motions should terminate in him. Now when we eye our own commodity and not God; or look to this more then unto God, we arrogate the divine Prerogative to our selves, and set our selves above him, which is no less then hainous Idolatry: And if it be such a hainous sin to bow down to an Image, which is but the giving Gods outward worship to the Creature, ⟨p. 54⟩how much more to seek and honour our selves before God? which is to give his inward worship, which of all is the principal, to the Creature. Oh how many that pass for good Christians will be found heinous Idolaters! because they have sought their own carnal ends more then God and his glory. And many real Christians, though they mainly design God and his glory, yet in many particular actions contract great guilt by looking no higher then themselves in what they do. I know you cannot be alwayes thinking of God: yet I would have you never to forget what you have been taught, In the entrance of every solemn action to remember God and make him your end, Lie down in the Name of God every Evening: Go forth in his Name every Morning, resolving to undertake all for him. When you enter upon your Callings, sit down to your Meals, make any Journey, or visit, do it as unto the Lord, with a design to please him therein.
