Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

3. The denial of Self includes all that in the order of Nature belongs to us: Life, and all the Supports, the Comforts, the Ornaments and Endearments of it; the sweetest Relations, Father and Mother, Brother and Sister, Wife and Children, the richest Possessions, Houses and Land, must be always parted with, in the Preparations of our ⟨p. 246⟩Heart, and Resolutions of our Wills, and actually, rather than desert our Duty. Such a Supremacy of Affection is required by our Saviour, that suspends the Operation of our Love upon all inferior things, when they are in Competition with his Interest and Glory. This Command binds all without exemption: therefore he directs his Followers to be armed with Expectation of hard Entertainment in the World. Now this Precept seems so severe to carnal Men, that no Motives can reconcile their Affections to it. If they are spoiled of the Advantages, and deprived of the Pleasures of this World, they are ready to complain as Micah to them who robbed him of his Image and Teraphim, You take away my Gods. As if the Son of God were such a poor or illiberal Rewarder, either defective in Power or Love, that they should be Losers for his sake.

3. The denial of Self includes all that in the order of Nature belongs to us: Life, and all the Supports, the Comforts, the Ornaments and Endearments of it; the sweetest Relations, Father and Mother, Brother and Sister, Wife and Children, the richest Possessions, Houses and Land, must be always parted with, in the Preparations of our ⟨p. 246⟩Heart, and Resolutions of our Wills, and actually, rather than desert our Duty. Such a Supremacy of Affection is required by our Saviour, that suspends the Operation of our Love upon all inferior things, when they are in Competition with his Interest and Glory. This Command binds all without exemption: therefore he directs his Followers to be arm'd with Expectation of hard Entertainment in the World. Now this Precept seems so severe to carnal Men, that no Motives can reconcile their Affections to it. If they are spoiled of the Advantages, and deprived of the Pleasures of this World, they are ready to complain as Micah to them who robb'd him of his Image and Teraphim, You take away my Gods. As if the Son of God were such a poor or illiberal Rewarder, either defective in Power or Love, that they should be Losers for his sake.