The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

3. His wonderful contempt of all the Riches, and Greatness of the world, and all the pleasures of the flesh, and all the honour which is of man, which he showed in his taking the form of a servant, and making himself of no reputation, and living a mean inferior life: He came not to be served (or ministered to) but to serve: Not to live in state with abundance of attendants; with provisions for every turn and use, which pride, curiosity, ⟨p. 199⟩or carnal imagination, taketh for a conveniency, or a decency, no nor a necessity: But he came to be as a servant unto others; not as despising his liberty, but as exercising his voluntary humility and love: He that was Lord of all for our sakes, became poor to make us rich: He lived in lowliness and meekness: He submitted to the greatest scorn of sinners; and even to the false accusations and imputations of most odious sin in it self, Phil. 2.6, 7, 8, 9. Heb. 12.1, 2, 3. Matth. 26.55, 60, 61, 63, 66. & 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Matth. 11.29, 30. & 20.28. 2 Cor. 8.9. which was to teach us to see the vanity of the wealth and honours of the world, and to despise the Idol of the ungodly, and to lay that under our feet, which is nearest to their heart; and to be able without impatience, to be scorned, spit upon, buffeted and abused; to be poor, and of no reputation among men; and though not to enslave our selves to any (but if we can be free to use it rather, 1 Cor. 7.21.) yet to be the loving and voluntary servants of as many as we can to do them good; and not to desire to have a great retinue, and to be such voluntary burdens to the world, as to be served by many, while we serve none; as if we (who are taught by Christ and Nature, that it is more honourable to give than to receive, and to be helpful unto many, than to need the help of many) would declare our impotency to be so great, that (when every poor man can serve himself and others) we are (and had rather be) so indigent, as not to live and help our selves, without the help of many servants: yea scarce to undress and dress our selves, or to do any thing which another can do for us, Only such persons are willing to eat, and drink, and sleep for themselves, and to play, and laugh, and to sin for themselves;