But when Grace teacheth them to deny themselves, it strippeth them naked of all that they seemed Proprietors of; and maketh them confess that nothing is their own, but all is Gods; and to God they do devote it, and use it for him, and give him his own: which the first Christians signified by selling all, and laying at the Apostles feet. And therefore he asketh God what he shall do with it, and how he shall use it; and if God take it from him, he can bless the name of the Lord with Job, Job 1. 21. as knowing he taketh but his own: and can say with Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3. 18. He knows that God may do with his own as he list. Mat. 20. 15. and that he can have nothing but of his bounty; and therefore that it is his Mercy that leaveth him any thing; but it were no wrong to him if he took away all. And thus he understandeth that he is but a Steward, and therefore must use all that he hath for him that he received it from. If he have Children, his desire is to know which way they may be most serviceable to God: and to that he will devote them. If he have Wealth, or Honour, and Power among men, his care is to know which way he may employ them for his Masters use, and so he will employ them. If he have Wit and Learning, his care is to serve God by it. If he have strength and time, he is thinking which way to improve them for his Lord. And if vain Companions, or the World, or fleshly Delights would draw him to lay them out for them, he remembers that this were to waste his Masters stock upon his enemies. So that though the sanctified man hath all things, yet he knows that he hath nothing. All things are his as Gods Steward: but ⟨p. 10⟩nothing is properly and ultimately his own. All things are his for God; but nothing is his for his Carnal-self, nor ultimately for his personal or natural self. Upon this ground he gives the Devil, the World, and the Flesh a Denial, when they would have his Time, his Tongue, his Wit, his Wealth, or any thing that he possesseth: he telleth them [They are none of mine, but God's: I received them, and I must be accountable for them. I had them not from you, and therefore I may not use them for you: I must give to God the things that are God's: that which is yours I will readily yield you. Justice requireth that every one have his own.]
But when Grace teacheth them to deny themselves, it strippeth them naked of all that they seemed Proprietors of; and maketh them confess that nothing is their own, but all is Gods; and to God they do devote it, and use it for him, and give him his own: which the first Christians signified by selling all, and laying at the Apostles feet. And therefore he asketh God what he shall do with it, and how he shall use it; and if God take it from him, he can bless the name of the Lord with Job, Job 1. 21. as knowing he taketh but his own: and can say with Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3. 18. He knows that God may do with his own as he list. Mat. 20. 15. and that he can have nothing but of his bounty; and therefore that it is his Mercy that leaveth him any thing; but it were no wrong to him if he took away all. And thus he understandeth that he is but a Steward, and therefore must use all that he hath for him that he received it from. If he have Children, his desire is to know which way they may be most serviceable to God: and to that he will devote them. If he have Wealth, or Honour, and Power among men, his care is to know which way he may employ them for his Masters use, and so he will imploy them. If he have Wit and Learning, his care is to serve God by it. If he have strength and time, he is thinking which way to improve them for his Lord. And if vain Companions, or the World, or fleshly Delights would draw him to lay them out for them, he remembers that this were to waste his Masters stock upon his enemies. So that though the sanctified man hath all things, yet he knows that he hath nothing. All things are his as Gods Steward: but ⟨p. 10⟩nothing is properly and ultimately his own. All things are his for God; but nothing is his for his Carnal-self, nor ultimately for his personal or natural self. Upon this ground he gives the Devil, the World, and the Flesh a Denyal, when they would have his Time, his Tongue, his Wit, his Wealth, or any thing that he possesseth: he telleth them [They are none of mine, but God's: I received them, and I must be accountable for them. I had them not from you, and therefore I may not use them for you: I must give to God the things that are God's: that which is yours I will readily yield you. Justice requireth that every one have his own.]
