The monster of sinful self-seeking, anatomized together with a description of the heavenly and…The monster of sinful self-seeking, anatomizd together with a description of the heavenly and…

3. When a man seeks his own things, and the things of Christ also, but seeks his own things, chiefly and principally, not only before, but more then the things of Christ, and that both in his value and esteem, and in his love and affection. When a man prizeth his own profit and preferment, and loveth his own praise and glory more than the profit, praise and honour of Christ and his Gospel. Such were the Gadarenes, who preferred their Hogs before Christ. Such were the Merchants and Farmers, Mat. 21. 3. who made light of the call of Christ, and preferred their Farms and Merchandizing before Christ and his Gospel. Such was Demas, who forsook Paul and embraced the present world, and such were the Pharisees, John 12. 43. Who loved the praise of Men, more than the praise of God.

3. When a man seeks his owne things, and the things of Christ also, but seeks his own things, chiefly and principally, not onely before, but more then the things of Christ, and that both in his value and esteem, and in his love and affection. When a man prizeth his owne profit and preferment, and loveth his owne praise and glory more than the profit, praise and honour of Christ and his Gospel. Such were the Gaderens, who preferred their Hogges before Christ. Such were the Merchants and Farmers, Mat. 21. 3. who made light of the call of Christ, and preferred their Farmes and Merchandizing before Christ and his Gospel. Such was Demas, who forsook Paul and embraced the present world, and such were the Pharisees, John 12. 43. Who loved the praise of Men, more than the praise of God.

4. When a Christian seeks his own things in seeking the things of Christ, when he pretends to seek the things of Christ, and yet intends no such thing, but seeks himself even under colour of seeking the things of Christ. Such a one was Jehu, who pretended a great deal of zeal for the Lord of Hosts. Come (said he to Jonadab) and behold my zeal, &c. but he did but pretend a zeal for God, his zeal was to purchase the Kingdom to himself. Such a one was Balaam, who pretended that if he had a house full of Gold and Silver offered him, he would not go beyond the Commandment of God, and yet notwithstanding he did but counterfeit, for he loved the wages of iniquity, and was mad after the preferments that Balac proffered him. Such another was Demetrius the Silver-Smith, who pretended a zeal to the great Goddess Diana, and therefore caused an uproar against Paul to defend the Goddess, but it was the gain he got by making Shrines for Diana, that was the principle that set him on work, he pretended Diana, but intended himself, he had dolum in idolo, as one saith.