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. If the seeking of thine own things take away thy courage for Christ and his cause, and make thee come to Christ by ⟨p. 24⟩night, as Nicodemus did, and the more thou hast of the world, the less thou appearest for Christ and his Gospel; the more honours, the more fearful: If the preserving of thine own things make thee betray the things of Christ by sinful silence, or base cowardice, this is a sign thou preferrest thine own interest before the interest of Christ.

3. If the seeking of thine own things take away thy courage for Christ and his cause, and make thee come to Christ by ⟨p. 24⟩night, as Nichodemus did, and the more thou hast of the world, the lesse thou appearest for Christ and his Gospel; the more honours, the more fearfull: If the preserving of thine owne things make thee betray the things of Christ by sinfull silence, or base cowardise, this is a sign thou preferrest thine own interest before the interest of Christ.

4. If the seeking of thine own things make thee seek to find out excuses, and vain pretences, to hinder thee from appearing for Christ, this is a sign, &c, I read Luke 14 18. when the Servant was sent to fetch the Guests to the great Supper of the Gospel, they all with one consent, began to make excuse, &c. The times wherein we live, are very sinful and perilous: the Truths and Ministry of Christ are trampled under feet, Religion and Reformation neglected. Now God by us his Ambassadors, calls upon you to appear for his Truths, and for his Gospel ministry, and Gospel-ordinances. Meth nks I hear the Nobleman say, I have a great estate to lose, pray have me excused: I hear the rich Citizen say, I shall be utterly undone in my trading, pray have me excused: I hear the voluptuous Epicure say, I have married a wife, pray have me excused. Take it for a certain rule, If the seeking of these outward things puts thee upon excuses, thou seekest them sinfully: For if you look into the text forementioned, you will find that the excuses there made were