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…

He that loves the public good more than his own private ¹good, that seeks the prosperity of Zion and Jerusalem, of Church and State more than his own, is a Divine self-seeker. Oh that this word were mingled with Faith! A man that is in danger ⟨p. 12⟩to have his head cut off, will willingly (even out of self-love) lift up his arm and suffer it to be cut off to save his head, because his life is more in his head than in his arm. Our safety is more wrapped up in the public welfare, than in our private, and therefore they who prefer the public, before the private, are the truest self-seekers. Thus did Old Ely, he mourned more for the loss of the Ark•, than of his two Sons. Thus also did David, Psa 137. 6. He preferred Jerusalem above his chief joy, In a storm at Sea, he that seeks the preservation of the Ship, seeks most the preservation of his own Trunk, for if the Ship be drowned, his Trunk cannot be saved. The truth is, if the Church and the true Religion be destroyed, to what purpose is it for a godly man to live? I read of Titus Vespasian, that when the Soldiers had destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem, they came to him and asked him, what they should do with the Priests that did supervive? Kill them (said he) for now their work is at an end. When Religion is destroyed, what will it advantage a godly man to live? therefore they that seek the good of the Church, more than their own, are blessed self-seekers.

He that loves the publique good more than his owne private ¹good, that seeks the prosperity of Sion and Jerusalem, of Church and State more than his owne, is a Divine selfe-seeker. Oh that this word were mingled with Faith! A man that is in danger ⟨p. 12⟩to have his head cut off, will willingly (even out of selfe-love) lift up his arme and suffer it to be cut off to save his head, because his life is more in his head than in his arme. Our safety is more wrapt up in the publique welfare, than in our private, and therefore they who preferre the publique, before the private, are the truest selfe-seekers. Thus did Old Ely, he mourned more for the losse of the Ark, than of his two Sons. Thus also did David, Psa 137. 6. He preferred Jerusalem above his chiefe joy, In a storme at Sea, he that seeks the preservation of the Ship, seeks most the preservation of his own Trunk, for if the Ship be drowned, his Trunk cannot be saved. The truth is, if the Church and the true Religion be destroyed, to what purpose is it for a godly man to live? I read of Titus Vespasian, that when the Souldiers had destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem, they came to him and asked him, what they should doe with the Priests that did supervive? Kill them (said he) for now their worke is at an end. When Religion is destroyed, what will it advantage a godly man to live? therefore they that seek the good of the Church, more than their owne, are blessed selfe-seekers.