Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Close discourses of the Honour of God, and our duty to him are irksome, when men are upon a merry pin: They are like a damp in a Mine that takes away their breath; they shuffle them out as soon as they can, and are as unwilling to retain the-speech of them in their mouths, as the knowledge of them in their hearts. Gracious speeches, instead of bettering many men, distemper them, as sometimes sweet perfumes affect a weak head with aches.

3. As tis most contrary to self. Men are unwilling to acquaint themselves with any truth that leads to God, because it leads from self. Every part of the Will of God, is more or less displeasing, as it sounds harsh against some carnal interest men would set above God, or as a Mate with him. Man cannot desire any intimacy with that Law which he regards as a Bird of prey, to pick out his right eye or gnaw off his right hand, his lust dearer than himself. The reason we have such hard thoughts of Gods Will, is because we have such high thoughts of our selves. Tis a hard matter to Believe or Will that, which hath no affinity with some principle in the understanding, and no interest in our Will and Passions: Our unwillingness to be acquainted with the Will of God ariseth from the disproportion between that and our corrupt hearts, We are alienated from the life of God in our minds, Eph. 41 18, 19. As we live not like God, so we neither think, or Will as God: There is an antipathy in the heart of man against that Doctrine, which teaches us to deny our selves and be under the rule of another: But whatsoever favours the ambition, lusts, and profits of men, is easily entertainable. Many are fond of those Sciences, which may enrich their understandings, and grate not upon their sensual delights. Many have an admirable dexterity in finding out Philosophical reasons, Mathematical demonstrations, or raising observations upon the Records of History, and spend much time and many serious and affectionate thoughts in the study of them; In those they have not immediately to do with God, their beloved pleasures are not impaired: Tis a satisfaction to self without the exercise of any hostility against it. But had those Sciences been against self, as much as the Law and Will of God, they had long since been rooted out of the World. Why did the Young-man turn his back upon the Law of Christ? because of his worldly self: Why did the Pharisees mock at the Doctrine of our Saviour and not at their own traditions? because of Covetous self. Why did the Jews slight the person of our Saviour and put him to death, after the reading so many Credentials of his being sent from Heaven? because of ambitious self, that the Romans might not come and take away their Kingdom. If the Law of God were fitted to the humours of self, it would be readily and cordially observed by all men: