Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Fourthly, After all this the holy spirit doth so far press in the holy light, as to work a denial of a mans self and his lusts in some measure. I say, in some measure, for without some measure of self-denial, a man will never resign up himself to God and Christ. Thus our Saviour, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, Mat. 16.24. first deny himself, and then go to Christ: and again, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, Mat. 11.28. first be weary of sin, and then go to Christ; no man can serve two Masters, ⟨p. 75⟩he that will follow Christ, must do as Peter and Andrew did, leave his nets, all the entangling lusts of his heart, and so follow him. Whilst a man sits at the receipt of custom, driving on a trade of sin, he cannot follow him. First, he must with Matthew rise up from thence, and then he may follow him. Also I say in some measure, for the self-denial before precious faith, must be distinguished from the self-denial after it: self-denial before faith is wrought in us by the holy spirit, making impressions and darting in light into the heart in a transient way: self-denial after faith is wrought in us by the holy spirit, dwelling in the heart by faith, and acting therein as an abiding principle of all grace. Before faith, it is in a far lesser measure and degree, after faith it grows up to a full stature: before faith it doth in some sort cast off the sovereignty of sin, the soul no longer chooses to live under its dominion, but looking upon it as cruel bondage, casts off its allegiance: after faith it strikes at the very life of sin, in the work of mortification. What is said of the beasts in Daniel, their dominion was taken away, and yet their lives were prolonged, Dan. 7.12. the same may be said of sin, first it loses its crown and then its life. The holy spirit in the first measure of self-denial, doth as it were dethrone sin in order to resignation; and in the after-measure thereof, it mortifies and nails it to the cross, there to dye and expire. Now this measure of self-denial, which precedes resignation, stands in divers things.

Fourthly, After all this the holy spirit doth so far press in the holy light, as to work a denial of a mans self and his lusts in some measure. I say, in some measure, for without some measure of selfdenial, a man will never resign up himself to God and Christ. Thus our Saviour, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,