Now to make use of it, if this be a duty that lies upon every man not to seek his own things, but the things of 1Jesus Christ; what remains, but that you consider how you have kept this, and if you be failing in it, that you stir up your selves to do it in a better manner then you have done formerly. Let every man therefore ask this question with himself, have I sought the things of Jesus Christ? have I not many times sat still for my own ease, for my own safety, for my credit, and profit, when if I had stirred I might have done something for the advantage of Jesus Christ? And consider that our behaving of our selves after this manner is not only sinful, but it is very unreasonable, and disadvantageous for our selves: for the more we lose for Christ the more we gain; he• that will be content to be no body in the flesh, he shall be the more in the spirit. For that rule holds true, he that will lose his life shall save it: I say it holds true in every thing else, he that will lose his credit, shall gain his credit: he that will be content to let go his friends, or profits, or advantages, he shall be a gainer by it. So that he that is most prodigal of all these things to spend them for Christs advantage, he that is most forward to suffer imprisonment, and loss of goods, to endure infamy and disgrace for Christs sake, he is the wisest man, the happiest man, he provides best for himself.
Now to make use of it, if this be a duty that lies upon every man not to seek his own things, but the things of 1Jesus Christ; what remains, but that you consider how you have kept this, and if you be failing in it, that you stir up your selves to do it in a better manner then you have done formerly. Let every man therefore ask this question with himself, have I sought the things of Jesus Christ? have I not many times sat stil for my own ease, for my own safety, for my credit, and profit, when if I had stirred I might have done something for the advantage of Jesus Christ? And consider that our behaving of our selves after this manner is not onely sinful, but it is very unreasonable, and disadvantagious for our selves: for the more we lose for Christ the more we gain; he• that will be content to be no body in the flesh, he shall be the more in the spirit. For that rule holds true, he that will lose his life shall save it: I say it holds true in every thing else, he that will lose his credit, shall gain his credit: he that will be content to let go his friends, or profits, or advantages, he shall be a gainer by it. So that he that is most prodigal of all these things to spend them for Christs advantage, he that is most forward to suffer imprisonment, and loss of goods, to indure infamy and disgrace for Christs sake, he is the wisest man, the happiest man, he provides best for himself.
- 1Use.
