Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

This you know must needs be a conclusion arising from hence; for if it be the complaint of the Apostle of the corruption that is in men in this kind: then by the contrary rule it must be every mans duty to seek the things of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, Though this be the duty of every man, yet when we look to the execution, and performance of this duty, every man is ready to do the contrary every man seeks his own things: and because every man doth the contrary, therefore the duty is the more precious. When a man denies himself because there are so few that deny themselves, that makes self denial to be the more regarded and esteemed, God makes the more account of it: for he hath no need of such men as will not deny themselves, and seek the things of Jesus Christ. There is scarce any man but seeks his own things▪ therefore you need not wonder why all the world is ready to go in a wrong way, a man in this business hath so few to keep him company. It is ⟨p. 375⟩a thing that alway hath been, every man is apt to seek his own things. Therefore let not a man be discouraged with it, it is no more then hath been, it is no more then you are […] look for: for the most seek themselves and their own things. Those that will seek the things of Jesus Christ, the world accounts them busy-bodies because they are occupied about things that the world likes not of, it hath been the custom of all times to seek their own things; and it is in every mans nature thus to do: he that doth best and doth deny himself, yet he hath the same nature with the rest; so then that is the second observation, that every man doth it, he seeks his own things.

Secondly, Though this be the duty of every man, yet when we look to the execution, and performance of this duty, every man is ready to do the contrary every man seeks his own things: and because every man doth the contrary, therefore the duty is the more precious. When a man denies himself because there are so few that deny themselves, that makes self denial to be the more regarded and esteemed, God makes the more account of it: for he hath no need of such men as will not deny themselves, and seek the things of Jesus Christ. There is scarce any man but seeks his own things therfore you need not wonder why all the world is ready to go in a wrong way, a man in this business hath so few to keep him company. It is