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

Again, when thou seekest thy self and thine own things, what dost thou please? Thy flesh, thy disease, thou givest it that it calls for, that will destroy thee. He that hearkeneth to and gratifies his disease, strengthens his disease and kills himself. So, when a man hearkens to himself, to his own lusts and desires that the flesh requires of him, (for whatsoever is contrary to this grace here, is but the flesh, that the more thou hearkenest to, thou strengthenest that which will be thy destruction; because thou dost not withdraw from it that fuel that it desires: Therefore it is best for thee in all respects, not to seek thy own things but the things of Christ.

Again, when thou seekest thy self and thine own things, what dost thou please? Thy flesh, thy disease, thou givest it that it calls for, that will destroy thee. He that hearkeneth to and gratifies his disease, strengthens his disease and kills himself. So, when a man hearkens to himself, to his own lusts and desires that the flesh requires of him, (for whatsoever is contrary to this grace here, is but the flesh, that the more thou hearkenest to, thou strengthenest that wihch will be thy destruction; because thou dost not withdraw from it that fuel that it desires: Therefore it is best for thee in all respects, not to seek thy own things but the things of Christ.

But besides this necessity that lies upon thee if thou be ¹his; and that it is best for thee. Then consider if he do n•• deserve it at thy hands, if it were not best for thee, is not he worthy? Consider that in 1 Cor. 1. The Apostle tells them of divisions among them, some were of Paul ²and some of Apollo, &c. saith the Apostle, Was Paul crucified for you? As if he had said, you must consider that Christ is he that hath deserved all at your hands, and will you tie your selves to Paul, or Apollo, and not consider what