A65294:54
The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the…
The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the Gospel
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1675
THE DUTY OF SELF-DENIAL. › Chapter 2: The Explaining of the Proposition.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
8. Such as are well opinionated of their own excellencies, are in the ready way to ruin. Either God infatuates them*, or denies a blessing to their labours, or suffers them to fall into some great sin. Peter, who was so well conceited of himself, as if he had had more grace than all the Apostles besides, the Lord let him fall very far. He denied Christ with an Oath, nay an imprecation, Mat. 26.74. Peter wished a curse on himself if he knew Christ, nay, some think he cursed Christ.
8. Such as are well opinionated of their own excellencies, are in the ready way to ruine. Either God infatuates them*, or denies a blessing to their labours, or suffers them to fall into some great sin. Peter, who was so well conceited of himself, as if he had had more grace than all the Apostles besides, the Lord let him fall very far. He denied Christ with an Oath, nay an imprecation, Mat. 26.74. Peter wished a curse on himself if he knew Christ, nay, some think he cursed Christ.
The Lord sometimes lets vain conceited persons fall not only foully but finally. The Doves (saith Pliny) take a pride in their Feathers, and in ⟨p. 23⟩their flying high, at last they soar so high that they are a prey to the Hawk. So when men fly high in self-conceitedness, they become a prey to the Prince of the Air. Let all this make us deny our selves, let it kill the Worm of self-conceit. If we are proud of our knowledge, the Devil cares not how much we know. Let St. Paul be our pattern, though he were the chief of the Apostles, he calls himself the least of Saints