The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the…

Too blame are they, who when they have done any glorious service in the Church, take the praise to themselves. Like those Heathens who sacrificed the Wax to their gods, but kept the Honey to themselves. Matthew Paris speaks of one, who having in several Lectures proved strenuously that Christ was God, and being highly applauded for it, he cried out, saying, O Jesus, thou art beholding to me for thy Divinity this day. Whereupon this Doctor was stricken suddenly with such stupidness and forgetfulness, that he could never after ⟨p. 35⟩say the Lords Prayer, but as a little Child said it to him. Let this cause trembling and humility in Christians. Several ships which have escaped the Rocks, have been cast away upon the sands. Many who have escaped the rocks of gross scandals, have been cast away upon the sands of self-seeking. One said, he would not have Erasmus his fame and applause for a World^*. Not but that to have esteem in Gods Church, is a blessing: Heb. 11.2, By faith the elders obtained a good report^*. Much of the honour of Religion, depends upon the credit of them that profess it. But the sin is, when self-applause is the only thing hunted after. Popular acclamation, is a golden arrow, which glisters in the eye, but wounds to the heart. How many have been blown to Hell with the breath of popular applause.

Too blame are they, who when they have done any glorious service in the Church, take the praise to themselves. Like those Heathens who sacrific'd the Wax to their gods, but kept the Honey to themselves. Matthew Paris speaks of one, who having in several Lectures proved strenuously that Christ was God, and being highly applauded for it, he cryed out, saying, O Iesus, thou art beholding to me for thy Divinity this day. Whereupon this Doctor was stricken suddenly with such stupidness and forgetfulness, that he could never after ⟨p. 35⟩say the Lords Prayer, but as a little Child said it to him. Let this cause trembling and humility in Christians. Several ships which have escaped the Rocks, have been cast away upon the sands. Many who have escaped the rocks of gross scandals, have been cast away upon the sands of self-seeking. One said, he would not have Erasmus his fame and applause for a World