The Godly Man's Picture

7 If you would persevere in godliness, be much in the exercise of self-denial, Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself, self-ease,^* self-ends; whatever comes in competition with, or stands in opposition to Christs glory and interest, must be denied; Self is the great snare, self-love undermines the power of godliness. The young man in the Gospel, might have followed Christ, but that something of self ^*hindered, Mat. 19. 20, 22. Self-love, is self hatred, he will never get to heaven, that cannot get beyond himself.

1. *Nemo d• displicet nisi qui sibi placet. Bernard
2. *Nemo laeditur nisi a se ipso.

8 If you would hold on in godliness, preserve an holy jealousy over your hearts, Rom. 11. 20. Be not high-minded, but fear: he that hath Gun powder in his house, fears lest it should catch fire; sin in the heart is like Gun-powder, it may make us fear, lest a sparkle of temptation falling upon us, should blow us up: There are two things may make us always jealous of our hearts; the deceits of our hearts, and the lusts of our hearts: When Peter was afraid he should sink, and cried to Christ, Lord save me, then Christ took him by the hand and helped him, Mat. 14. 31. but when Peter grew confident, and thought he could stand alone, then Christ suffered him to fall. Oh let us ⟨p. 308⟩