A81893:108
The great corruption of subtle self, discovered, and driven from it's lurking-places and starting-holes…The great corruption of subtile self, discovered, and driven from it's lurking-places and starting-holes…
The great corruption of subtle self, discovered, and driven from it's lurking-places and starting-holes And the contrary grace, self-denial commended, as an indispensably necessary requisite to the acceptable and successful performance of all commanded-duties, and as notably fitting for taking up of the cross, and following Christ. In seven sermons. By master James Durham, late minister of the gospel in Glasgow.The great corruption of subtile self, discovered, and driven from it's lurking-places and starting-holes And the contrary grace, self-denyal commended, as an indispensably necessary requisite to the acceptable and successfull performance of all commanded-duties, and as notably fitting for taking up of the cross, and following Christ. In seven sermons. By master James Durham, late minister of the gospel in Glasgow.
Edinburgh: printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson, 1686
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.
it makes the most precious Duties in themselves to be accounted but as sins before God, so Zach. 7.5. The Lord bespeaks ⟨p. 84⟩his profest People thus, When ye fasted and mourned, did ye at all fast to me? Thus it was with the Pharisees, their public and long prayers, which were gone about to be seen of men, and to compass some one or other selfie design; that which they looked on as acceptable Duty, the Lord accounts the very ground of a challenge; and indeed it's both a just and great ground of challenge, when corrupt Self gets Gods room and place. 2ly. As it changeth, in a manner, the very nature of the Duty, so in some respect, it destroys and annihilates it; Thus Ephraim is accounted to be an empty vine without fruit, because he bringeth forth fruit to himself. 3ly. It deprives the man of Gods gracious reward; as the giving of a little aims, if it were but a cup of cold water, in the name of a disciple loseth not it's reward; so when much more is given from a carnal and selfie principle, as to be seen of men, it hath no reward; yea, when men come, as it were, to the very top of Duty, if it be performed on this account, it hath no reward following, but such as they will ruse themselves little of, verily (sayeth the Lord) they have their reward; and to this purpose says the Apostle, 2 Cor. 9.17. If I do this thing willingly, I have a reward, that is, if I go about my Duty of Preaching the Gospel sincerely, I may humbly and confidently expect the reward; but if otherwise, I cannot: what shall I say more of the woeful influence of this corrupt Self? It is a great breaker of the peace; it's a mighty obstructer of inward peace and joy; This is our rejoicing (sayeth the Apostle 2 Cor. 1.12.) the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, we have ⟨p. 85⟩had our conversation in the world; insinuating plainly thereby, that if he had been without this sincerity, and had made himself his end, he could not have had either joy or peace; This may serve to confirm this part of the Doctrine.
it makes the most precious Duties in themselves to be accounted but as sins before God, so