A81893:30
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.
Christ charges this on the Pharisees, That they gave Alms, Fasted, and made Long-Prayers, as out of obedience to Gods Command; when, in the mean time, all was done to be seen of men. Secondly. Selfishness comes in, and vents it self in things unlawful, by covering them with a professed respect to Gods honour; as we see it was with Saul, 1 Sam. 15. Who, when he is challenged by Samuel, for sparing ⟨p. 11⟩the best of the Cattle, and Sheep, sayeth, These are to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; But sayeth Samuel, v. 22. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams; for rebellion is as the sin of witch-craft, and stubbornness, as iniquity and idolatry: There is nothing more abominable in the sight of God, than to shrewd a selfish end and design, under the specious pretext of honouring him; But more of this afterward.
Christ charges this on the Pharisees, That they gave Almes, Fasted, and made Long-Prayers, as out of obedience to Gods Command; when, in the mean time, all was done to be seen of men. Secondly. Selfishness comes in, and vents it self in things unlawful, by covering them with a professed respect to Gods honour; as we see it was with Saul, 1 Sam. 15. Who, when he is challenged by Samuel, for sparing ⟨p. 11⟩the best of the Cattel, and Sheep, sayeth, These are to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; But sayeth Samuel, v. 22. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams; for rebellion is as the sin of witch-craft, and stubbornness, as iniquity and idolatry: There is nothing more abominable in the sight of God, than to shreud a selfish end and design, under the specious pretext of honouring him; But more of this afterward.
The First Use of this serves for warning, to take good heed to our selves, when things look, and promise fair, we would try and examine well from what root they spring, and on what bottom they stand; for many things fair in appearance, may be rotten and corrupt at the root and bottom; many things may look like respect to, and zeal for God, which yet he will reject, and cast, as proceeding from no true zeal, nor respect to him: Therefore in all things, but more especially, in public matters, do not think, that the honesting and plastering over of a thing with pretended respect to Christ, is enough to make it pass current: As for instance, amongst the men that have invaded us, there are two things much talked of, and cried up, and they have indeed a fair outward show, viz. The interest of Christ, and the interest of his People, and this they pretend to be the main design of their actings, That Christs Kingdom may be advanced, and that his People may be the only great men of the World, and the only Rulers of the Kingdom; and this once being pretended as the end and design, they are apt to conclude, that there is no mids or mean that