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…

For the 3d. thing which we proposed to be spoken to, on this branch of the Doctrine, viz. Why does the Lord suffer Believers to be so much kept at under, with such a gross corruption, as Self, or Selfiness? In answer to this question, there are these few reasons, or ends which we shall offer, The 1. whereof is, that he may make and keep humble his own Followers; that the continual sight of this Corruption, and the stirrings of it, may put, and keep them in mind of the remainder of corrupt nature, that is yet in them, and may prevent dotting upon any Gifts, or Graces in themselves; for this end then, viz. to discover what venom lurks in their nature, to prevent pride, and keep humble, there is something of this vile corruption left, and suffered to stir them, ye see, 2 Cor. 12. A messenger ⟨p. 33⟩of Satan is sent to buffet Paul, least he should be puffed up, or exalted above measure, through the abundance of revelations; Intimating thereby, that there was a hazard of being puffed up; and to prevent that, a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him; I will not say that this corruption of Self was the Scourge, that was sent to humble him, but it is clear, that the quickness, and liveliness of this corruption of Self, was the cause why this messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him, in order to the keeping of him humble, and Self-denied. A 2d. Reason, or end is, That the Lord thereby, may quicken his own People, to more lively exercise of their Grace, when they know that there is such an enemy in their bosom, as no natural thing, or nothing in nature can engage and sway them to fight against; For, what is there, I pray, in any man naturally to engage him, or to help him to fight against Self? nay, nothing can do this, but supernatural special Grace; and even that will not do it to any good purpose, if it be not kept in lively exercise; and therefore (I say) that the Lord may quicken, and stir up Believers to the lively exercise of Grace, he suffers this Corruption to be in them, and to stir, and now and then to move more strongly in them, that thereby he may necessitat them thereto; and no doubt, by fighting seriously against this Corruption, Believers not only evidence the truth of their Grace, but the liveliness of it, and much sincere respect to God;

For the 3d. thing which we proposed to be spoken to, on this branch of the Doctrine, viz. Why does the Lord suffer Believers to be so much kept at under, with such a gross corruption, as Self, or Selfiness? In answer to this question, there are these few reasons, or ends which we shall offer, The 1. whereof is, that he may make and keep humble his own Followers; that the continual sight of this Corruption, and the stirrings of it, may put, and keep them in mind of the remainder of corrupt nature, that is yet in them, and may prevent dotting upon any Gifts, or Graces in themselves; for this end then, viz. to discover what venom lurks in their nature, to prevent pride, and keep humble, there is something of this vile corruption left, and suffered to stir them, ye see,