A81893:82
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.
But, 2dly. we come to consider the subtle way that it takes to bear in it self upon us, in all that we do. As 1, in this, that it does not appear, as inconsistent with, or opposite to Grace, or to the Law of God, as most other sins do; but rather, as very well consistent with both; nay, sometimes it will endeavour to make pretended respect to Grace, and to the observance of Gods Law, subservient to the attainment of it's own ends, and will set a man on to study, and to stir up, and draw forth his Gifts and Graces, •o exercise, and to endeavour something of conformity, in his way to Gods Law, out of too much respect to some carnal and selfie end. 2ly. It doth readily change it self into various Shapes and Forms, so as it may be most taking with, and pleasant unto men; most other Corruptions come in upon us, in one Shape and Form, but this appears in all Shapes; It comes in sometimes (as I said before) like Grace; sometimes like Conscience; sometimes like innocent natural respect, ⟨p. 57⟩and love to our selves; sometimes like public spiritedness, &c. It's ways are moveable; and as Satan, when he assaulted our Lord, Matth. 4. changed his temptations on him, and took different ways to prevail with him; so doth Self; when a man falls short of one design, it will put him on another; when he misseth riches, it will put him to seek after credit; and if he fail, and come short of both, it will set him on to seek his own ease, quietness and pleasure, in a more private way. 3ly. It proves restless, and makes the man whom it sways, restless, and unceasing in his way; it disquiets and vexes him, whatever he do, or whithersoever he go, so long as it's designs and ends are not attained, and accomplished (which they never will be) This Self is never at ease, when (to speak so) it gets not it self, when it reacheth not the thing it would be at: we see an instance of this in Jonah; but a most remarkable one in Balaam, Numb. 22. One answer from the Lord will not satisfy him, but again he must go and consult him; having a Selfie design, and desire after Balacks silver and gold, which he largely promised him, if he would come and curse Israel, it would not suffer him to rest and sit at home: Since then this Corruption takes such subtle ways to bear in it self upon us;