A81893:91
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 it is to be feared, there is much Self seeking at the bottom of them, if men were humbly excluding themselves, they would, in that case, look more like those that deny themselves; but when they seclude others, to include themselves; it seems that selfiness, and self-conceit bears too great sway, and looks somewhat like these, who say, Isai. 65.5. Stand by thy self, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou; and yet God says of such, that they were a smoke in his nose, a fire that burneth all the day: Neither is it any new thing for People to seek themselves, under the pretence of waiting for, and venting of new Light; for there was somewhat of this even in the Apostles days; as could time permit, we could easily make appear, from Rom. 14. and 15. Chapters, from 1 Cor. 8, 9. and 10. Chapters, and from the Epistles written to Timothy; nay, we find, that Peoples seeking to vent their Light, though true Light, when it hath not been to edification, is reproved as a fault, and accounted a pleasing of themselves, while it is said, Rom. 15. v. 1.2. We ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves; and let every one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edification: ⟨p. 68⟩The Apostle makes it a pleasing of themselves, to urge the ou•most extent of their Light, in some lesser things, as in the use of their Christian Liberty, to the wronging, or stumbling of the weak Jews: and seeing these men with whom we have to do, pretend highly to new Light, we are concerned narrowly, and impartially to search and try these things, that come out under that name and notion; and should not rashly and precipitantly embrace them; There is a passage, at which we may tremble, while we speak of it, and ye at the hearing of it, 2 Tim. 3 v. 1, 2 3, 4, 5. This know also, (says the Apostle) that in the last days, perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, &c. Which show, that all these very grossest evils, do readily follow mens being lovers of themselves; but withal, it is added, having the form of godliness, but denying the power of it, from such turn away;