A81893:93
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.
The 2d. Part of the Use serves (as we hinted) to warn you to guard against this Corruption of Selfiness, or of Self-seeking; and here I shall give you some Directions, which, if they were suitably followed, might through Gods blessing, prevent Self bearing so great a sway in us, ⟨p. 69⟩especially, in spiritual Duties. The First whereof is, That ye would learn to set Christ in his own place, in the heart; for, if he have not his own place and room there, Self must needs bear sway in us: but when Christ gets his own place Selfiness is thereby kept out; therefore 2 Cor. 4 v. 5. Paul proves, that he preached not himself, because he preached Christ Jesus the Lord; whoever they be, that labour not to set up Christ in their hearts, and to esteem highly of, and to be much in Love with him above all things; will have a worse Guest coming in to take up his room; and indeed, it is not much to be wondered at, that Self reign, and prevail amongst People, and that they be mainly, or very much swayed by it, in the whole of their way, when Christ is either not at all, or but very little in account and esteem with them. 2ly. Labour to eye God always, to have a constant depending on him, to have his awe and dread much upon your hearts, and to be much with him; O! study to live up unto that sweet advice which Solomon gives, Prov. 3 v. 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding; and if it should be said, what shall we do, if we lean not to our own understanding? he answers, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths; do as the Psalmist did, Psal. 16.6, even set the Lord always before you, and then he being at your right hand, ye shall not be moved. 3ly. Be much in prayer to God, as the Apostle was, when a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him. 2 Cor. 12 8. for this thing (says he) I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me; So do ye, wrestle ⟨p. 70⟩much with God by prayer against it, but study in prayer to make much use of Christ, for getting victory over it, in his strength, who wa manifested for this purpose, that he might destroy the works of the devil, and this work of his this Corruption of Self amongst others; little praying, and little use making of Christ in prayer, makes Self predomine, and bear so much sway in us, as it doth. 4ly.