A81893:95
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.
When men are Selfie, in seeking to be high and happy in the World, and do not place their honour and happiness where God hath placed it, they must needs be carried away with this Corruption of Selfiness: believe it, they cannot be Christs Disciples, who endeavour, not through Grace to suppress the risings of this Corruption in themselves, and to resist tentations to it; as ye may see John the Baptist did, by comparing Luke 13 v. 15.16. with John 1• 20. and 3.28. Its said in Luke, That all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not? but he puts them out of all doubt concerning this, while we are told, John 1.20. That he confessed, and denied not, but confessed, ⟨p. 72⟩that he was not the Christ; and accordingly speaking to his Disciples, John 3.28. He says, Ye your selves bear witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him; Here was a great occasion, and tentation offered for Self-seeking, but he confessed, and denied not, but confessed, that he was not the Christ; He was very much concerned, careful and solicitous to prevent the first beginnings, and to oppose the first risings of Self, and of all Tentations to it: We see the like in Paul and Barnabas, who could not endure to have this tentation offered them, and therefore, it's said of them. Acts 14. v. 14. 15. That when the Priest of Jupiter would have done sacrifice to them, with the people, they rent their clothes, and cried out, that they were men of like passions with themselves. 7ly. All that would guard against this evil of selfiness, and carry aright in Du•y, would be much in Self-reflection before the undertaking of Duties; in the discharge of Duties, and after the performance of Duties; it's lamentable, that most of us never reflect upon, nor consider, from what principle, or motive we are put on to Duty, but if the work be good, for the matter we look after no more; and that many never reflect upon themselves, in the discharge of Duty, that they may ee what bears most sway with them in it; nor yet after the Duty is done that they may know either what their carriage hath been in the Duty, or what the effect of it is to them;