Heautonaparnumenos

That this Precept ^*is more Sublime and Excellent, then any in the Law, will appear hence, That this Precept bids us Deny our Selves, yea even in that which the Law permitted to us, whereas the Law rather bade us seek our selves, what else is the desire of a Temporal Reward but an effect of Self-love? Which, though it be not Vicious, being done in relation to a Promise yet, certainly cannot be so excellent as to embrace Virtue for it self. But now the Law, that, makes the Hope of a Reward the Chief Motive of Obedience; whereas the Gospel, though it have its Reward, and a far greater one then that of the Law: (for indeed this is the Substance whereof that was but the shadow) yet does it not bid us look at the Reward as such, but do the thing for it self: or rather, to speak more clearly, it tells us the Reward we are to do the Duty for is •o-incident with the very Duty it self, ²as I showed you before out of John 17.3. Hence it is, the Law, according to the Apostles intimation, is by the Schools truly called Lex timoris, the Law of Fear; Fear as well of losing the reward, as of enduring Punishment: But the Gospel, no less truly,³ called Lex amoris, the Law of Love, of Love that once perfected casteth out Fear, and, as Ber••ard truly sayes, Vires non sumit de spe, is no whit fortified by Hope of a Reward. Hence our Saviour called those that obey merely for Temporal Reward, ⁴Mercenaries, (thereby intimating the Pharisaical Doctors of the Law) and says, those, when the Wolfe came, would flee away, as loving themselves more then their Flock: But the Good Shepherd, says he, that loves his Flock, and is loved of them (such as Himself was) will dye first, before he will do so.

That this Precept ^*is more Sublime and Excellent, then any in the Law, will appeare hence, That this Precept bids us Deny our Selves, yea even in that which the Law permitted to us, whereas the Law rather bade us seek our selves, what else is the desire of a Temporall Reward but an effect of Self-love? Which, though it be not Vitious, being done in relation to a Promise yet, certainly cannot be so excellent as to embrace Vertue for it selfe. But now the Law, that, makes the Hope of a Reward the Chiefe Motive of Obedience; whereas the Gospell, though it have its Reward, and a farre greater one then that of the Law: (for indeed this is the Substance whereof that was but the shadow) yet does it not bid us looke at the Reward as such, but doe the thing for it selfe: or rather, to speake more clearely, it tells us the Reward we are to doe the Duty for is o-incident with the very Duty it selfe,