Heautonaparnumenos

To show then the Nature of this Precept, we must let you see, first what is meant here by our Selves: Then what is meant by Denying: Lastly, what by Denying our selves. By ones Self here He means that, which the Stoics call [Greek or Hebrew]: or rather that which the Apostle calls [Greek or Hebrew], Eph. 2.3. That is, those Principles and Opinions which by Nature, now corrupted, are in every one, and incline him to establish his own Independency of any other whatsoever, yea even of God Himself, and to crook every thing toward himself, so making himself the sole end of his thoughts, words and actions. In a word; Our Self strictly taken is,¹ our own Will to be or have any thing contrary to the Will of God. Our being any thing may well be styled our Selves, there is no doubt of that: So may our having any thing too, for as much as we have and own nothing, but what we adhere unto, and becomes a part of our selves by Love, which Love does interesse us therein.

To shew then the Nature of this Precept, we must let you see, first what is meant here by our Selves: Then what is meant by Denying: Lastly, what by Denying our selves. By ones Selfe here He meanes that, which the Stoicks call 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: or rather that which the Apostle calls 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Eph. 2.3. That is, those Principles and Opinions which by Nature, now corrupted, are in every one, and encline him to establish his own Independencie of any other whatsoever, yea even of God Himselfe, and to crook every thing toward himself, so making himselfe the sole end of his thoughts, words and actions. In a word; Our Selfe strictly taken is,¹ our owne Will to be or have any thing contrary to the Will of God. Our being any thing may well be styl'd our Selves, there is no doubt of that: So may our having any thing too, for as much as we have and owne nothing, but what we adhere unto, and becomes a part of our selves by Love, which Love does interesse us therein.

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