A86527:45
Heautonaparnumenos
Heautonaparnumenos: or A treatise of self-denial. Intended for the pulpit; but now committed to the press for the public benefit.Heautonaparnumenos: or A treatise of self-denyall. Intended for the pulpit; but now committed to the presse for the publike benefit.
London: printed by W. Wilson for Richard Royston, 1646
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 then, surely you will ask: How comes it to pass, there is any Selfness in the World, beside that of God alone, that our Saviour should speak here of the Creatures Self? For this we must know, that indeed and in truth, there is no such thing in ⟨p. 23⟩rerum naturâ as the Creatures Self, contradistinct from God, but only in Corrupt Opinion and Desire: And so even now I intimated, deriving its true Original from our own proper Will: And so much our Saviour intimates here to us, commanding our act of Denial to attend it, the proper Adjunct of Non ens, of that which in very truth is nothing.
But then, surely you will aske: How comes it to passe, there is any Selfnesse in the World, beside that of God alone, that our Saviour should speak here of the Creatures Selfe? For this wee must know, that indeed and in truth, there is no such thing in ⟨p. 23⟩rerum naturâ as the Creatures Selfe, contradistinct from God, but onely in Corrupt Opinion and Desire: And so even now I intimated, deriving its true Originall from our owne proper Will: And so much our Saviour intimates here to us, commanding our act of Denyall to attend it, the proper Adjunct of Non ens, of that which in very truth is nothing.
Now this Opinfonate, affected Propriety or Selfness comes about thus. God, having in the Beginning created the whole World for Himself, and therein manifested His Power, in making all things to serve and fear Him, as their Lord, would also manifest his Goodness, and therefore made some things to love Him too, that is, to serve Him as a Father no less then as a Lord. This that He might do, 'twas fit His Service should be Rational; 1that is, proceed from a rational Appetite, to wit, the Will informed by the Understanding. So then He made such a Creature as was capable of such an Appetite, and therewith He endued it. Now 'twas necessary this Appetite should be free so, that it might love or not love God's Goodness freely: The Reason is, Because God is a Perfect Good, and so requires Perfect Love to attend it. But now Perfect love, as it casts out Fear, according to the Apostle,