Self-deniall, the excellency thereof. [ 1867]
THere is mention made of a certain godly Man, that was in his time sore tempted by Sathan,* 1.1 the Man was much in duty, to whom Sathan said, Why takest thou this pains? thou dost watch, and fast, and pray, and abstainest from the sins of the times; But O Man, What dost thou more then I do? Art thou no Drunkard, no Adulterer? No more am I; Dost thou watch and fast? Why let me tell thee, I never slept, I never ate nor drank, What dost thou more then I do? I will tell thee (said the good Man) I pray I serve the Lord, nay more then all this (which is indeed the sum of all) I deny my self: Nay then, saies Sathan, thou goest beyond me, For I am proud, I exalt my self, and so vanished: O the excellency of self-deniall, when Christ may be said to rule within a man, when in every way a Man subjects him∣self to Christ,* 1.2 in his understanding to know Christ, in his will to choose and em∣brace Christ, in his thoughts to meditate upon Christ,* 1.3 in his fear to serve and honour Christ, in his Faith to trust and depend upon Christ, in his love to a••••ect Christ, in his joy to delight in Christ, in his desires to long after Christ, in his endeavours to exalt Christ, in all his duties, graces, gifts and abilities to make them ser∣viceable to Christ, so that he may be said to live, yet not he but Christ that liveth in him, Gal, 2. 20.