Book I.] a treatise of self-denial. 207
Jay count it to-be a loss, I connt them to be a-Kv^dka, dog's meat ; not that-he repented of anything that he had done and suffered, but as they might hinder the application of the merit of Christ, but as things that his heart was apt to plead before God's tribunal. It is all notliing, it is loss, it is dung, it is dogs' meat. And why ? — ' That I might gain him, and be found in him,' &c. All was to make way for the greater esteem of Jesus Christ.
Now, upon this eminent example, let me press you to this kind of self-denial, to draw off your hearts from your own righteousness. My method shall be this —
1. I shall show you how hard a matter it is to bring men off from dependence upon our own righteousness.
2. The danger of leaning upon our own righteousness.
3. Some discoveries of those that are taken in this snare of death, that are carried away by a vain trust and presumption of righteousness in themselves.
4. Some remedies and cures.
[1.] I shall show it is a very hard matter to bring men off from a dependence upon their own righteousness.
(1.) Because by nature it is incident to all men. This is an evil that is natural to us. Works are our natural copy and tenure. 'Do this, and live,' it was the covenant made with Adam, and it is written upon the heart of all men. AVe all seek to be saved by doing. There- fore upon conviction, as soon as we begin to be serious, as soon as the conscience is awakened, the first question is, ' What shall I do to be saved ? ' John vi. 28, " What shall we do, that we may work the works of God ? ' They imagined that life eternal might be gained by the works of the law, without Christ. Now this natural disposition is con- firmed and strengthened, partly by ignorance and security. Men do not know what is necessary to true righteousness : Eom. x. S, ' Being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of Christ.' They do not know what is necessary to the justifying of a soul in God's sight. None are so apt to rest in their own righteousness as those that liave least reason — viz, persons ignorant and "formal. St Paul saith, Phil. iii. 4, ' If any might have confidence in the flesh, much more I.' As those that have little learning will be showing of it on all occasions ; so persons that do but regard the outside of religion, and practise formal duties, are most apt to rest in them. Why ? For formal duties do not discover weakness, and so pufit" men up. Carnal men search little, and blind conscience is soon pacified ; usually, men that are ignorant, and go on in a dead course without feeling defects and needing the supplies of heaven, they are most con- fident. So partly by natural pride and self-conceit. Man is a proud creature, and loth to be beholden to another. A russet coat patched of our own seems better than a silken garment that is borrowed. Our righteousness ! What a poor, filthy, tattered thing it is ! Yet our hearts run upon it more than on the righteousness of Christ, that is so excellent and glorious. We are loth to submit and yield to this borrowed right- eousness. That is the reason why the apostle useth that expression, Rom. X. 3, ' They have not submitted to the righteousness of God.'
208 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
It needs a great deal of submission and condescension to be content to be beholden to divine grace. Men would fain maintain the dignity of works, and are loth to stoop and sue in forma pauperis, to come as beggars to God ; we would rather come as creditors, to challenge a <Iebt which we suppose he oweth to "us. And ]')artly, it is confirmed and strengthened by natural ease and laziness. That which is our own costs no waiting. Paul saith, Phil. iii. 8, ' I have suffered the loss of -all things, that I might win Christ.' Ere Paul could be secured against Ins own fears, he ran through a great many hazards, he suffered much. We have not the comfort of Christ's righteousnes^s, but after much waiting and pi'ayer. But now, when we seek it in ourselves, blind con- science will take hold of anything. And partly too, because God doth follow such kind of men with prosperity in this world ; therefore they think the Lord is well pleased with them, till the hour of death comes, then they find all to be but froth, and that no man is a loser by God. Outward religion bringeth outward blessing. Dogs have crumbs that fall from the table ; they have the offals of mercy ; therefore they that depend upon their own righteousness cannot say God is in their debt, for they have outward prosperity.
(2.) It is most incident to persons after first conviction. When conscience is first opened, men fetch their comfort from their own duties. The law leaves them wounded and low, and they lick them- selves whole again by some offers and resolutions of obedience. Usually, observe it, carnal men are only sensible of, or careful about religion upon some gripes of conscience; they use duties as men do strong- waters in a pang. Nature is more prone to a sin-offering than to a thank-offering. Duties should be a thank-offering, and they make them a sin-offering. As in an outward case, when men have offended their superiors, for a while they become more pliant and obsequious, that they may redeem their fault by their after diligence , so it is here, when conscience comes and arrests men in the name of God, then men will run to duties till conscience be asleep again. Therefore it is good in all gripes of conscience, and whenever we come to settle our peace, to observe from whence you fetch your comfort, and how it grows upon 3'ou : Ps. xcii. 19, &c., ' In the midst of my sad thoughts, thy com- forts delight my soul' It is very sweet when a christian can see he hath fetched his comfort from Christ, and not merely from some out- ward observances and formal duties. Inquire how thou didst come to be satisfied with thy estate. Usually when conviction is not very deep, men blind and choke conscience with their own endeavours, and their resolution of growing better. When they are wounded with sin, then they are apt to run to self for a plaster.