(5.) When men despise the advice and help of other christians. The Lord will have us to profit by one another. He withdraws himseU" many times to this end and purpose, that we may be endeared one to another, as well as engaged to himself. Certainly the head cannot say, I have no need of the foot. As God would establish a dependence between himself and us, so he would establish a dependence between christians among themselves ; therefore grace doth not only come from God, but we receive it in part through the means of the body : Col. ii. 19, ' And not holding the head, from which all the body, by joints and bauds, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increas- eth with the increase of God.' The admonitions of the weakest chris- tian, they may be of great use to enkindle zeal, if not to better our knowledge ; as a wisp of straw may enkindle a great block. Now when a man thinks his own wit sufficient, and that he need not be taught of any, it is an evil sign : Prov. xxvi. 12, ' Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes, there is more hope of a fool than of him.' A fool will rather be counselled than one given to self-conceit. You cannot put wine, or any other liquor, into a blown bladder till the wind be voided, and the bladder rid of it, so here such pufted bladders are in a sad condition, can receive nothing, they can make no progress in grace.
[4.] In the next place I must join dissuasives and directions together. If you would cease from your own understanding —
(1.) Be sensible of the utter impotency of nature : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' The natural man understands not the things that are of God.' He is not only actually ignorant, but unable to conceive ; not only through negligence, but weakness ; not only will not, but cannot ; there is a pre- judice and positive enmity in the heart. The mind of man is not white paper, but it is prepossessed with carnal principles, atheism, unbelief, profaneness, libertinism. As the stomach that is ill-affected with choler casts up all the food it receiveth as soon as it is swallowed, so we reject all holy doctrine. Though we may like generalities, yet when we are pressed to practice, carnal reason will discover itself. We are apt to think ourselves angels, but we are but beasts : Eccles. iii. 18, * I said in my heart, concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.' Nay, after regeneration we have great cause still to suspect ourselves. There are two voices, flesh and spirit. And our wisdom that we have.
224 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
is often enthralled, and made a prisoner to sinful passions and affections. Therefore when we go about any business, especially when we come to the word, we should never do it without lifting up our souls to God for the spirit of wisdom and revelation : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that we may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints/
(2.) Consider the mischief of self-conceit, or dependence upon our own v/isdom. Most men in the world are ruined by it ; of Babylon is said, ' Thy understanding hath undone thee.' Who would choose him for a pilot that drowns every vessel that he governeth ? it is as inconsistent with salvation, as trusting in wealth. It is true, the object is more excellent, but therefore the temptation is the more dangerous. Now, ' It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,' Mat. xix. 24. Con- sider, what a great folly it is ; Bis desipit, qui sibi sapit — He that is wise in his own eyes is twice a fool ; a fool by having but a little knowledge, and by his great conceit of it. And then it is the ground of all the creature's miscarriages. Apostasy from religion, whence comes it? From idolising self-wit, John vi. Q5. Christ had s^joken something which they understood not, of eating his flesh — 'From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him,' because they could not fathom it by the line and plummet of their reason. It is the usual rise of heresy ; then a man is ripe to breed monstrous opinions in the church. When men will have the mysteries of faith demonstrated by the law of reason, like a sick man who will not swallow his pills, but chew them ; wiien he tastes the bitterness, he presently bringeth them up, and so loseth a wholesome remedy. Then it is the ground of all corruption in life, the lust of covetousness, it is rooted upon self-conceit, Prov. xxiii. 4. When Solomon dissuadefh from covetousness, ' Labour not to be rich,' then presently, ' Cease from thy own wisdom.' See how these two precepts are couj)led, as if the Spirit of God should say, if you hearken to carnal wisdom, that will tell you of honour, great pleasure, and of flourishing in your family ; that you shall want nothing ; but be not wise in your own eyes, that will be a means to keep you from labouring to be rich, from prostituting your precious time, care, and strength, only to advance secular interests.