Book I.] a treatise of self-denial. 245
harm you without your own consent. Now since none can harm us but our own will, and since we are unfit <]:uides, it is fit we should have a guardian, and who is wiser than God ? The merchant, though he hath stored the ship with goods, yet because he hath no skill in the art of navigation, therefore suffers the pilot to steer it ; so though the will be GUI'S, let us give it to God, to manage it according to his good pleasure.
5. It is a very great condescension and blessing that God will take the charge of our will. The strictest rules of religion are to be reck- oned among our privileges. It is the greatest judgment that God can lay upon any creature to give him up to his own will, and to the sway of his own heart ; the Lord threatens it when other means are in- efiectual : Fs. Ixxxi. 12, he saith, ' So I gave them up to their own counsel, and to their own heart's lust ; ' that is a dreadful punishment. So Rom. i. 24, it is said, ' The Lord gave them up to uncleanness ; ' and ver. 26, ' Their own vile affections.' It is worse to be given up to a man's own heart than to be given up to Satan ; for a man that is so given up may be recovered again : 1 Cor. v. 5, ' Deliver such a one to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord ; ' this may be for his exercise and trial ; but when once a man is given up to himself, to the sway of his own heart, there cannot be a greater judgment. When the sentence of obduration is passed upon us, it is as much as to say, Give him up to hell and utter judgment, as an irrecoverable sinner.
6. It will be great pleasure to us in the issue when once we can get the victory over our own will. There is none have more joy and greater happiness than the angels and spirits of just men made perfect, and yet none have less of their own wills. The angels and blessed spirits per- fectly accomplish the will of God, therefore are completely happy. Why should we account that a sad work which is a part of our happiness in heaven ? The saints and angels complain not of any burden ; yet they have no velle and nolle of their own, they will and nill as God doth. We think it is a happy thing to have our carnal desires accomplished, and wonder how any can be contented without them ; they fancy such great felicity in their way ; therefore the world wondereth at the children of God : 1 Peter i. 4, ' They think it strange that you do not run with them into the same excess of riot.' It is pleasant to a woman with child to have what she longs for, but it is much more pleasant to be without the trouble of such longings ; so the world thinks it pleasant to have their carnal desires satisfied, but it is a great deal more pleasant to have those desires mortified. Drink is very pleasant to a man in a fever ; but who would put himself into a fever to taste the pleasure of drink ? Certainly, if a man would be completely happy, he must re- nounce his own carnal desires. If you would but trust Christ upon his word, you would find it is not so burdensome and grievous as you imagine ; you would find 'his yoke to be an easy yoke,' Mat. xi. 28, not only as you have help from God, but the very delight and content- ment we enjoy would make it easy. Certainly it will be far better to give up our wills to God, than to the devil. How hard is his yoke, and how small are his wages ? A little pleasure here, and eternal pains hereafter.
246 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
Thirdly, In the next place, I shall give you some rules which will serve both for direction and trial ; it is very needful, for men are apt to flatter themselves with a pretence of obedience ; they cry, Lord, Lord ! but do not do his commandments. Many will give good words, and because they do not break out into such an actual contest with God, as those rebellious and obstinate wretches, Jer. xviii. 12, ' And they said. There is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart;' or as those, Jer. xliv. 16, 17, 'As for the word thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee, but will certainly do what- soever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth,' &c., — if they do not break out into such an obstinate and gross contest with God, they think they are safe ; but you know. Mat. xxi. 28, Christ spake a parable for the discovering of such a hypocritical profession of the two sons ; the one said, ' I go sir, and went not ; ' the other, ' I will not ; but after- ward he repented and went.' Our Saviour puts the question, ' Whether of the twain did the will of his father ? ' He that said, I will, but did not, was the worst, because ihe understanding is somewhat better than the will ; therefore men will give God good words. This rebellion is disguised with a promise and pretence of obedience ; therefore I shall give some rules which you must observe in denying your own will, and by which you may try your estate.