^72 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
alised. "When parents prefer their cliildren to spiritual employments, or continue them there for their maintenance, though otherwise unfit and unworthy, this is to honour their sons above God. God is to have the highest honour and resjiect.
[2.] When we can part with spiritual prerogatives for a more free enjoyment of carnal pleasures. When we make pleasures to be the business of our lives, and are carried out with great affection thereunto, but are cold and careless in the service of God, this is to love them more than God, 2 Tim. iii. 4. It is a sin not to be stroked with a gentle censure. There is much of profaneness shown, when duty and pleasure come in competition ; and we cannot find any contentment in communion with God, but can part with that to gratify the senses. The temptation is so low, that the sin riseth the higher. When the consolations of God are exchanged for the pleasures of sin, it is a sorry exchange ; hke Esau's selling his birthright for a mess of pottage, Heb. xii. IG. When the temptation is small, and yet prevalent, it is a sign the natural inclinations are very great ; they are carried downwards, as heavy bodies, by their own weight ; they are not forced, but inclined. A little sinful delight and satisfaction draweth them out of the way, and maketh them hazard the love of God, the consolations of the Spirit, and whatsoever is dear and precious to Christ. Now this is aggravated, when upon serious debates and struggliugs of conscience men do not what is best, but what is sweetest, it is a very shrewd symptom of this evil, for resolution or debate argueth something of choice and full con- sent ; not only a doing of evil, but a preferring of it.
[3.] When men have an actual conviction upon them, and out of carnal reasons think of delays ; Mat. xxii. 5, ' They made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise ; ' and so, Luke xiv. 18, they are loath to part from these things. Christ calleth, not only from sin, but from the world , they do not send a denial, but an excuse ; some neglect, others oppose. They do not kill the preachers, yet they prefer these paltry matters before the king's grace tendered to them. When their hearts are affixed on worldly aftairs, they will not leave them for heavenly offers. An overgreat care for the business of the world worketh a neglect of God : Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? ' Though we do not contemn or oppose, yet if we neglect, we think the world better, and will not be called off to higher things.
[4.] When men have a greater savour in worldly gain than in the ordinances of God, when they think all time is lost that is spent in duty : Amos viii. 5, those wretches that said, ' When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn ; and the Sabbath be over, that we niay set forth wheat ? ' It was a hindrance and a loss to them to lose a day ; it was irksome to fast from gain. It is a profane spirit that grudgeth God his time, and to think that all is lost that is spent in duty and service to him ; this is to love the world more than God. This savour is bewrayed by self-denial, when we can deny ourselves more for pleasure than for God ; it is an ill sign when we count noth- ing too much for our lusts, and everything too much for God. When we spend whole days in the world, Ps. cxxvii. 2, or in pleasure, count- ing it a pleasure to riot in the day-time, 2 Pet. ii. 13 ; in efi'ect and
Book L] a treatise of self-denial. 273
necessary interpretation, tliis is to ' love pleasure more than God/ When we cut God short of his necessary allowance, and do not keep the soul healthy, and are loath to redeem time for ordinances, and can spend it freely and without remorse in pleasures, and this is our joy and rejoicing ; when men can rack their hrains and waste their strength in worldly business, yet will not take pains in a godly life, it shows that the world, not God, is uppermost in the heart.
[5.] When for the favour and countenance of men, and our ambition to attain them, we do many things that are contrary to the conscience of our duty to God. It is an ill sign when men cannot satisfy them- selves in the approbation of Christ ; he should be instead of all. It were a great folly in a race to make the people judges, and neglect the djcovod eT7](; ; it is no matter what standers- by say, so the judge of the race do approve. Yet thus too many do ; they are convinced of the excellency of the ways of God, yet dare not profess them, lest they should ' lose the praise of men,' John xii. 42, 43. Their consciences were sufficiently convinced, but their heart was not subdued and weaned from self-respect. In all controverted cases, thus it falls out ; men are hardened, not so much for want of light, as want of love to God ; they will not veil to truth. Such a spirit, in the reign of it, is wholly inconsistent with grace, for so Christ chargeth it : John v. 44, ' How can ye believe, when ye seek honour one of another ? ' Men are loath to lose credit with their own party ; so Paul, Gal. i. 10, ' For do I persuade men, or God ? or, do I seek to please men ? For if I yet pleased men, I should not have been the servant of Jesus Christ.' Paul, when a pharisee, was carried with a wild zeal, and animated with a false fire.