[6.] When we find more complacency in outward enjoyments, and are more satisfied with them than in God's love and favour ; when men cannot find any sweetness in communion with God, but are wonderfully drawn out in fleshly delights. This is contrary to the dis- positions of God's people : Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, ' One day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.^ Oh, that is a day of a thousand that is spent in free access to God in his ordinances ! Wherever there is a new heart, it must have new desires and new delights. But carnal men, like swine, find more pleasure in swill than in better food. It is irksome to converse with God in duties, they find no more pleasure than in the white of an egg. As those, Mai. i. 13, that brought the sick lamb, and the lame, yet they did count it a great burthen, and they saj'', ' What a weariness is it ! ' They puffed and blowed, and said, How weary am I with bringing this sacrifice ! This is an ill note, and doth in effect proclaim that the life of pleasures is more excellent and satis- fying than that which is spent, ia the exercises of religion.
[7.] It argueth a spice of this carnal self-love when men envy them that have outward increase, as if they had the better portion. This its an evil with which the children of God may be surprised when Satan is at their elbows. They may have admiring thoughts of the world, and think it a brave thing to milk out the breasts of worldly consola- tions '. Ps. cxliv. 1.5, ' Happy is the people that is in such a case.' But this is but like a nod in case of drowsiness, they awake with more vigour and life ; yea, rathei', ' Happy is that people whose God is the
VOL. XV. s
274 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
Lord/ The ground of this trial is because God in the ordinances is much more sweet than God in the creature, even as much as grace excelleth nature. Now, the best that wicked and carnal men have is but God in the creature. You prize a carnal self when you look lean upon their mercies ; you have a true self, that is more advanced and ennobled ; but you prize a carnal self, as if this would make you more happy than those privileges you have, and the comforts you enjoy with a good conscience. For the aggravating of this evil, consider, the devil himself is not talien with material things, with carnal pleasure, and with the delight of the senses. Why ? because he is a spiritual essence. Christians, they are made partakers of a divine nature ; therefore when carnal men increase in wealth, or grow fat, and flourish in outward pleasure, they should not envy them. The people of God have always disclaimed this evil, as the Psalmist doth, in Ps. vi. 7, ' Thou hast put more gladness into my heart than when corn, and oil, and wine in- creased.' If they grow fat upon common mercies, should I wax lean upon spiritual mercies? So Ps. xvii. 15, 'As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.' Those that bear down all before them with violence, they may be filled with treasures, they may provide for their babes, but I envy them not their portion ; I have a better self, that is provided for — ' When I awake, 1 shall be satisfied with thy image and likeness.'
[8.] When men are more troubled for worldly losses than they are for sins against God, this is also to love the creature more than God. All affection follows love, and so doth grief ; and therefore it is notable, John xi. 35, it is said, ' Jesus wept,' and then it followeth, ' They said, Behold, how he loved him.' The greatness of our grief will bewray the greatness of our love ; therefore when we grieve more for worldly losses than for sins, this is an act of self-love. I confess, in crosses there may be a greater commotion, but there should not be a more solid grief. A christian's sorrow is consecrated, it is water for the uses of the sanctuary ; we should not lavish out our tears, but reserve them. Men may spend their afiections on carnal matters, and then, when they should mourn for sin, they have no tenderness left. Most of our grief should be for the affront wc put upon God's grace. It is an argument men love the creature more than God, when they can grieve more for a temporal loss than for departure of God.
2. Then for the state of it. Most of the marks already given are convincing , yet you must know a man is not tried by what he doth in a temptation in all these things ; but a man is to be measured by the constant course of his life. When a man maketh pleasures and earthly advantages to be tlie scope of his life rather than God's service, and letteth go all care of heaven, and constantly consults with flesh and blood, and is ruled and guided by the love of the creature and respect to his own interest, rather than the love of God, this argues the state. Many a man, in fact, and by the interpretation of his action, may be said to love the creature more than God. But the state is to be measured by the esteem and solid constitution of the soul ; when men's bent is to the carnal life, and they are prejudiced against the strict part of religion, and have neither hope, nor desire, nor estima- tion for Christ, as the pearl of greatest price. And therefore, when-