1. Supremely —
[One would have supposed, that man, however fallen, should at least have given a precedence to his God : but he chooses rather to be a god unto himself, and to consult, in the first place, what will be most conducive to his own ease, or interest, or honour. If the gratification of self, in any respect, be found contrary to the declared will of God, the authority of God is set at nought ; the honour of God overlooked, as unimportant ; and the pleasure, whatever it may be, is pur- sued, without restriction or remorse. From their fellow-man, indeed, they feel some restraint ; but from God, none at all. As far as he is concerned, they say, " Our lips are our own : Who is lord over usb?" Nor is this on some particular occa- sion only : it is the prevailing habit of their minds : and, whensoever the will of God is opposed to theirs, they do not hesitate to say, " Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice ? I know not the Lord, neither will I obey his voice0."]
2. Exclusively —
[In truth, man in his fallen state does not admit any com- petition between God and him. He chooses rather to "cast God behind his backd," and to live "without him in the world6." " The things of Jesus Christ" do not at all engage his thoughts. He never asks himself, ' What would the Lord Jesus Christ wish me to do? What will please him? What will honour him? What will advance his glory in the world?' These are considerations which never enter into his mind. Nor is this the case with any one particular de- scription of persons only : it is the same with all persons, of every age, of every country, of every condition. From in- fancy to old age there is the same regard for self, to the utter exclusion of every thing that relates to Christ. There may be indeed, and often is, in ungodly men, a great concern about their own sect or party in the Church ; which they, perhaps, would call a regard for Christ himself. But this is nothing more than a carnal principle, precisely similar to that which actuates men in relation to their own society or country. There is in it no real regard for the Lord Jesus Christ him- self, but only for the particular party to which they belong : and, whatever construction they may put upon their actions, God, who tries the heart, will comprehend them under the censure of my text, as " seeking their own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ." " They are empty vines, because they bring forth fruit only to themselvesV]
* Ps. xii. 4. « Exod. v. 2. d Ezek. xxiii. 35.
e Eph. ii. 12. t Hos. x. 1.