should bee disposed of God to the falling of a haire Pompy demaunds and denyes to learned Cratippus 4. 4. Christ to be God and Man borne of a Virgin So likewise that thrice blessed and most admirable Conception and Misticall Vnion of two so diuers Natures in one Person Christ our Sauiour to be God and Man Creator and Creature And his Mother to be a Mother and a Virgin It was scorned at by the Heathen and the Christians called Asse-heads and Doltish for beleeuing it So that who sees not here how wee must denie our owne wisedome and iudgement 5. Besides Predestination how did it seeme vniust and cruell 5. Predestination 6. Redemption 6. Againe to beleeue our Redemption in Christ or anothers death Strength in Weakenes Glory in Basenes It is a thing most ridiculous in the iudgement of flesh and blood As also 7. The iust to be punished for the vnâ—â—â—â— That the onely Dearely-beloued of God should be accused betrayed condemned crucified scorned and derided and bee thus euill intreated by Man God looking on and suffering the Iust to be punished for the Vniust the vniust to be acquited by the Iust the Vnholy to be hallowed by the Holynesse of an other These things require the Deniall of our selues as improoueable vnlikely and absurd 8. 8 To stand at the merrit of another To pronounce our selues guilty and worthy of Death and to stand at the Mercy and Merrit of another Is thought in Nature a strange thing 9. 9 The Church alwayes liueing yet not seene Touching the Church alwayes exsisting and yet oft not seene may seeme in reason to be a Parradox 10. 10 Many caled few chosen That the greatest part in the World shal perish and a few in the middest of them shall be preserued and saued Man naturally derides and scoffes at 11. 11 Christ and his member vnited That there should bee a communion and fellowship betwixt Christ and his members the one in the Earth and the other in Heauen The naturall man cannot perceiue it 12. 12 Regeneration So the worke of Regeneration How foolish and vnpossible did it seeme to Nichodemus 13. 13 Resurrection The beleeuing the Resurrection of the same body wee now haue What flesh and blood thought thereof the whole famous Vniuersity of Athens testified who mocked at Paul for teaching of it 14. 14 Preaching The Preaching of the Gospel it selfe in that poore and weake manner by poore simple men nether countenanced of wise men nor scepters nor riches nor wealth Is the wonderment of the world and therefore of them is counted foolishnes 1. Cor. 1.27.28 Lastly 15. To be heirs of all things possesse nothing to beleeue our selues heires of all thinges Sonnes of God and beloued of him and yet to haue and possesse nothing to bee poore vile and abiect to be daily afflicted of God and the world and yet to reioyce and be patient It is the worlds wonder 2. Cor. 4.8.9.10 So that we are taught in Scripture by Faith to beleeue these with infinite more of this kinde without reasoning the matter or inquiring the manner thereof by humane and carnall wisedome Thus in generall wee see how these doe proue the great necessitie of this duetie Denying our selues So especially this duety is most requisite in the point of Iustification For this is such that reason scoffes at Naturall pride would not admit neither can or will Reason see reason here why we should confesse our selues corrupted guilty condemned vnable to help our selues and so to bee forced vtterly to renounce our selfe and to looke for absolution freedome and righteousnesse in and by another Mans nature takes check at this thinking it an vnsafe way an vnwarrantable way a way that disgraces and reproches the worldly wise and worldly ciuill men equalling them with the veriest fooles and most notorious sinners teaching that all sortes of men must bee alike iustified by anothers righteousnesse and that the greatest sinner hauing once repented is accepted aswell without any more adoe of God as him that was neuer stayned with any noted crimes Let vs come to the other part of christian profession 2. Obedience and heare all the dueties that we are enioyned to performe either to God to man or our selues In all which is required the practise of his duetie the renouncing of our wisedome of our wils of our owne worth of our owne desires and selfe lone 1. For first we can neuer liue either in a religious performance and acceptance of our seruice to God 2. Secondly nor of dueties of Iustice and charitie to our Neighbour 3. Thirdly nor of Sobrietie to our selues Vntill wee haue denyed our selues and our owne selfe loue Which makes vs 1. Bad Seruants to God Our selues being our owne god 2. Bad Neighbours to others All being too litle for our selus 3. Bad gouernors of our Selues We being not our selues Luke 15.17 First 1. Our duety to God if wee consider God himselfe wee shall never either Loue him truely or Feare him fillially or put our Confidence in him firmely or Depend on him constantly or bee Thankfull and Patient to him in Prosperitie and Aduersitie or be Humbled vnder his hand or Call vppon his Name daily and zealously vntill we go out of our selues The knowledge of God And for the Knowledge of God we reiect it and regard it not being full we can receiue nothing vntill wee haue learned this first lesson in Christs schoole the Denying of our selues Otherwise wee shall make our Selues our owne God Admiring our owne wisedome following our owne Wills yeelding to our owne affections applauding our owne Thoughts louing our owne wayes depending one none but our Selues consulting with our selues and our Copes-mates admiring our deep Reach Policie Beautie Strength Learning Dexteritie Skill and Diligence when we haue effected or brought any thing to passe And for Obedience though wee may bee brought to Sacrifice that is Obedience to performe outward seruice to God yet obedience we reserue to our selues and our owne wills And if at any time we do performe any duety of the first Table it is defiâ—ed by vs with the falsâ— ends we propound to our selues As our owne Praise Fame Reputation Honor Preferment Credit Estimation and such like so that it becomes abominable to God and yet wee thinke our selues highly Meritorious Like pampering Parents Simile who cocker their children and through excesse of Loue disorder them in their Behauiour Diet Apparell and euery way This Selfe-Loue being contrary to the Loue of God the fountaine of all holy dueties These things neede no proofe our selues can testifie against our selues it was so with vs before we had learned this lesson in part and alas is too much in vs yet But most palpably it is to bee seene in the Naturall men of the world in all their proceedings both publike and priuate both religious and ciuill businesse Obedience is
haue not learned this poynt of Deniall and so in truth keepe themselues from being found in Christ being enemies to the grace of God and righteousnesse of Christ so that while they challenge either part of the praise as co-workers or any portion of merrit and desert they do aduance themselues by a spirituall pride and giue not glory vnto God so that this very end they propound to themselues of their owne glory is sufficient to defile it and make it to God abhominable But in the second place let vs learne this poynt euer to renounce al confidence and conceit of any thing that the Lord hath wrought in vs or by vs and say not to vs but to thy name bee the prayse the Angells in Heauen haue learnt in humility to cast their crownes downe at the feete of the Lambe and to giue al glory to him that was slayne and had redeemed him and excellert is the example of Dauid 1 Chron. 29.11 12 13 14. 1 Chron. 29.13.14 Who am I and what is my people that wee should bee able to offer so willingly for all things come off thee and of thine owne haue we giuen thee Now therefore we thank thee and praise thy glorious Name And thus much of the fift Branch the sixt followes The 6. Branch of denial it is our owne liues Vse 1 The sixt branch of our deniall is our owne Liues for this Christ teaches both in the verse following as also Mat. 10.39 for what euer might hinder vs from the constant cleauing to Christ is to bee denied and all things to bee vnder-valued for Christ Mat. 10.39 or else we are not worthy of him braue was the spirit of Paul Acts 20.24 Act. 20.24 I am not ready onely to be bound for the Lord Iesus but to dye for him neither counted hee his life deare Thus did those worthy Hebrewes in the 11 Chapter so did the Martires of God in our Land in the former ages Heb. 11. All whose stepps wee must follow as Christ vrges by many reasons as that hee that will saue his life should loose it but hee that is willing for Christs sake to loose it shall finde it Which if it bee so it reprooues all fearefull ones against which Christ giues a charge Mat. Mat. 10.28 10.28 Feare not those that can destroy the body but are not able to kill the soule but rather feare him which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell Secondly it reprooues those who are so farre from Denying their liues that they wil not deny their vnlawfull and sinfull lusts pleasures or proffits they that haue not learnt yet to part with these things for Christs sake and honor of the truth how can it bee expected that they should part with life it selfe for his sake Vse 2 It must admonish vs by serious meditation to arme our selues against the worst to be ready to giue our life for him who hath giuen his for vs that wee should not dye eternally these things must oft bee thought on for as a holy man sayes The price of Truth varies as the Market and price of Graine Some time graine is cheape some time deare so Truth is offered good cheepe to vs and hath bin a long time with ease and wealth now if the Lord should set a greater price on it wee must not then grudge And thus much for the sixt Branch The seauenth and last Branch of this Denial The 7 branch of Deniall is or wife children country friends c. is the Deniall of all things without vs or about vs that is neere and deere vnto vs as Wife Children Country Friends c. Mat. 10.37 Luke 14.26 Thus Christ himselfe did some times denyed his Parents some times forsooke his Freinds Country but especially hee left his eternall glory Mat. 10.37 the society of his blessed Father and Angells Luke 14.26 and liued as an exile one earth for our redemption so that much more are wee to doe this for this is but that equity of the Law that God himselfe his trueth and worship be loued and embraced aboue all Vse 1 The vse of which point is also for admonition to arme vs what is to bee vndergone for the Gospell all earthly thinges to be forsaken for if a whole countrie should bee infected with the Pestilence who would not by flight prouide for himselfe and his health So must wee flie from spirituall infection and carefully preserue the health of our soules and this wee may bee incouraged vnto by the comfortable promise of Christ Math. 19.29 Math. 19.29 Whosoeuer shall forsake any thing as friendes howses brethren sisters father mother wife children countrie or lands for my names sake he shall receiue a hundreth fold more with persecutions Mark 10.30 and in the end euerlasting life And thus much may suffice to haue spoken of the duetie it selfe and the seuerall branches Now it remaines that we speak of the Necessitie thereof The secoud generall head containes the necessitie of Denying our Selues Albeit the necessitie of this Duetie may appeare by that which hath already bene spoken yet it comes further to be declared There are 2. partes of christian profession to which we are called The 1. concernes things to be beleeued Faith Obedience The 2. dueties to be performed Faith Obedience Now either of these doeth require the practise of this duetie For the first seing many misteries of christian faith 1. Faith and the dispensation thereof is such as agrees not with flesh and blood is not subiect to the capacity of fleshly reason nay may seeme absurd and foolishnes vnto it therefore no maruaile if Christ said Deny your selues And Samuel sayd If yee turne to the Lord put away those thinges But let vs see a more particular declaration of this point which is most profitable that so wee may bee directed to knowe in what particular cases or at what times this Selfe-Denyall is to be practised and is of speciall vse First then this Denyall of our selues Reason and Wisedome is most necessary to the beleeuing and subiecting our selues to the Articles of faith for the most of them being such as are aboue if not contrary to naturall reason and comprehension wee shall neuer stedfastly and soberly beleeue the same if wee examine them and reduce them to tearmes of Logick or argument of Reason If we should go through all the Articles of faith and aske aduise and consult with flesh and blood concerning the intertainement of them how many of them would be receiued or beleeued 1. 1 Trinitie That great hid and sacred Mistery of the blessed Trinity of persons in an vnity of Nature and Essence How impossible a thing to the conceit of flesh and blood 2. The Creation of the world all things therein of Nothing 2. Creation It cannot be sayth the Philosopher 3. The Doctrine of particular Prouidence 3. Prouidence That all things
matters of Religion to try particulars by is to examine what is plausible to humane wisedome and affections and to question that but what crosses these and carries vs against them is likely to be of God These things Gentle Reader I commend vnto thy serious consideration as worthy of it if thou respect the matter it selfe as for the forme and Phrase thereof I must craue thy fauourable censure the Nouelty of the subiect as it was the ground of some friends importunity to publish it so if I haue failed in any thing in the same it deserues pardon it is easie erring where the way is not made before For thee learned Reader if any such shal vouchsafe to peruse it I submit my selfe to his iudgement and correction glad if I may minister but any occasion to any such of further enlarging this so necessary a subiect For other Readers the cōmon Christian for whose good I haue penned this if it shal any wayes enforme thy iudgement settle thy thought and helpe thee forward in the Schoole of Christ I haue my desire my ioy shall be full and if this my first fruites shall finde kinde entertaynment in the World it may adde encouragement to other assayes In meane while I commending the fruite of this Labour to the Lords Blessing crauing thy Prayers I cease remaining thy Brother in the common Faith and Saluation and a Wel-willer of thy good CHRISTOPHER WILSON SELFE DENIALL OR A Christians hardest Taske LVKE 9.23 If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take vp his Crosse daily and follow Me. THESE Words are Recorded by the Evangelistes to haue beene oft vsed by our Sauiour and that on diuerse occasions partly speciall Mat. 16.23 24. as Mat. 16.23.24 Where Peter taking on him to Counsell Christ but much amisse Christ hauing reprooued him and shewed him the ground of his error hee layes downe this as the Cure of that and all others of the same nature that none cannot onely not counsell him but not follow him counselling them vnlesse they learne this point to Deny themselues Luke 9. St. Luke he shewes the occasion to haue beene this that hauing spoken of his owne future sufferings and death to the end that none should be offended at them or expect other condition in as many as would constantly follow him hee shewes that this is to bee receiued as the first lesson in his Schoole That all his followers must deny themselues and resolue for the worst Briefely whereas in the end of this Chapter some offer themselues to be followers of Christ but are refused and one being called of him did make excuse Our Saviour layes downe this as a generall qualification of all those that are meete and fit to follow him that they must resolue in way of preparation and due disposition To deny themselues c. For whereas there is nothing more necessary to seruants then to know their Maisters will and their owne duty So Christians beeing all the seruants of God nothing more beseemes them then the enquiry of their Maisters will and more specially the maine duties required at their hand 1 The Law Now because none might pleade excuse of Ignorance through infirmity 2 The Gospel that they are so many as can hardly bee remembred as God dealt in this behalfe with the Iewes The summe of every Christian mans duty consisting of three Branches reducing all their duties to ten heards or words And Christ hath reduced them to two Loue of God and Neighbour So our Sauiour Christ hath most briefely layd downe the whole summe of euery Christian mans duty consisting of three branches 1 A deniall of out selues 2 Bearing the Crosse 3 Following Christ The first a deniall of our selues Secondly the bearing the Crosse Thirdly the following Christ And in truth the last containes the whole duty of a Christian Yet because our Sauiour as hee saw what were the Lets of the practising of the duty which while they were not remooued it were in vaine prescribed therefore Christ hath set them downe in the words going before There are two maine Lets which hinder vs from following Christ 1 Inward within vs and that is our selues For there are two maine Lets whereby euery man is hindred from following Christ the one is inward within a man and that is himselfe The other is outward arising from the malice of Sathan and the World raysing vp continuall troubles and afflictions against the professors of Christ Now these two vnlesse they be remooued 2 Outward which are the afflictions wee haue in this World the first by a resolute renouncing and abandoning what euer is in our selues an enemy to Christs Doctrine or any part of it The other by arming our selues with courage and sprituall armour to an vndaunted suffering and bearing of the Crosse I say without this preparation before hand it is bootlesse and to no purpose to offer our selues to Christ so that hence arises vnto vs this necessary Instruction Doctr. 1 That it is no light or easie thing to become a true Christian but that great things are required in way of preparation and true disposition So that it is not a shallow and slight purpose a flickring motion a good intent and desire or a generall approbation of Christ and his Doctrine that will serue the turne but there must be serious and setled resolutions preparations preuision and prouision against all occurrances yea against all reasonings and consultations of the flesh yea of reason and humane wisedome This point our Sauiour teaches by two notable similitudes Luke 14.26 to 34. Luke 14. the 26. vers to the 34. That as it is folly to beginne to build before a man haue considered what the charge will be and whether he be able and willing to disburse so much or else to giue ouer at the first For as it is folly to attempt warre before wee haue well weighed our owne and our enemies forces Simile that if wee finde our selues too weake wee may make as good conditions of peace as wee can So when wee enter Christianity to rayse vp such a building as beeing well grounded will stand against all stormes and before wee enter this spirituall warre against our three grand enemies the flesh the World and Sathan it behooues vs that wee bestirre vs to get all things requisite to the one and the other He are that of Salomon hath place Prouerbs Establish thy thoughts by counsell and by counsell make Warre And that speech of the Heathen hath place aboue all here That euery Action must want two things 1. Rashnesse 2. Negligence The one to be auoyded ere wee enter the other when wee haue set vpon it much more this worke so holy so weighty It is a dangerous thing in warre or building to commit an error in the on-set So in Christianity to set out il-appointed We know a iourney of any length is not vndertaken but