tleman and other persons, will forbear the disgraceful sins of drunkenness, filthy speaking, whoredom, incivility, notorious profaneness, even because they are disgraceful, and therefore are against the interest of self; so much as self can possibly spare, a carnal heart may be brought to part with. But still self is alive and predominant within them, still it is the ruling end and principle. But to go out of self to God, and resign up ourselves to him, and possess no interest but him and in him, and to have nothing that we esteem, or love, or care for in comparison of him, knowing that for him we were made, redeemed, preserved and sanctified, and therefore desiring to be wholly and only his, and to have no credit, no goods, no life, no self, but what is his, for his service, at his will and at his disposal, and government, and provision; this is the true self-denial, which the Spirit of God worketh in a prevailing, though not a perfect measure, in every gracious, believing soul.

But alas, sirs, how strange is this in the world, and how weak and low in the souls where it is found; and what matter of lamentation would a survey of the world or of ourselves present us with! Is not SELF the great idol which the whole world of unsanctified men doth worship? Who is it that ruleth the children of disobedience, but carnal self? For what is all the stir and strivings, the tumults and contentions of the world, but for self? This ruleth kingdoms, and this is it that raiseth wars; and what is it, except the works of holiness, but self is the author of? Look unto the thrones and kingdoms of the earth, and conjecture how many self hath advanced and placed there, and how few have staid till God enthroned them and gave them the crown and sceptre with his approbation. Among all the nobles and great ones of the earth, that abound in riches, how few are there that were not set a-work by self and ruled by it, in the getting, or keeping, or using their riches, dignities and honours! Look on the great revenues of the nation, and of the world, and consider whether God or self have the more of it. One man hath many thousands a year, and another hath many hundreds, and how much of this is devoted to God, and how much to carnal self? And the poor that have but little, would think us injurious to them if we should call to them for any thing from God, who have not enough for themselves; when indeed God must have all, and self must have nothing,

but what it hath by way of return from God again, and that for God, and not for self, but as subservient unto him. Alas, of many hundred thousand pounds a year, which the inhabitants of a country possess among them, how little hath God that should have all, and how much hath self that should have nothing! O dreadful reckoning when these accounts must be all cast up! Judge by the use of all, whether self have not the dominion of all. If men throw out to God his tenth, which is none of their own; or if they cast him now and then some inconsiderable alms, when in his members he is fain to beg for it first, they think they have done fair, though self devour all the rest. Is it more, think you, for God or self that our courts of law are filled with so many suits, and lawyers have so much employment? Is it more, think you, for God or self that merchants compass sea and land for commodity? Who is it that the soldier fights for, is it for God or self? Who is it that the tradesman deals for, that the ploughman labours for, that the traveller goes for, is it more for God or self? Who is it that the most of men's thoughts are spent for, and the most of their words are spoken for, and the most of their rents and wealth laid out for, and the most of their precious time employed for, is it for God or self? Consider of it whether it be not self that finally and morally rules the world. What else do most live for or look after? And is not the common piety, religion and charity of the world, a mere sending God some scraps of the leavings of carnal self? If the flesh be full, or have enough, then God shall have the crumbs that fall from its table, or at most so much as it can spare: but till the flesh have done and be satisfied, God must stay even for these scraps and crumbs; and if they can but say, 'I want it myself, or have use for it myself,' they think it a sufficient answer to all demands. One may see by the irregularity of the motions of the world, the confusions, and crossings, and mutabilities, and contradictions, the doing and undoing again, the differences and fierce contendings, that it is not God, but self that is the end and principle of the motions. Nay, most men are so dead to God, and alive only to themselves, that they know not what we mean when we tell them, and plainly tell them what it is to live to God, and what it is to serve him in all their affairs, and to eat, and drink, and do all things for his glory; but they ask in their hearts as

Pharaoh, "Who is the Lord, that I should serve him?" And when they read these passages about self-denial, and about referring all to God, they will not understand them ; for they are unacquainted with God, and know no other god in deed but self, though in name they do.

Nay, it were well if self were kept out of the church, and out of the ministers of the Gospel, that must teach the world to deny themselves; that it did not with too many choose their habitations, and give them their call, and limit them in their labours, and direct them in the manner and measure; it were well if some ministers did not study for self, and preach and dispute for self, and live for self, when they materially preach against self, and teach men self-denial. And then for our people, alas, it rules their families, it manageth their business, it drives on their trades; it comes to church with them, and fights within them against the word, and perverteth their judgment, and will let them relish nothing, and receive nothing but what is consistent with selfish interest. In a word, it makes men ungodly, it keeps them ungodly, and it is their very ungodliness itself. O! were it not for carnal self, how easily might we deal with all sorts of sinners! But this is it that overcometh us.

CHAPTER IV.

The Prevalency of Selfishness in all Relations.

BESIDE all the generals already mentioned, it will not be amiss to give you some particular instances of the power of selfishness, and the rareness of self-denial in the world, that you may see what cause of lamentation is before us.

1. How ready and speedy, how effectual and diligent, how constant and unwearied are they in the service of self! And how slow and backward, how remiss and negligent, how inconstant and tired are they in the works that are merely for God and their salvation! Do I need to prove it. to you? You may as well call for proof whether there are men in the world. I were best for instance begin next home. Many ministers think it a drudgery and a toil that God requireth at their hands to confer with every family in their parishes, and instruct them privately in the matters of

salvation. But see what self can do: if the same men have but their tithe to gather, they will not think it a needless thing, to go or send to every family, and speak with them all about their own business. At least if it were any derable sum, they would not lose it for want of speaking for.

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Our neighbours do many of them think it much that we should call them to be personally instructed or catechised, and they will not come at us; but say, ' What needs all this ado? have we not teaching enough at church. It is children that must be catechised, and we are past children.' You see how little interest God and their ministers and their own salvation have in them; but will you see what carnal self can do more? Had I but money enough, I would undertake to make them come to me, and follow me as a horse will follow his provender! Had I but ten pounds a piece to give them, yea, or but ten shillings, I do not think I should have any refuse to come and fetch it, unless it were those that are now the most forward in seeking relief for the wants of their souls. Had I but the estates or lives of all these men in my power, how easily would they be ruled, and how diligently and submissively would they attend, that now for God and their everlasting life, disdain to come and seek instructions! And yet these men would scarce believe you, if you should tell them that self and the world is made their God, and that God himself is denied and rejected by them.

Moreover, a long time I have been persuading all the families in the town and parish to read the Scripture, and daily call upon God together. I have proved it their duty from Scripture, and this doth not prevail. But see what flesh and self can do! If these men were but sure of ten or twenty shillings a time, for every morning and evening that they pray together, I warrant you, whatever the heart did, the lips should be taught to do their part. O how busy would all the town and parish be to learn to pray, that now look not after it! I do not believe that there is ever a house among them all that would not shortly set up prayer, if they were but paid for it after these rates. Judge now whether God or self bear sway among these men, and whether soul or body be more regarded.

Moreover, we have too many drunkards in the town, that no means that we can use will restrain and keep sober. They love the drink, and they cannot forbear; and tell them of

God's word, that doth threaten them with damnation, and they will for all that be drunk the next day. But if one of these wretches might have but ten pounds a week on condition he would forbear, I do not think for all this, but he could forbear. Or if he were sure that for every cup of drink, he should drink after it a cup of gall, I warrant you he would soon begin to abate.

We have abundance of ignorant, sensual men that for love of sin refuse church-government, and will not come under it. But if the magistrate would but make a law, that all men shall be members of a particular church, and submit to discipline, or forfeit but twenty shillings a month, how few refusers should we have in all the town or country!

We have many that seldom come to hear in the public assemblies; but let the parliament make a law that they shall pay for their refusal, and how readily will it bring the most of them! (unless they have hopes that the law will not be executed.) And judge now whether self or God have greater interests in these men's hearts.

I see but one piece of self-denial among this sort of people in this town, and that is this: though the officers are to give the money to the poor which they have from swearers, drunkards, unlicensed and abusive ale-sellers, profaners of the Lord's day, &c., yet that sort of the poor themselves do hate those officers that are zealous in their duties. This is strange, that the love of money doth not change them. But whether it be that they can deny their flesh for the devil, though not for God; and in enmity to godliness, though not to further it; or whether it be that the officers do use to give their money to an honester sort of poor, and these have none of it, I cannot well, tell.

And having given sy many sad instances of the power of self, and scarcity of self-denial in others, I hope the magistrates will not take it ill if we help them to discern this enemy in themselves, nor be offended that they come last, unless it were in a more honourable cause. I hear the best and wisest men that I can meet with, complain that in most places, alehouses flourish under the magistrates' noses; and that whoredom, swearing, profaning the Lord's day shall seldom be punished, but when they are very much urged to it, nor then either if it will but displease a neighbour, or a friend, especially if it be a worshipful swearer or drunkard that is