A Most Godly Sermon - 10 October 1641

DOCT. I.

THE first Lesson is the A. B. C. that CHRIST teacheth us in his School, is this, For a man to deny himself, and so is it also the highest task that is set to any.

These words were spoken to them all, a great many professed Christ, and thronged upon him. Therefore Christ taught them a lesson, that most of them never thought of. If any one will follow me, let him deny himself. The Condition is, let him deny himself, the terms are self-denial.

Self-denial consisteth,

• 1. In denying ourselves in all good things.
• 2. In all evil Things.

1. In all good things, Self-denial ought to be in all good things. 1. Internal. 2. External. Internal as the understanding, will, and affection. So in moral Habits, as Temperance, Fortitude, Wisdom, &c. 3. In labor of knowledge, even of such as are gotten by study. 2. Self-denial ought to be in External good things.

1. In matters of duty. 2. In Objects.

1. Jn matters of duty, that is toward God, where is discovered a main duty between true exercise of Piety, and Counterfeit, Those are true, which are set down in Scripture, and none else; for God will be served of himself, he commandeth not as man prescript. 2 Here appears the vainnesse of that duty which is prescribed of men.

Those of men may be known like trees by their fruits.

That of human invention, set upon the Conscience, those who maintain it, cannot but confess the superstition which they maintain.

The next thing, is the duty we owe to our Neighbor, as of charity, of equity, of mercy : when we have done all that is commanded, we must confess we are unprofitable Servants. Here is self-denial▪ yet there may be duties of Piety, where there is a want hereof, as 1. Cor. 13.3. There may be seeming charity, yet falls. There may be a giving up of the body to be burned, yet want of charity; because not proceeding from Faith. Even in these works a Christian must deny himself.

Use 1. To condemn all Popish Charity, and many which they call good works, instead of denying themselves in those works, they deny Christ ; for in those works, they say they deserve the Kingdom of Heaven. For there is salvation in none other but in Christ Jesus only.

Use 2. To condemn another sort of carnal profane men that build their salvation on common duties, works of morality; who say that they do all men right ( though perhaps they are compelled so to do ) this overthrows the Doctrine of Christ, this is not to deny themselves, but to deny Christ.

Use 3. To put a difference between true charity and false, some men are naturally given to be upright, to do Justice, to deal upright. This is not to deny ones self, to build in these; for this is not of Grace: for works of Grace humble a man. This may be a trial of our grace; if they be of grace, thou wilt deny thyself in them. In the next place, we are to consider of certain objects, of a threefold relation.

1. A Natural. 2. A Civil. 3. A sensitive Relation.

Doct. 2.

ANd first a Natural Relation, as to Father, Mother, wife, Children, kindred, &c. we must deny ourselves in all relation, where th • y stand in opposition unto Christ, for proof hereof. Luke 14.26. If father, mother, wife, children, &c. call us to stand in opposition to Christ, In that respe • t we must hate them. Mat. 10.35. No marvel then if the world cry out of Christ, and call him a seditious Person. For a man to hate his Parents, as he is a Father; but to deny obodience to his father, so far as he is hindered from coming to Christ. A noteable Example is in Deutr. 13.6. The Son must not conceal the Father, if he seek to bring him to Idolatry. We must not acknowledge Father and Mother in bidding us to do that which Christ forbiddeth. Mat. 23.9. So there is a noteable Psalm. Deutr. 33.9. This denial brought a blessing upon them, and it is a Type of the Gospel. For every true Believer is a Priest, and must not in that respect look upon outward Relation, in competition with Christ: but deny ourselves in those things, which otherwise we are bound to love by the Law of Nature. Trample upon thy Father, cast off thy wife and children, saith a Father, if they seek to draw thee from Christ.

Use. To condemn the Papist who hang all their Faith and Religion on their Ancestors; because they lived and died in this Religion: this is to set up the Parents against Christ.

Use 2. To reprove too many Papists in this Land, that do propagate their Children▪ and Children's Children in that Religion. Many amongst us, that send their Children to Monasteries in Rome, to make them bondslaves in darkness forever. God be thanked we have good Laws, & I hope we shall have them increased by the happy Parliament ; but happy were it, if there were good Magistrates to put those Laws in practice.

Use 3. For Parents that profess Religion. When the spirit of Christ toucheth the heart, then they see the true way whose heart is so touched.

Yet how many Parents cannot endure that their children do outstrip their Parents in purity, even for this they abhor their own children, and sometime dispossess them; and cannot endure them: this is lamentable: Kings in their own Thrones, are not above Christ, much less Parents in their Families. If God come into their Families, into the hearts of their children; shall Parents lift their hands up against Christ to abhor and hate their own children, because of this? The body is received from the Parents, but the soul from God; Parents may instruct their children, but not to keep them from Christ.

Use 4. For Children that have received a greater measure of light from Christ, then the Parents they must be modest and humble, & bear their reproaches patiently for Christ: but if the Parents will keep them from Christ, we must hate & deny our Parents: but in the mean time to be patient to convince them, and (if possible) to persuade them 5. To persuade these children, that they follow this light, and not let their Parents, nor any friend in the world draw them from Christ.

The 2. Relation is civil,

Doct. A Christian must deny himself in all civil Relation, if Princes or States make Laws against the Law of Christ, against his Religion, & his pure Ordinances, threatening punishment to those that will not observe them.

Herein a true Christian must deny himself, both in matter of terror, and in matter of favor. 1. In matter of terror, whatsoever is threatened against a man, Mat. 10.28. a Christian may say, I am lower then all the terrors of the world can hurt me. We should deny ourselves with Paul, and be reday, not only to be bound, but to die for Christ. Theodorus (an Heathen man) was told, that he should rot above ground, I care not (saith he) it is all one to me, to rot above, or under ground. Thus a Christian should resolve against all fears, and terror whatsoever, for Christ. So for matter of favor, as Polyc Carpus had great promotion promised in the time of persecution, answered, I have served Christ, saith he, forty and he hath always been a good Master to me, and I will not deny him now, this is self-denial. How many have been overcome with these things for want of self-denial. Those that are compelled to Popery and Popish ways, are not Christ's followers, but the followers of Antichrist.

Obj. Some may say, what need we to have such a Doctrine, as this of self-denial, in respect of civil Relation to be taught as now?

Ans. God be thanked, it is true, the storm is over of this oppressing: yet this Doctrine may be very useful for this very season, we are in the expectation of a true Reformation, and in the very Reformation, self-denial is to be used. 2. If some by Reformation be reformed, and not others, will they be quiet? No, the nearer we come to Christ, the more we must look for persecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. Let us not look for a true powerful Reformation of Religion without persecution. 3. The next thing is the consideration of such things as are.

Doct. 3.

THe sensitive part of man, which hath 3 Heads, Pleasure, Profit, Honor, these 3 must be denied; they were in great esteem amongst the Heathen, these 3 were all represented to Eve, in the forbidden fruit, Gen. 3.6. and it took such an impression then, that every mothers child of us, have the print of it remaining upon us. I heard a story of a fish in Garn • sie, when I was there, by some of the best there, that there is a fish in those sands, that being stuck by the Fisher-man, her young, if she hath any in her belly, are all wounded in the very same place. This is a direct Emblem of Man-kind, 1 John 2.16. and with these 3 weapons the Devil assailed Christ, tempting him, Luke. 4. beginning, these are often in Scripture together, Phil. 3.

Do •• . 4.

A Christian must deny himself in pleasure and delight, even the delights of meat and drink, and lawful recreation, which are in themselves lawful meat & drink in a continual moderation, keeping himself from excess, and sometime in a total abstinence for a time.

1. To avoid excess at all times, Luke 21.14. Many Reasons there are, why we should deny ourselves in the immoderate use of the Creature. 1. It is an Enemy to the soul, a Enemy to all Christian duties, 1. Pet. 2.11.

2. They do hinder us in the Christian race. 1. Cor. 9.2▪ When a soul is over-charged, he is more fit to lie down then to run. 3. It brings many evils upon a state, Luke 20. Swilling in drink brought a deluge. So in Lots time▪ Sodom and Gomorrah did eat and drink, and swill, till fire came down from Heaven, and burnt them all to Ashes, Psal. 76. 4. It brings a man in the way to hell. Luke 16. Dives there, he was so full that he forgot poor Lazarus, and now he must pinch for it in Hell-flames, burning in torments forever. A Christian may have great occasion of mirth: but then we must have most care of all. As the wise man saith, when thou comest to a full Table, if thou hast an appetite, put a knife to thy throat. This duty is requisite for all true Christians.

1. Sometime we should wholly abstain from the Creature : as for the removal of some calamity we lie under, or to prevent a calamity coming upon us, or to procure a blessing to be fitter for some good duties Examples we have many. 2 Sam. 12. and Jonah 3. Ezra 8. so 1 Cor. 7. Fasting keeps the spirit of Prayer awake.

Use. Here is an heavy charge that lieth upon many Professors, it is to be wished, that the whole Kingdom were not to be blamed in this, like the Children of Israel. Isaiah. 22.3. cramming themselves with a desperate saying, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we must die. Is this a time of eating and drinking. &c. when the Plague is so hot amongst us? Is this a time to be so desperate ? It is true, perhaps tomorrow we shall die, but is this a time to drink and swill, and feast: no it is rather a time to deny ourselves ; for we may be shut up in our houses before tomorrow night, and perhaps die tomorrow, and be swept away with the Plague: is this a time to gorge ourselves with eating and drinking ?

what issue may we expect from hence: we had indeed a day of Thanksgiving, but we had need, that the next day should have been a day of Humiliation ; for then was the Plague amongst us.

Indeed, when the motion of humiliation was made, one in the City (& that of great note too ) made answer, that Winter was coming on, and then the Plague would be stayed.

Object. We have had many days of Humiliation, both public, and private.

Answ. Those that do so, do well, Ezek. 9.4. If they do it in sincerity. Many that do it in their private Families shall have a blessing on them. But let not this content us, that others do it; but let us all, each in our Families, humble ourselves by Fasting and Prayer, every Parish, and every Family. I hope this is not against the Law, I am sure it is not against God's Law, to have such meetings.

The Lord stir up the hearts of all those whom it doth concern to call for Fasting and Prayer, in these evil times.