16 Of Self- Denial. S E R Al. being lefs incumber'd, and proceeding with I greater expedition in the chriftian race ; and that I may the better fecure to myfelf the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus. Secondly, I come now to vindicate this pre- cept of felf- denial, from any juft imputation of feverity ; and thew the reafonablenefs of it. This precept of chriftianity has been objedted againft by men who attend more to the found than the meaning of words, and are ready to lay hold on the firft tender appearances of an argument againft religion, without examining them thoroughly. They alledge, 'tis unna- tural to require that men thould deny them - felves ; that is, fubdue, renounce, and mortify the defires and paffions which God has planted in their hearts, to no purpofe, unlefs to make them uneafy; if they are not to be gratified. Such reafoning will have very little weight with ferious attentive minds ; for the weaknefs of it prefently appears when we look into the con - flitution of our nature itfelf. Who does not feel interfering tendencies in his own heart; de- fires at once to different objets, defires, which cannot be gratified at once, but one neceffarily mutt yield to another ? What then tzall we take upon us to cenfure the work of God our maker, as an inconfiftent felf-contradictory fyftem
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