o6 3z t DanuottpofMe Zí iín.e2fttt íbttte« Chap. 16. running a. few Reps, and the obtaining an Imperial Crown. Indeed not only Heaven but all the Graces that are neceffary to purify and prepare us for it, we receive from undeferved Mercy. So that God crowns inus net our proper Works, but his ownproper Gifts. 2. The Golpel ftriélly commands Self-denial, when the Honour of God and Religion is concerned. Jefus tells his Difciples, Ifanymanwill come after me, let Mat. ..t 6, 24. kimdeny himfelf, and take up his Crofs andfollow me. Life andall the Comfortsof it, Eftates, Honours, Re- lations, Pleafures muft be put under our feet, to take theSrft ftep with our Redeemer. This is abfolutely ne- ceffary to thebeing ofa Chriftian. In the preparation ofhis mind and the refolutionof his will, he muft live aMartyr ; and whenfoever his duty requires, he muff break all the RetinaculaVite, the voluntary bands that fallen us tothe World, and die a Martyr, rather than fuffer a divorce to be made between his Heart and Chrift. Whatfoever. is molt efteemed and loved in the world, mutt be parted with as a fnare, ifit tempts us fromour Obedience ; or offered up as a Sacrifice,when the Glory ofGod callsfor it. And this command that appears fo hard to fenfe, is molt juftandreafonable: For God bathby fomany titles a right to us, thatwe ought tomake an intire Dedication of our felves and our molt valuable interefts to him. Our Redeemer infinitely denied himfelf to faveus,. and 'tis molt juft we fhould in gratitudedeny our felves to ferve him. Befides, an infinite advantage redounds to us : for our Saviour af- wiac. ie. 15. fures us, that Whofoever willfavehis life,when'eis incon- fiftent with the performance ofhis duty,"ball lofe it ; and whofoever will lofe his lifefor hisfake, fhallfindit. Now what is more prudent, thanof two evils that are pro- pounded to,choofe the leaft ? that is, Temporal Death,. rather.
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