CONFIRMED CHRISTIAN. 497 loved and preferred before himself, and which is to be his chief and ultimate end. He maketh not aGod of himselfanymore, but useth himself for God, to fulfill his -will, as a creature of his own, that bath no other end and use : he no more preferreth himself above all the world, but esteemeth himself a poor and despicable part of the world, and more highly valueth the honor of God, and the welfare of the church, and the good of many, than any interest of his own. Though God in nature hath taught him to regard his own felicity, and to love himself, and not to seek the glory ofGod and the good of many souls in opposition to his own, yet he bath taught him to :prefer them (though in conjunction) .much before his own; for reason telleth him that man is nothing in comparison of God, and that we are made by him and for him, and that the welfare of the church or public societies is better (in order to the highest ends) than the welfare of some one. Selfishness in the unregenerate is like an inflammation or imposthume, which draweth the humors from other parts of the body to itself: the interest of God and man are all swallowed np in the regard that men have to self-interest; and the love of God and our neighbor is turned into self-love. But self is as annihilated in the confirmed Christian, so that it ruleth not his judgment, his affections, or his choice ; 'and' he that lived in and to himself, as, if God and all the world were but for him, doth now live to God, as one that is good for nothing else, and findeth himself in seeking him that is infinitely above himself; Luke xiv. 31-33. Phil. ii. 4. 21. 2. And theweak Christian hath attained to so much" self-denial, that self is not predominant in him against the love of God and his neighbor; but yet above all other sins, too great a measure of self- ishness still remaineth in him. These words ' own, and mine, and self,' are too significant with him ; every thing of his own is regard- ed inordinately, witli partiality, and too much selfishness. Aword against himself, or an injury to himself, is more to him than worse against his brother: he is too little mindful of the glory of God, and of the public good, and the souls of others ; and even when he is mindful ofhis own soul, he is too regardless of the souls of many, that by prayer, or exhortation, or other means, he ought,to help: as a small candle lighteth but a little way, and a small fire heateth not far off," so is his love so much confined, that it reacheth not far from him: he valueth his "friends too much'upon their respect to please` himself, and loveth men too touch, as they are partial for bins ; -and too little Upon the pure account of grace, and their love to Christ and serviceableness to the church. He easily overvalueth his own abilities, and is too confident of his: own understanding, and apt to have too high conceits of anyopinions that are his own: he is too apt to be tempted, unto uncharitableness against those VOL. I. 63
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