CHAPTER LIV
How a Man shall not seek his own, either in Things spiritual or
natural but the Honour of God only; and how he must enter in by the right Door,
to wit, by Christ, into Eternal Life.
If a man may attain thereunto, to be unto God as his hand is to a man, let him
be therewith content, and not seek farther. This is my faithful counsel, and
here I take my stand. That is to say, let him strive and wrestle with all his
might to obey God and His commandments so thoroughly at all times and in all
things, that in him there be nothing, spiritual or natural, which opposeth God;
and that his whole soul and body with all their members may stand ready and
willing for that to which God hath created them; as ready and willing as his
hand is to a man, which is so wholly in his power, that in the twinkling of an
eye, he moveth and turneth it whither he will. And when we find it otherwise
with us, we must give our whole diligence to amend our state; and this from
love and not from fear, and in all things whatsoever, seek and intend the glory
and praise of God alone. We must not seek our own, either in things spiritual
or in things natural. It must needs be thus, if it is to stand well with us.
And every creature oweth this of right and truth unto God, and especially man,
to whom, by the ordinance of God, all creatures are made subject, and are
servants, that he may be subject to and serve God only.
Further, when a man hath come so far, and
climbed so high, that he thinketh and weeneth he standeth sure, let him beware
lest the Devil strew ashes and his own bad seed on his heart, and nature seek
and take her own comfort, rest, peace, and delight in the prosperity of his
soul, and he fall into a foolish, lawless freedom and licentiousness, which is
altogether alien to, and at war with, a true life in God. And this will happen
to that man who hath not entered, or refuseth to enter in by the right Way and
the right Door (which is Christ, as we have said), and imagineth that he would
or could come by any other way to the highest truth. He may perhaps dream that
he hath attained thereunto, but verily he is in error.
And our witness is Christ, who declareth:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the
sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."[59] A thief, for he robbeth God of His honour
and glory, which belong to God alone; he taketh them unto himself, and seeketh
and purposeth himself. A murderer, for he slayeth his own soul, and taketh away
her life, which is God. For as the body liveth by the soul, even so the soul
liveth by God. Moreover, he murdereth all those who follow him, by his doctrine
and example. For Christ saith: "I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own
will, but the will of Him that sent Me."[60]
And again: "Why call ye Me Lord, Lord?"[61] as
if he would say, it will avail you nothing to Eternal life. And again: "Not
every one that saith unto Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of
Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven."[62] But He saith also: "If thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments."[63] And what are
the commandments? "To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy
soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and to love thy
neighbour as thyself."[64] And in these two
commandments all others are briefly comprehended.
There is nothing more precious to God, or more
profitable to man, than humble obedience. In His eyes, one good work, wrought
from true obedience, is of more value than a hundred thousand, wrought from
self-will, contrary to obedience. Therefore he who hath this obedience need not
dread Him, for such a man is in the right way, and following after Christ.
That we may thus deny ourselves, and forsake and
renounce all things for God's sake, and give up our own wills, and die unto
ourselves, and live unto God alone and to His will, may He help us, who gave up
His will to His Heavenly Father, -- Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be blessing
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE END
[59] John 10:1.
[60] John 6:38.
[61] Luke 6:46.
[62] Matt. 7:21.
[63] Matt. 19:17.
[64] Luke 10:27.