CHAPTER LXIX – 7. It corrupts and debases all that it disposes of
nothing dividedly as their own, but all in common, and take each other for better or worse, and know they must stand or fall together, and that the good or hurt of one, is the good or hurt of both, and that there is no manner of hope that either of them should thrive by the ruin of the other. If politicians had the skill and will to make such an union of interests between the sovereign and the subject, and to make it visible that all might understand it, their republics would be immortal, till either the wrath of a neglected God, or the power of a foreign enemy should dissolve them: for nothing else but self could do it; and self will not do it when it sees its own interest lie in the preservation of the present state.
CHAPTER LXIX
Corrupteth and debaseth all that it disposeth of 7. ANOTHER aggravation of the evil of selfishness is, that it corrupteth and debaseth every thing that it disposeth of. And on the contrary, it is the excellency of self-denial (as joined with the love of God) that it rectifieth and ennobleth all your actions.
Let the work be ever so holy in its nature, yet if you do it but for yourselves, you make but a profane employment of it; and to you it is not holy. A selfish, carnal person is serving himself even in preaching; and hearing, and praying, and sacraments, and other acts of worship and church-communion; much more in the common business of his life. Even when he thinks he is serving God, he is but serving himself of God, and provoking God by his abuse; when he thinks he is very holy because of his services, he is doubly unholy, in that he even profaneth holy things. And as it is not God indeed that
he serveth, so from God he must not expect a reward. And as far as a man's self and flesh is below the blessed God, so far, in a sort, is the work of selfish men debased, in comparison of those works of the saints that are performed purely for God. They make but a low, unprofitable drudgery of that which in the hands of others is the highest and noblest work on earth. For the action can be no better than the end; and therefore is base as it is base.
But on the other side, self-denial makes noble the actions that in themselves seem base. If you are gone out of yourselves, and can truly say, that it is God you serve and seek in your employments, you may be sure that God will take them for his service, and set them on your account among the works that he hath promised to reward
(supposing that the matter be such as he alloweth of, and that you think not by good intentions to turn sin into holiness, and make him a service of that which he forbiddeth): O what an honour, what an encouragement, what a comfort is this, to every Christian! The actions of a prince or conqueror are base; if self be their end, and the respect to God do not ennoble them. And the work of the poorest person is honourable that is done for God. It is a great temptation to some poor Christians to grudge at their condition, because they are so unserviceable to God. Alas, thinks a poor tradesman, or ploughman, or servant, What do I but drudge in the world! I have neither parts nor place to do God service with! But such do very much mistake the matter. It is not the parts and place, but the hearty performance of your works for God that makes them such as he will take for service. O, thinks a poor woman, or toiling servant, I can do nothing either for the conversion of souls, or the good of church or commonwealth, but am made unserviceable. But do you not know that any thing is acceptable service which God commandeth, and is
heartily intended to his honour and his pleasure: it is not the metal, but the stamp of the prince, that makes a piece to be current money.
If the king's stamp were put by his appointment on a piece of brass or copper, it would pass for coin. Believe it sirs, if your study be to please the Lord in your callings, and you can but get above yourselves, and do the basest servile works, as commanded you by God, that you may be accepted by him, and offer yourselves and all your labours purely to him, and to his honour, and his will, God will take these for honourable services; and you are as truly at his work, even in your shops and fields, as princes are in ruling, or pastors in teaching or guiding the flock: you that are poor, and cannot set so much time apart for reading and other holy duties as some others do, see that you neglect no holy opportunity that you can take, and then consider, that if God set you to do him service even by washing dishes, or sweeping channels, or the meanest drudgery, he will accept it; and the more, by how much the more humble submission and self-denial is found in it. Take him as the only Lord and Master of your souls and lives, and all that you have, and when you are called to your daily labour, look but to your hearts that God be your end, and that you can truly say, 'I do not this principally to provide for myself, but as an obedient child in my Father's service, because he bids me do it, and it is pleasing to him through Christ; I do it not principally from self-love, but from the love of God, that commandeth me my work; and as a traveller that laboureth in his way for the love of his home, so I am here at labour in this world, in the place that God hath set me, that I may in his appointed way attain the everlasting glory that he hath promised.' I say, do but see to it, that thus you dedicate your labours to God, and you may take comfort in the daily labours of your lives, even the meanest and most