If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, Luke 9:23.
Doing this, all the rest will go easy; if we know that we are nothing, are unworthy of every thing, and have nothing of our own, we can lose nothing. We have no property, since we are but stewards of the Lord. We have no honour of shame of our own, after the manner of the world; this being our only honour, if God is glorified, and our only shame, if he he dishonored by us. The glory of God we must have at heart, and in this case be like lions, but in our own cause like lambs.
Therefore when we are crossed in things which do not concern the glory of God and the real good of our neighbour, but our own interest, and are unwilling to suffer something, we shall miscarry and be involved in greater troubles. But denying ourselves we shall loose only a good deal of vexation, and instead of this, receive Christ, with all his spiritual; and temporal blessings, as far as we want them, which alone can make us cheerful and happy.
But whosoever desires to please the world in its taste, " with his singularities," seeking himself and his own glory, cannot be a follower of Christ in this, and have boldness towards God. And how will it be with them in the hour of death and judgment? Here the learned may try themselves also; whom do they please? God or the world?
Deny thyself and take the cross,
Is the Redeemer’s great command.
Nature must count her glory dross
If she will gain the heavenly land,