A species of idolatry
Self-will, as well as pride, is a species of idolatry. Both are directly contrary to the love of God. The same may be said of the love of the world. True believers are liable to feel this in themselves. Every one of them does feel it, more or less, sooner or later, in one branch or another.
It is true that when he first passes from death to life, he desires nothing more than God. He can truly say, All my desire is to you, and to the remembrance of your name. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you.
But it is not always so. In the course of time he will feel again, though perhaps only for a few moments, either the desire of the flesh, or the desire of the eye, or the pride of life. If he does not continually watch and pray, he may find lust reviving, and thrusting hard at him so that he may fall, until he has scarcely any strength left in him. He may feel the assaults of disordered affection, a strong leaning to love the creature more than the Creator, whether it is a child, a parent, a husband or a wife, or the friend who is as his own soul. He may feel, in 1,000 different ways, a desire for earthly things or pleasures. In the same proportion he will forget God. He will not seek his happiness in God, and so he will be a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God.
1771 text
5. Now self-will, as well as pride, is a species of idolatry: and both are directly contrary to the love of God. The same observation may be made, concerning the love of the world. But this likewise even true believers are liable to feel in themselves; and every one of them does feel it, more or less, sooner or later, in one branch or another. It is true, when he first passes from death unto life, he desires nothing more but God. He can truly say, All my desire is unto thee, and unto the remembrance of thy name. Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee! But it is not so always. In process of time he will feel again, (tho’ perhaps only for a few moments) either the desire of the flesh, or the desire of the eye, or the pride of life. Nay, if he does not continually watch and pray, he may find lust reviving, yea, and thrusting sore at him that he may fall, ’till he has scarce any strength left in him. He may feel the assaults of inordinate affection, yea a strong propensity to love the creature more than the Creator: whether it be a child, a parent, an husband or wife, or the friend that is as his own soul. He may feel in a thousand various ways, a desire of earthly things or pleasures. In the same proportion he will forget God, not seeking his happiness in him, and consequently being a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.