This excerpt is taken from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, ch.vii. I have edited this in modern English, and though it may not be the best rendition, I pray that the essence of its content (since it pertains to practical Christianity) will go forth to the heart of the reader. Enjoy. Be blessed. Be edified…
The next principle that logically follows is that we are not to seek our own will, but the Lord’s, and act according to the promotion of His glory as our goal and desire. It is to our great advantage when we neglect our own inclinations, almost forgetting ourselves; for then we can faithfully devote ourselves to obey God and His commandments.
For when Scripture directs us to lay aside personal considerations, it not only deprives our minds of an excessive longing for wealth, power, or human recognition. It removes all ambition and thirst for worldly glory, as well as other more secret evils.
The Christian should certainly be so trained and willing to consider that his entire life is accountable to God; and for that reason, he will bring all things to God’s disposal and estimate, so that he will religiously direct his whole mind to Him.
He who has learned to look to God in everything he does is, at the same time, turned aside from all vain thoughts. This is that denying of self which Christ so strongly compels His disciples to obey from the very start (Matthew 16:24). As soon as this takes hold of the mind, and leaves no place for, first, pride, show, and ostentation; or, secondly, neither for avarice, lust, luxury, effeminacy, or other vices which are produced by self love.
On the contrary, wherever denying of self does not reign, the foulest vices are indulged without shame; or, if there is some appearance of virtue, it is rendered null and void by a depraved longing for applause. Show me any individual who does not believe in the Lord’s command to deny self, and yet is inclined to do goof for its own sake. Those who have not renounced themselves have followed virtue merely from the love of praise.
The philosophers who have earnestly contended that virtue is to be desired for its own sake were so inflated with arrogance that it is evident they sought virtue for no other reason than as a reason for indulging in pride. God is so far from being pleased with these glory hunters with swollen chests that he declares they have already received their reward in this world (Matthew 6:2). He further declares that harlots and publicans are nearer the kingdom of heaven than such philosophers (Matthew 21:31).
We have not yet sufficiently explained how great and numerous are the obstacles that hinder a man who desires to pursue what is right while at the same time he continues ignore Christ’s command of denying self. This old saying is true that says there is a world of iniquity treasured up in the human soul, and neither can you find any other remedy for this than to deny yourself, forsake your own inclinations, and direct your whole mind to pursue those things which the Lord requires of you, and which you are to seek only because they are pleasing to Him.
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