The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
iDOLATRT OF SELF.

The Self-IoVe Which Predominates in the
Nature of Him Who Is Not Conformed
to the Divine Will.
PROFESSIONALLY self may be an idol.
That which is loved supremacy, as God
only should be loved. is idolized. Nat
urally, self is that object upon which
most of the affections are placed, and is
not to be overlooked in complying with
The Injunction: keep yourself from
idols" The old writer's put the case OF
self-idolatry quite strongly. John
Flavel, who wrote about the middle OF
the seventeenth century, said: ''Oh, il
| could be master of that house idol,
myself, mine own wit, will, credit and
ease, how blessed were 1! We have
need to be redeemed from ourselves as
much as from the devil and the world. -
Stephen Charnock, who wrote contem-
poraneously with Flavel, said: 'Self is
! the great anti-ChrisS and anti-God in
the world, that sets up itself above all
that is called God self-love is the cap
tain of that black band g Tim. 3:2); it
sits in the temple of God, and would be
adored as God"
A more modern writer expresses him.
self no less vigorously when he says:
HE that will not submit himself to,
nor comply with, the Eternal and IN
created VIII, but instead of it endeavors
to set up his own will, makes himself
the most real idol in the world, and
eXalts himself against all that is called
God, and ought to be worshiped. To
worship craven image, or to make
cakes and burn incense to the queen of
heaven, is not a worse idolatry than
it is for man to set up self
will, to devote himself to the
serving of it, and to give up himself to
n compliance with his own will, as con-
trary to the Divine and Eternal VIII. :"
Self-conceit and self-deception enter
largely into the idolatry of self. There
are too many who are represented by
one Chrysippus, of whom there is an ac-
count that neighbor asked him to
whom he should send his son for in
struction. and he replied: ITO me; if l
did but imagine any person excelled
myself. l would read philosophy under
him." Arthur Helps, an English
writer, says: "Many 4 man has kind
of kaleidoscope, where the bits of broken
glass are his own merits and fortunes,
and they fall into harmonious arrange
monts and delight him often most mis-
chicvously, and to his ultimate detri-
ment; but they are Il present pleasure. )"
Self-plcasure is an element of self
idolatry.
In every unrenewed person self-love
is FREEDOM, nant and idOlatrous. This
has been conclusively shown by Rev.
DR.. Edward Payson. who says: Sup
pose, for illustration. that you have an
image, which is, in reality, extremely
ugly. but which you think beautiful,
and YOU spend all your time in polish =
ING and adjoining it. At length, how
ever, you begin to sec something of its
deformity. and endeavor to conceal it
from others. and ifpossible, from your
SELF, by~paint ne and dressing it. Not
withstanding all your efforts, it grows
more and more ugly, till, in despair OF
amending it yourself, you pray that God
would make it more lovely, 1t is evil
dent, in this case. that your prayers
hOuNl HOB plOCCCNl lIODl lONC " NTOt,
but from love to your idol: and therefore
there would bo no goodness in them.
Suppose that during all this time per-
son was entreating you TO look at a
beautiful diamond statue. which you re-
fused to do. until. wearied with useless
efforts to make your image appear
more beautiful. you turn and look at
the statue. Immediately you see your
idol in all its native deform;ty; YOU
cast it aside, and begin to admire and
pXtol the statue. This idol represents
self, and every unrenewed person adj
mires and loves it supremely. When
his conscience IS awakened to see some
thing of his SinfulneSS, he first endeav-
orS to make himself better. and it is long
before he finds that he can not change
his own heart. When he finds that not
withstanding all his endeayors. his heart
seems TO grow worse and worse, he
pravs God for help. 1t is not from love
TO God. or because God has commanded
it, that he prays; but because he is I'M
willing to see himself so sinful: so his
prayers arise merely from pride and
selfishness. But If he will only turn
and look to Christ, he sees his sins in
new light, and no longer loves himself
suprlmely. All his affections are trans
ferred to Christ. Then he pravs to be
made better-not to crafty his pride,
but because he sees something of the
beautp ofholiness, and longs to resem-
bic his Divine Master"
TrGthfUlIy. as well as forcibly, does
Madame Guyon. of the seventeenth CELL
fury, say:
IT'S jusi that God should not be dear
Where self enErOsses all the thought;
And groans and murmurS make it clear,
What else is loved. the Lord is not.
The love OF Thee flows Just as much
AS that OF ebbing self subsidies;