incapable of attaining to Wifdom. 247 to moral excellence, which we find ourfelves S E R M. obliged to acknowledge as the only true 'ex- X. cellence; and the proudeft man, in his molt prefumptuous thoughts of himfelf, valueth himfelf on what he imagineth to import a capacity, or the appearance of a difpofition, to do good of force kind or other. Not to mention any farther the oecafions of pride, or the apprehended good things, whereupon men value themfelves, which are more remote from the prefent fubje i, you may efpecially take notice of thefe two, which are directly to the purpofe, as tend- ing to unfit men for attaining wifdom. Firft, there are force who value themfelves much, and claim a great deal of honour on account of their underftanding, that is, ei- ther their adtual knowledge, or capacity of inveftigating and difcerning truth ; though, indeed, this ground of glorying, or of claim- ing refpeEt, if it be thoroughly examined, will appear a very infufficient one ; for it is certain that the molt enlarged human un- derflandings are but weak, and labour under many defels ; the wifeft man mutt be fen - fible that his knowledge is very fcanty, and betides the difficulty which attendeth the acquifition of it, as Solomon faith, he that increafeth knowledge increaf th forrow ; it is R 4. liable
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