250 The Proud and Scornful S E R M. dine moll to meditate upon with pleafure, X. and if their ownfelves, or fome imagined excellency of theirs, affordeth the moli agreeable entertainment to their minds, and they dwell upon it with an inward exulta- tion, without taking into the account, and confidering at the fame time, what in rea- fon ought to abate it, this evidently fhew- eth, if they would attend to it, a fond and prefumptuous conceit. Thus Nebuchadnez- zar, whofe pride was fo outrageous, in- fulting God himfelf, who punifhed him by degrading him into the condition of a beaíl, exulted in his power and greatnefs, when he beheld the magnificence of his works, and the fplendor of his royal feat. Dan. iv. 30. Is not this great Babylon that I have built, for the houfe of the kingdom, by the might of not power, and for the honour of my Majeßy. Again, There are outward figns which too plainly indicate the pride of the heart; the very gef}ures and looks of men difcover the vanity and elation of their minds; Solo- mon, and other of the facred writers, fpeak of lofty eyes, and haughty looks, and pride of countenance. It is not poßîble for the moil carelefs obferver not to diftinguifh this difeafe by fome obvious fymptoms, thofe airs of fuperiority which force affume, their affec-
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