incapable of attaining to trifdom. 239 can be attained ; and therefore Solomon ex- S E R M. horteth the perfon who would hope to be a X. proficient in true wifdom, not to be wife in his own eyes, nor lean to his own underfland- ing, Prov. iii. §, 7. And St. Paul telleth us, I Cor. viii. That knowledge pufeth up, but charity ed f eth ; and if a man thinketh he knoweth any thing (fo as to be conceited of his knowledge) he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. And Gal. vi: 3. If a man think himfelf to be fomething (a perfon of great weight añd confederation, by reafon of his great attainments, and fit to prefcribe to others in the matters of religion) while he is nothing (no fuch perfon) he deceivethhim- felf : By the praice of modefly and humble condefcending charity, we fhould have much more ground of rejoicing and glorying in our felves. What was it that made the yews, and efpecially the proudeft fed of them, the Pha- rifees, fo untraäable to the inftruc`tions of our Saviour, and Each enemies to the fimplicity of the gofpel ? It was evidently the pride of their hearts, and the high conceit they had of their own knowledge and fanEtity. Our Lord plainly telleth them they were fo much ender the power of worldly and ambitious views, and had k fo much at heart to maintain the applaufe of men, as perfons S a of
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