J Tim.2.9. I Per.J•3• Book lr. ~ar ltith We1ltts. Chap-4: Sect to; ment would have bem to him but as aCloud to the Sun; and after Adam finned (to put him in mind of his fin and fhame ) God cloHhed him nor with filks or velvets, cu– rioufly imbroidered with gold and filver, bm with beafis.skins, furely this was to humble him, and nor to puff him up with pride; this was to miud him, of his brui– rifh condition, yea of his frailty and mortallity, feeing the creatures, for his fake were already fubjeCl: to death and vanity : Oh that thou wou\dfl mind the Word: which bids thee array •by feif with fhamcfac'tneJj and modcjly, not with broidered hair·, or gold, or pe~,!J, or cojlly apparel! Oh that thou wou\dfl confider thy [elf a pilgrim upon earth, and therefore thou fhouldfl not go as a Citizen, or Cotirtier of this world! Oh! that as a Noble. man would be afhamed to borrow cloarhs of.a beg. ger, fo thou would!I rather be afhamed, than glory in the oraaments which thou bor• rowefl from inferiour creatures, as from one his fleece, and from another his skin· and from another his feathers, and from another his bones, and from another hi; entrails, cxcrcments, what nor' why alas, beofls, and birds, and filly worms, have the In!\ title, and motl natural iuterefl ro all thou wearefl, and thou comell to it only by conqucl!, violeuce, and force of arms? Oh that thou wouldll remember, that thy gay apparel cloth nor maRe thee more religious, humble, jull and tempe· rat.:, it dorh not abait thy pride, bur rather encreaferh it, it cloth not exringuifh the heat of Jut!, but ra,~her inl11mes, it; .jt dorh not warm thy heart with charity nor expel _rhe force or ~atans darts, but rather caufoth thy love to freeze, and lays 'op:n thy (oul to Satans blows! A vicious man adorned with g\·orious garments, is lrke a dead corps lluck with !lowers, or like rhe flatdy Temples of Etypt, which had the omward Courts, Porches, Walls, and roof; richly adorned wirh ~old, and filver, and curious carving and in~raving, bm if a man went into tile inmoll parts, to fte the Idol which wos there worfhipped, inflead of fome ftartly image fet out according to the reil of the buvery and pomp, he could ti11d nothing but thle bafe picture, or refemb\Jncc of fame Car, or Crocodile, or ugly Serpent: Thde men who load themfclves wirh coll!y apparel, if,rhis outward glory were bur removed, and they mere narrowly fearch't into the inmofl Temple of their hearrs, inf!cad of Gods Image fhining in his Spiritu1l Graces, we fhcu\d find perhaps Crocodiles, and Serpents, lults, and pride, and wantonnefs, and immodefly, and fuch like fins. 0 that men proldfing mortification, fhould ever be rhus vain I ~. For rh~ other vbjeCl:; of pride, as they are more fpiritual, fo it concerns Chri· ftians to be more heedful : A meer natural mm is proud of his beauty, flrength, riches, apparel, or the like; but a Chrifiim is chiefly prone to be puffed up ·with higher and more raifed perteCl:ions, as being more fuitable to his Chri{\ian calling. Now as thefe objech are fcveral, fo in refpeCl: of them fevcrally, confider thus-- 1. For gifts ; confider, rhefe gifts are not thy own, but Gods, and not for rhy [dt; but for others edifying; and one day thou mult mal<e a reckoning for them all; And what, art thou proud of anorhers bounty given on rhefe terms l Suppofe a man !hould leave a Chell of money in rhy hands, to be dillnbuted to others, what folly were it to put it into rhy one Inventory l Bcmard was much troubled with ·this temptation, whcR even in preaching, pride would be whifpering in his ear,~ Benefecijti 5ernarde ;0 n:eU done Bentard. But he was humbled for this in the midll ot his Sermon, being interrupted by Satan, ht turned to him, and fp1ke rhde words, Non pr6pter te boc opu1 cd!ptttm eft, 11011 propter te, >tee i>l te ji11iet:tr : 1hii Sermon w~s not beJl,Uil for thee, 1ttr fhaU it end in thee. Pri~e is a worm bred in the Rofe, and the more parts men h~ve, the more doth this difeafe encreJ[e: Bur oh confider that of the Apoflles. What haft thot< that tiJou bajl11ot received l Now if tbot< ditljl rtceive 1 <.:or,4· }· it why dojt tholl gl>ry a1 if thou hadjt >tot received it l Matthen• PJriii relates of a g;eat sc:1olar, much admired for his learning, thJt in his LtCl:urcs once in the Schools, proving the divine and humane natu~·e of Chnfl wrth great applaufe, he mofl ar– rogantly faid, That Cbrijt JVal beholdm$ to hlm fol t!w d,fputc, and tbat be owed ( ~~ i:-w,..c) hi1Divine N.au ·e to his L earnmg ; upon whrch bLo{phemy he was rmmedt· arely Hrickcn with ignorance, and fc1ch fottifhnefs, that he was afterwards taught the Lords prayer by a little c~ild : On that men fhonld ever pnde thcmfelves ab~ut notions and apprehenfions? Ob that men !110uld target the account they mullg1ve , and make ofevery t•lent! !t may be thou hall a gwit mcafurc of gifts, Oh take heed 1 for it thou doell unprofitably bury them, or abufe them unto !in, the grcot~r and more fearfirl fhall thy condemnation be: tbe Serv "" tha~ /z>w>ret/; hi1 M".ficn r..:U, ~uk< 1 z. ii• and dutl.> it,,..,, fhnU be beatw>ritb m.wyJlripes. 2• for
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