Spiritual PerfoClion. CHAP. Ill. pride confi~ered in _ils nature, kinds, and degrees. It confijls in an lmm~~ratt .Appetite of Superiortty. '7n Moral or ~piritual. ArrogAme, .V~tinf.lory, an_d Ambuton, are 6~anches of it. A fecret undue concett of _our own E.xcei!Mctes, t'l1e tnordmtJte .defire of. ~raife, t_he afpiring after high Places, and T~tleJ of Honour, ar< tlu ejfctls of Prtde. Spmtt~al Prtde conftdrr<d. A prtfu.ming upon {elffufficimcy to obtain Mm's Ends' A rtltance upon their own dirdlion and ab1l1tJ to Ae&omplijh then: Deftgm. Sins commztud with defign and deli~ hert~tion are from lnfo!enu. A v4in Prefumption of the Goodnefs of Men's Spiritt~al Eji11tes• Pridr is in tlu front of thofe Sins that God hates. Pride is odious in the fight of Mm. The difficulty of thr C11r< appartnt from many Confidtratiom. The proptr M<ans to aUa7 the TllmotJrofPride. 4 • P Rj~~r~~!;/~;~~o~~rl~:t~ ~~et~~~o~~~~ef!~~~ ~~~ot~e~ils~ ~~~h:x~~l:d ~~~~ from Heaven; it degraded Man from the Honour of his Creation, into the condition of the l!ealts chat perilli, and expell 'd him from Paradife. I will confider the nature, feveral kinds and degrees of it, and the means ro purge us from it. The nature of this Vice confills in an irregular and immoderate appetite of Superiority; and has two parts: The one is the affectation of Honour, Dignity and Power, beyond their true value and worth; the other is the arrogating them as due ro a perfon beyond his jull defert. The lcinds of it are Moraland Spiritual, which are fometimes concealed in the Mind and Will, but often declar'd In the AfpeCt and ActiOns. Accordmgly 'us either Arrogance that attributes an undue preherninence to aMan's fclf, and exacts undue refpccts from others; or Vainglory, that affects and is fed with Praife; or Ambition, that hotly afpires after high Places, and Titles of Precedency and Power: All which are corn. prized io the univerfal name of Pride. . . . . . 57• 1. Pride includes a fecret conceit of our own Excellencies, which IS the root of all Its branches. Self·love is fo natural, and deeply imprefs'd in the Heart, that there is no Flatterer more fubtle and conceal'd, more eafily and willingly believ'd, than this Affefrion. Love is blind towards others, and more towards one felf. Nothing can be fo intimate and dear, as when the Lover, and the Perfon beloved are the fame. This is the Principle of the high Opinion, aod fecret Sentiments Men entertain of their own fpecial worrh. The Hrart is dwitfid above all things, and above all things deceitful to it felf. Men look mto the inchanting glafs of their own Fancies, and are vainly enamour' cl with the falfe reflection of their excellencies. Self-love hinders the fight of thofe Imper• fefrions, which difcovered, would leffen the liberal efieem of themfdves. The Soul is a more obfcure Ob)efr to its Eye, than the mofi diftant Stars in the Heavens. Seneca tells of fome that had a ftrange Infirmity in their Eyes, that where.ever they turn'd, they encountered the viftble moving image of themfelves. Of which he gives this Reafon ; " It proceeds from the weaknefs of the. vifive Faculty, that for want of Spirits derived I•fi•m*"'•om' " from the Brain, cannot penerate through the diaphanous Air, to fee Obje8-s; but every 1~:ft' non P~~ " part of t.he Air is a rcfletl:ing glafs of tbemfelves. That which he conjetl:ured to be ~um:tt r~;:;:;~ the caufc of the Natural Infirmity, is mofi true of the Moral, the Subjefr of our DiC: "mpm , f•d"• courfe. 'Tis from the weaknefs of the Mind, that the judicative F~culty does not dif. :~~;,.n!t:;~:t· cover the worth of others, but fees only a Man's felf, as liogular m Perfeaions, and none fuperiour, or equal, or near to him. (!. proud Man will take a rife from any ad· vantage to foment Pride: Some from the perfeCtions of the Body, Beauty or Strengh ; fame from the circumftance of their Condition. Riches or Honour; and every one thinks himfelffufliciently furni(h'd with Underftanding: For' Reafon being the difiinguilliing excellency of a Man from the Brutes, a defefrivencfs in that is very difgraceful and t he title of Fool, the mofi £tinging reproach; as is evident by our Saviour's gradation : Wbot'Vtr is •ngr7 with his Brothtr without a cat1{e is liAble to 'Judgment; whoever {ays Racha, that expreifes his Anger contumeliouOy, is fubjrfl to tbr Council; bHt »horv er {ball fa; fool, {hall br punifh'd ovitb Hrll.fire. llherefore Men are apt to prefume of their intel· l~frua l Abilities : One fays, I have not Learning, as thole who are pale with Study, and whole L amps lhine at midnight, but I have a fiock of Natural Reafon; or I have not a quick Apprehcnfion, but I have a folid Judgment ; I have not Eloquence, but I fpeak good Senfe. The high conceit of Mens own worth declares it felf fevcral way: S~metimes 'ti!-1 tranfparcnt in the Countenance.; There is a Generation, 0 how !ofiy &re their Eyes , and t beir Eydids are lifird "P· Sometimes 'tis manifeft in haughty Carriage : If others
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