144 S(g>IS of Pride. fet them our, and make them feem conliderable in the wmld : For it e:xceffively rrgards the eye of man :. A fit refpelt to Decency mufi ?e had ( [owe place no greater a nectffity in if than we ought; ) But pride would fain go with the h1ghcft, and have more curiality than needs ; and maketh a greater matter of Decency than the thing nquireth. I am not of thdr humour, that cenfure every man whofe haix is not of their cut, and whofe garments are not of their f<ilhion, and who arc bred in a way of mote gentility and ceremony than my (elf: But yet the affellation of imitating·fajhion·manr,er.r and bearing a•port above ones rank, and rather detiring the converfe and company of fuperfour; tban inferiours, and ro live like thofe that are a fiep above us, than thoG: that are a llcp below us are figns as fignificant of Pride~ as the Robes of a Judge or a DoCtor are of their dignities and · de~ grees. 1am lUre Humility hath learnt this leffon, Rom. I2· 16. tvlind not bigh Jbings; but conde– fcrnd lo mtlt of low eftate: be not wife in your own eya. As for the ridiculous etfeminatc fafhions and deportment of fornc men, and the fpots, and paintings, and nakednefs, and other antick fafhi– ons of fome women , and the many hours which thty daily waHe in drclfings, and adorn;. ings, and preparing themfelvcs for the fight of others, they are the h•dgcs of fo toolifl1 and worfe than childiil1 a fon of pride, that l will not trouble my felf and the Reader in r<prehending them, Manly pride is aCharned of fuch toyes. Let the Patrons of them plcafe their Patients, by proving them lawful, while they han no wifer wo1k to do; and when they have done, let rhem go on to pmve that it is lawful for fober perfous to wear (uch Irons as they do in Bedbtl); and that fuch Chains as they in Newgatc wear, are no figns of a prifonc:r; and that it is lawful for an honeH wom"-n ea wear a Harlots habit. If the proud have no more wit than to wear the badges oftheir childi[h. nc[s or difltad:ion, and lhew then filame to all they mcft, and make themfclves as ridiculous as men that lay aGde their Breeches, and wear Side-coats again like children, I will leave them ro them· Sign 2 6. felves, and will not now trouble them with anr. longer contradu~lion. ~· 77• Sign. 26. Proud perlOns are ajhamed and troubled if any neceffity force them, to go lower in apparel, or provifions, or deportment, than ~thers do.oftheir degree: To fi1ew you that it is nor as a V~tty that Decency is regarded by them, but as· the tmtamems of pride: dfc they would he quitt when Ptovidence maJt.sth it ceafe to be their duty! They are not iO much afhamcd of lin, and the nt:g~ led: of God and their fatvation, as they are t0 be jfen in fordid attire, or in a poor and homely garb: Beggars and fervants fhew here th.;tt they are as proud as Lords. what abundance of them go but feldome to Church, and give this as a reafon G!~J"pnted chathJ: J As if they would neglect their fouls, their God, their greateH duty, rather th~n do it in fuch Clorhes as they do their common work? Doth Chrifi appoint you to give hin~ the meeting, that by his Minilltrs he may inlhuct you for falvation, and that you may ask and rece1'<:C the pardon of your fins, and will you difappoint him and refufe to come, for want of bettJ.r dothesl Sure you do not think that thefe are the Wedding Garment which he requireth you to h1ing ? You would beg if you were na~ed or in rag 1 : and will you not come to beg ofGctl, becaufeyou have ntJ better clothn l Do you ftr more by the reputation of your clothes, than th~ means of your ~alvation? How liule do fuch ~retches fer by God, and by his mercy now, that w1l~ lhortly on theu death-bedt cry for Mercy, wuhout any fi 1 ch regard of clothes. Naked they con:e 1nl'!_ the world , and naked they mull go our, and yec they will turn their backs on the Worflup of God, for want of c/pt/Ju. They are not afoamed nor afraid to be ung,odly, and to forfake thtir duty ; but they are a1hamcd of torn or p.JOr attire. What, fay they, jhalJ we mak,..e our {elves ridiculous! When their pride and ungodlindS is c:tufe of a choufatJd fold more fhame. We read of thoufands, even of the poor, that crowded after ChriU to hear him; but of none that flaid at home for want of clothes; when it is like ·they had no better than your~. , · 9· 78. Sig• 27. If a proud man be rrrongcd, he looketh for great [ubmif!i"t before he will forgive: Sign >7• you mu!\ lye down at his feet, and tmke a very full confe!fion, and behave your felf with great fub· million; efpecially if the L:nv be in his hands. And lie is prone to revenge, and cruel in his re– venge : But if he hive wronged others, he is hardly brought to confrfs that he wronged them; and more hardly to humble him[elf for reconcili.uion, and ask them forgivenefs : when a hmnble perfon, is uady to let go his right for peace, and.c:dily forgiveth, and eafily Hooperh to ask forgiveuefs.· Sign zS. y. 79· Sig1zz8. L1illy, Pride maketh r.nen mordinately delire to have an honourable memorial kept of their names when they are dead ( 1f they are perfons that rife w the hopes of fi.tch a re· A~.rra.~utas membrance ) : Many a monument hath Pride erelred: Many a ~Book it hath writttn to this end : (m LatrtC Many a good work matetially it hath done, and made it bad by fuch a bafe intention! Many a ~·i~f!l~ M:: Hofpital, and Alms-houfe, and Schoot.houfc it ~ath bu!lt !. And_ many a pound it hath given ro chart– fo!t fcpul~ table ufes in prctenfion, but to proud and fclhfh ufes m mtenuon. Nor that any fhould caufeleily chrum : Mo- JUfpcCt anothers ends, or blemifh the dcferved honour of good works, which it is lawful ordinatc– ~~l~~i;~u~;ti~-ly to regard: But we Chould fufpeCt our o:"'n hearts, and take .heed of {0 horrible a fin, ~hich f, l &·l~pidi- would tum the exce\lentefl parts and works mto poyfon or corrupuon : And r~member how hemous. ~u~ ornuum, a thing it is, for a man to be laying proud defigns, when he is turning ro the dufi, and going to apd1vitianun pear before his Judge? yea, to iCt up the monuments of his Pride over his rotten Adh and bones: m1aKo. And to (hew that hedyeth in fa great a Jin without repentance, by tndeavouring that as much as may be of ir may furviv(:, when he is dead and gone ! If fueh wicJ:..td eJtds, do fometime offc:r to in– trude into JteccfftJry exceUent workJ, an honefi hearc muH abbor them and calf tbem out, and beg forgive– ntfS; and not Ior that forbear his work, nor iefufe the comfort of his more lincere ddires and in– rents: B~t {uch good works do f.ink the hypocrite into Hdl, tha~ are princip.ally done as a fervice .re i)ride, to leave·a 11ln1C on earth behind hiin.
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