Baxter - BV649 B3 1670

20 HewPride ofour Goodnefs. talk in a complaining, doubting and almoft de- fpairing manner of fpeech, and yet to have high expectations of refpeel from others, and to be moth proudly impatient of the leali undervaluing or neg.' lea. Yea Pride will make an advautnge to it fel f, of all thefe humble confefona and complaints : And it is an old obfervation, that many are proud of their humility : For though it be true that Aufiio faith, that Grace is a thing. {hichno man can safe amifs ; the meaning is only, that Grace efficiently, can do nothing amifs : (For if it doamifs fo far it is not grace :) Yet objeaively all Grace may be 2bufed, that is, a man may make it the obje& of his Pride, and the occafion df many other fins. And this Religious 'Pride of'Go©dnefs, Both ordi- narily work under the pretext of Thankfullnefs to God for his grace, and Zeal for irlolynefs But it may be known by this, that it always tendeth to lift us up, and to the diminifiing of Love to o others, and to the contempt of the weak, and the cenfuring of our brethren, and the divifion' and diflurbance ofthe Church ofGod. They are' la- mentable effects which this Pride produceth, the Church and all Societies where it cometh. It maketh all mens Gocdnefs feem little, except our own : It caufeth the people to undervalue their Pallors, and tusneth compa(lion of mens weakneffes into a fowr contempt : It, fetteth 2 man in his own conceit, fo near to God, that he looketh down on other men, as earthly animals in comparifon of himfelf. -It maketh new terms of Church - Communion, and teacheth men to make trrcwer the door of the Church, than God hath gads

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