The Life of Faith. or Rabbi, or tohave the higheft feat or name (Mat. a g. r I, fltc.) Sohe bath learnt not topleafe himfelf, bra to pleafe others for theirgood to edification, Rom. 15. 2. Efpecially if he be a Pallor of the Church, though he do by an excelling light, and love, and good life, keep up the true honour of his calling; yet is he the more averle to Lord it over the flock, becaufe he knoweth that be muff bean example to them: And it is not an example ofpride, but of lowlinefs, which Chriff didgive, and he muff. give ; and therefore both are joyncd together, r Pet. 5.3, 5. 2. The Proud do make too great a matter of that honour which perhaps may be their due : They plot for it : they let their hearts upon it. If they ate flighted, or others preferred beforethem, their countenances are cart down, as Caine ; or they arc troubled, as Raman ; or they will revenge it,as Cain, and asJoab upon Abner : Touch their honour, and you touch their hearts : Defpife them, and you torment them, or make themyour enemies. But the Poor in fpirit regard their honour, as they doother matters of this world ; that is, withmoderation, and fo far as it is conducible to the honour of Religion, or their Coon- tty, or to the fervice and bufinels of their lives. Theywill not be Prodigals of that which they may f rve God by : and they willnot be over delimos of that whichmay be abait to Pride, and a fnarc to their fouls, though it gratifie the flethly fancy. They will leek it, as if they fought it not; and poffefs it, as if they poifei it not, r..- merebring how vain a thing man is, and how little his thougr.<s or breath can do, to make us happy : God is fo great in a Believers eye, and man and worldly vani- ty is fo ftnall, that a lowly 'mind. can fcarce have room and time to regard the hcnou: which is the proud mans portion ; becaufe he is taken up with honouring his God, and etleem- ing the honour which confifteth in his approbation. Therefore it is tolerable to him, to be made of no repoohm, to be laden with reproaches, to be fpit upon and buffeted ; to be made as the fcorn and off fcouring of the world, and to have his namecart out as an evil doer, fo he be not an'evil doer indeed, i Cor. 4. t 3. Luke6.22. Whatever you think ofhim, or whatever you fay of him, he knowcth that it is little ofhis Mm rn concernment 457
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