SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 361 another, andnot to mind high things ; but to condescend to men of low estate ; Rom. xii. 16., and not to be wise in our own esteem, but in honor prefer others before ourselves; Rom. xii. 10. How ofthath God professed to resist and take down theproud, and to give grace to thehumble, and dwell with them ! Search carefully, therefore, lest this sin get ground upon you. For though it may not be so predominant and raging as to damn you, yet may it cause God to. afflict you, and hide his face from you, and humble you by the sense of his displeasure, and the concealment of his love. And though one would think that doubting, troubled souls should be always the most humble and freest from pride, yet sad experience bath certified me, that much- pride may dwell with great doubtings anddistress of mind. Even some of the same souls that cry out of their own unworthiness, and fear lest they shall be fire-brands of hell, yet cannot endure a close reproof, especially for anydisgrace- ful sin, nor bear a disparagingword, nor love those, nor speak well of them, who do not value them, nor endure to be crossed or con- tradicted in word or deed, but must have all go their way, and fol- low their judgment, and sayas they say, and dance after their pipe, and their hearts rise against those that will not do it ; much more against those that speak or do any thing to the diminishing of their reputation : they cannot endure tobe low, and passed by, and overlooked, when others are preferred before them, or to be slight- ed and disrespected, or their words, or parts, or works, or judg- ments, to be contemned ordisparaged. Nay, some are scarce able to live in the same house, or church, or town, in love andpeace, with any but those that will humor and please them, and speak them fair, and give them smooth and stroking language; and for- bear crossing, reproving, and disparaging them. Every one of these singly is an evident mark and fruit of pride ; how muchmore all .jointly! I seriously profess it amazeth me to consider how heinously most professors are guilty of this sin; even when they know it to be the devil's own sin, and the great abomination hated of. God, and read and hear so much against it as they do, and confess it so oft in their prayers to God, and yet not only inwardly cherish it, but in words, actions, gestures, apparel, express it, and passionately defend these discoveries of it. The confusions and distractions in church and state are nothing else but the proper fruits of it ; so are the contentions amongChristians, and the un- peaceableness in families ; for only from pride cometh conten- tion," saith Solomon ; Prov. xiii.' 10. . For my part, when I con- sider the great measure of pride, self-conceitedness, self-esteem, that is in the greatest part of Christians that ever I was acquainted with, (we of the ministry not excepted,' I wonder that God doth not afflict us more, and bring us down by foul means, that will not VOL. i. 46
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