516 CHARACTER OF A SOUND, He thinks it can be no great wrong that is done against sopoor a worm, and so unworthy a sinner as himself, (except as God or the souls of men may be interested in the cause.) He heartily ap- proveth of the justice of God in abhorring the proud ; and hath learned that, Rom.'xii. 10, "In honor preferring one another," and, Gal. v. 26, "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, 'envying one another." 2. But the remnant of pride is usually the most notable sin of the weak Christian; though it reigneth not, it foully blemisheth him. Hewould fain be taken for somebody in the church: he is ready to step up into a higher room, and to think himself wiser and better than lie is. If he can but speak confidently of the princi- ples of religion, and some few controversies which he bath made himselfsick with, he is ready to think himselffit to be a preacher. He looketh through a magnifying-glass upon all his own perform- ances and gifts: he loveth to be valued and praised: he can hardly bear to be slighted and dispraised, but is ready to think hardly of those that do it, if not to hate them in some degree : he loveth 'not to be found fault with, though it be necessary to his amendment; and though all this vice of pride be not so predominant in him, as to conquer his humility, yet doth it much obscure and interrupt it. And though he hatethis his pride, and strive against it, and lament - eth it before God, yet still, it is the sorest ulcer in his soul. And should it prevail and overcome him, he would be abhorred of GSd, and it would be his ruin ; 2Chron. rivi. 10. 12. Luke xxii. 24-26. 3. But in the hypocrite, pride is the reigning sin. The praise of men is the air which he liveth in. He was never well acquaint- ed with himself, and never felt aright the burden of his sins and wants, and, therefore, cannot bear contempt from others. Indeed; if his corrupt disposition turn most to the way of covetousness, tyranny, or lust, he can the easier bear contempt from others, as long as he bath his will at home ; and he can spare their love, if he can be but feared and domineer. But still his pride is pre- dominant; and when it affecteth not much the reputation of good- ness, it affecteth the name of being rich or great. Sin mayy make him sordid, but grace cloth, not make him humble. Pride is the vital spirit of the corrupted state 'of man. XXVII, 1. A confirmed Christian is acquainted with the de- ceitfulness of man's heart, and the particular corrupt inclinations that are in it, and especially with his own; and he is acquainted with the wiles' and methods of the tempter, and what are the ma- terials which he maketh his baits of, and what is the manner in which lie spreadeth his nets. He seethalways some snares before him ; and what company soever he is in, or what business soever be is about, he walketh as among snares, which' are visible to his
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