194 VireEtion. forgetting and keeping (wearing or reproachful fpeaking. If an envious thought againft our Brother do arife in our hearts, becaufe he is preferred before us, we may hate it and reprefs it, and chide our hearts for it, and com- mand our tongues to fpeak well of him and no evil. Some pride and felfefteem will remain and be furring in us, dowhat we can, it is a fin fo deeply rooted in our corrupt Natures : But yet we cande. tea it, and refill it, and meet with abhorrence our feltconceited thoughts, and rejoycings in our own reputations and fame , and inward heart- rifings againft thofe that undervalueus,and fiand in the way ofour Repute ; and we may forbear our boafting language, and our contellings for our credit, and our excufes of our fins, and our backbitings and fe- crct defaming of thofe that crofs us in the way of Credit : We may forbear our quarrels, and eífrangemenrs,and dividings from our Brethren, and (tiff inulling on our own conceits, and expecting thatothers Mould make our judgements their Rule, and fay and do as we would have them,and all dance after our pipe; all which are the effedsof inward Pride. Wecannot, while we are on earth, be free from all inordinate Love of the world, and the Riches and Honours of it ; but we may fo watch againft it and reprefs it, as that it !hall neither be preferred before God, nor draw us to unlawful ways ofgain, by lying, deceit and over-reaching out Brethren; by ftealing,unjuft or unmerciful dealings, oppreffing the poor, and - infulting over thofe that are in the way of our thriving, and crufhing them that would hinder our afpiring defigns, and treading them down that will not bow to us, and taking re- venge
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=