222 DireRionsforgetting and keepiig do it ; much more agairift thofe that fpeak or do any thing to the diminifhing of their Reputation : They canot endure to be low, and pag by, and overlooked when others are preferred befdre them, or to be flighted anddifrefpeded,or their word'., or parts, or works,or judgements to becontemned or difparaged: Nay fome are fence able to live in the fame Houfe, or Church i or Town in love and peace with any but thofe that will humour and pleafe them, and fpeak them fair, and give them finooth and ftroaking lan- guage, and forbear crofling, reproving and difpa- raging them. Every oneof thefe fingly is an evi- dent mark and fruit of pride ; how much more all joyntly I ferioufly profefs it amazeth me tocon- fider how hainoufly moll profeffors are guilty of this fin even when they know it to be thedevils own fin, and the great abomination hated of God, and read and hear fo much againft it as theydo, and confefs it fo oft in their prayers to God, and yet not only inwardly cherifli it but in words, aetions, geflures, apparel,exprefs it, and paffionuely defend theft. difcoveries of it. The confufions and di- firgtions in Church and State are nothing elfe but the proper fruits of it : fo are the contentions among Chriflians, and the unpeaceablenefs in families: For onlyfrompride cornea, contention,faith Solomon,Prov. 3. io. For my part when I confider the great meafure of pride , felf-conceitednefs , felf-efteem that is in the greateft part of Chriflians that ever I was acquaintedwith, (weof the Kliniftry not ex- cepted) I wonder that G od doth not aftlift us more, dnd bring us down by foul means, that will not be brought down by fair. For my own part I have had as
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