do. Self-conceitednefs mull be denied. fecrets to,and the hungry that be filleth with good things,and the full that he fendeth empty away. He will have no Difciples that come not to his School as little Children,teachable and tradable, not thinking themfelves too old, or toowife, or too good to be taught. Ifyou would fee the myfteries of the Gofpel favingly, you mull even creep toChriaonyour knees, and cry, Lord be merciful to me 4finner!He will not lift up your minds & hearts to heaven, till you think your felves unworthy to lift up your very. eys to heaven,becaufe you have finned againfl heaven.And ifyou were even lifted to heaven,fhould you there but be lifted upwith pride or felf-conceitednefs, you fhould loon have a prick in the flefh,to let out that dangerous,venemous wind that puffs you up. And if you should have any Knowledge ofthe moil precious truths,. as long you are thus proud and/elf-conceited, it will not be favoury and effedual on your hearts. Humility feedeth, and Pride flarveth every Grace. The Spirit of God will not dwell with the proud : He will beat you out ofjopar laves, unlefs you drive him away fromjou. Some feeming raptures and comforts, thefelf-conceited have ; which are but the deluding flatteries of Self, and the encouragements that Satan giveth to his fervants (For Satan will needs be a comforter for a while, as the Holy Ghofl is to the Saints and his followers alfo have their joys. ) But it is the humble foul that bath the folid comforts. From the duff of Humiliation, we have the cleareft fight of Glory, and confequently, the fweeteft tails ofit. As high as the rain comes from ,ic is the !owe' valleys that receive it molt, and retain it. Faith it fell will not profper in the proud and felf-conceited To Such the Gofpel will be foolifhnefs, or an offence. It is only the humble that favingly dole with its myfteries. Humility cherifheth the fear of God, and makes us. fay, HowAall rie do tbu evil ? or negled this duty ? But Self-conceitednefs and Pride is blind and bold,and deftroyeth in mens apprehenfions,tbe difference between things facred and common, the Holy and the unclean : ft difpofeth them to fuch an unreverent boldnefs with holy things, as ufually ends in a .prophane contempt : fo that fuchcan at laft defpife holy ordinances which they fhould live upon. Repentanceand this Pride are deadly foes. To be Ptnitetand Froudt, is to be HQC and Cold, alive and dead. Though: I ,
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