Honour 4nd Pride, And r. climbing high, &c. 231 would ferve turn : He bath bidyou [fit not down in the bighefi room: ] he bath fharply rebuked them that ftrive for prece- dency, and who shall be the greateft : He bath told you, he that will be the greateft, muff be the fervant of all : and bath told you of ithoping to the 'feet of the smeaneft and con- defcending to men of low degree ; and bath fet little children before you to beyour Teachers, and affured you that there is no entrance into his Kingdom in any other pofture. bath told you that God refiftethand abhorreth theProud and that he that humblethhimfelf shall be exalted, and he that ex- alteth himfelf fhall be brought low.. Obje&. But how fhall Iknow whether I leek preferment for God or myfelf ? I hope its God that Ifeek it far. Anfm. 1. How shall a man know his own mind ? you have darks hearts indeed if you cannot know your own Intentions' ifyou are but obfervant, and diligent, and willing to know them. 2. He that feeketh not Dignities for himfelf, but for God, will never feek to put by another that is as able and likely to do God fervice in the place as he : Nor will he feek it at all, if he fee that Godmay be ferved as well without his Peeking it : but will flay till God call him to it, and then he may expeti his help andbleffing. Few do intend God in it, that are Exalters of themfelves. Indeed if you fee that an enemy of the Gofpel, or fome unworthy, ungodly man is like to come into the place ifyou leek it not, by which the Church or the Common-wealth is like to be much injured, then youmay feek it by lawful means ; fo that you can truly fay, I would not do it for my felf ; but it is to ferve. God for his peoples good. 3 . Nay he that feeketh not the Dignity for himfelf, will feek firft and more toget in another, if he know another that is fitter then himfelf,and likely to do God more fervice: and this he will do heartily, andnot diffemblingly. If you had not ra- ther a worthier and more ufeful man were preferred before you, and feek not more for fuch then for your felves, you are plain felf-feekers,whatever you maypretend. If a man fhould come to almoit any of the Rulers of Nations , Churches 9 Colledges, or Corporations that have fcrued themfelves into theplace of Government, and ask them Did you know no man 9
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