240 Remould; ofGifts osnelfpiritual Abilities &C 5 whole life is but one continued vice,and that a finof a molt hai- nous nature, even the exercife of Pride and Self-feeking whenyet they take themfelves for Saints, becaufe they are not fuch as areaccounted fcandalous (inners in the world. They facrifice their precious time and iludies to their Pride and fancies, and not to God : Too many hoursand years are fpent to gain the Reputation of beingLearned men : Too many di- fputations are managed ; yea (odious facriledge) toomany Sermons are preached, and too many learned Books arewrit- ten, to gain the Reputation of being Learned men ! Ah mife- rable, low, unworthy ftudies I Profane fermons ungodly la- bours I and poor reward ! 0 how it netleth fome Proud fpi- rits if they hear that they are taken to be no Scholars I And how many take their Univerfity Degrees, to be meerly the wings of this part of their vain-glory. Learning and Degrees, and theReputation of it, are all good, ifthey bevalued and ufedbut for Cod : But they are fo much the worfe when they are facrificed to felf and made the food and fuel of pride, Learn therefore this part of felf-denial; CHAP. X L V II. Reputation of Gifts andfpiritual Abilities, Stc. 7. ANother piece of vain-glory to be denied , is , The Re- pt Cation of °or Gifts and fpiritted abilities :I mean fuch as Praying, and Preaching and Difputing, and good Confe- rence, to have readinefs for words, and livelinefs ofexpreffi- on arid exactnefs of method : tobeefteemed in all thefe a very able man byother, is anhigh-partof felf-interefi to be denied., The duties themfelves Inuit be denied by none, for they are the fervice of God, commanded ns by his word : But it is the Honout that [elfprefumeth to huntafter in thefe holy things. And it is a double fin here to feek ourlilvel,when we arefpeci- ally commanded to feekGod 1 and where the work is inflituted for that endland whenwe pretend to reekGod,and to denyour felves !
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