Chap. 3 3. At Expoftion upon the Book, of, ] o B. Verf. 17. 3O And the originali word here ufed to figniñe the than from `IMF whomGod hideth pride, bath a fleece cognation to this notion about hiding pride is fenfe. Man is twice expreft in this verfe, yet not by the fame word ; The firfi word notes man in the weakneffe of his confiitution, an earthly noun ; This fecond notes man in the powerfulnefsof his condition, et flrong man, a mighty man, an eminent man, a man with all hisfurniture, in the fulinefs of his earthly glory and greatnefs; when man bath much naturali power, much civili power, with the various additions and orna- ments of both thefe powers upon him,thenman is in greatefi dan- ger tobe proud,& then Godhideth pride from noun. And whocan hidepride from fuch aman but God alone. Men commonly blow up fuch men with pride by great applaufes, and fuch men have moaly great thoughtsand high apprehenfions ofthemfelves, and are very forward to difçover ( which is the greatefi difcovery of their weaknefs ) their owne pride.God only hideth pridefrom man ; that is, he makes it not ro be , as well ashinders t is appearing ; that which is hidden is as if it were not. The word is ufed in that fenfe ( job 3. ro. ) Becaufe he did not hideforrowfrommine eyes Sorrow is hidden fromus when the matter of forrow is fo taken away, that we forrow not at all. To hide pride is to take away the matter and óccafion , the incentives and motives of pride, whatfoever is a nurfe of pride, or doth encourage the pride of our hearts, that's to hide pride fromman. Againe, Wemay take this word, pride, in a large fenfe, as Comprehending all fin , He'witbdrawetb man from his purpofe, and hideth pride ; that is, fin of all forts from man ; and doubt- leihe there is pride of one kinde or other in every as of fin ; There is a heighteningof the fpirit againfi God , fome difhatif- fa,ionwith the mind and will of God, and thence a fetting up of our will againfi the will ofGod in every (inner, efpecially in bold and wilful! finners. Such finners would not let the will of God land, but delire that their own may. This is pride ;This in force degree is mingled with every fin,andpride leads to all fin ; therefore inScripture fometimes an humble or meekman isop- pord, not only to aproud man infpeciall, but to a wickedman in generali ( Pfal: 147. 6.) The Lord lifteth up the meek, be cafï- eth -the wicked down to the ground. Where the wicked man in the latter partof the verfe, hands in appofition to the meek or hum R
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