Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v10

31« Chap. 33. An Expofition upon the Bao%of J o E. Verf, 17. high thoughts of felfe, which high thoughts theLord would have all men call do,vne, or cart away,while he gives that admonition by his Apoflle to the Romans ( Rom: 12. 3.) Let no man thinke ofInmfelfernore highly thenhe ought to thinke ( that is, let himnot thinke highly of himfelfe at all) but ( as it followeth in the fame verfe) Soberly, or tofobriety. For indeed many are drunken, yea mad, or mad drunke with high, that is, proud thoughts of them- felves. Hence that of the fame Apo(lle ( Gal: 6. 3.) Ifa man thinkhimfelfe to befomethiug,when he is nothing, he deceiveth him- felfe ; he that thinks hitntelfe to be fomething, is he that hach proud thoughts of hirnfelfe ; and fuchafomething, is a meere no- thing, that is, is no fuch thing as he thinks himlelfe to be; as is cleare in the tale ofthe Church of Laodicea (Rev: 3.16.) Hence Secondly, Pride fprings from an opinion that what we have is better then indeed it is ; the proud man thinks all his flyer gold, and his °brafs flyer. We fpeak proverbially of fuch, All their geefe arefxwans; they alwayes over-rate their own commo- dities. Thirdly, Pride fprings from this falfe opinion, that what we have, we have it from our felves, or that 'tis of our owngetting. The Apoftles Pride-confounding queflion, is, (1 C'ors 4, 7, ) what haft thou that thouhaft not received ? As if he had fayd, thetrue reafon why men boaft, or the ground of all their proud boafling'is this, they think not themfelves beholding to any for what they have ; all is of themfelves, or bya felfe-improvement ; they have fomewhat ( they imagine) which they have not re- ceived. Fourthly, Theproud man thinkes what he bath, he alone hath it ; at leaf{, that he hath it in agreater meafure then any other. He is the Cedar, others are but Ihrubs. He is the Giant, others are but dwarfes. Only thehumble attaine that rule (Rom: 22. to. ) In honour preferring one another : as allo that ( Phil: 2.3, ) In lowlinefs of mind, let each efteemeother better then himfelfe. Fifthly , Pride rifeth from this thought, that what we have, we (hall alwayes have. Holy `David began to be blowne up with pride, as foone as ever hefayd inhis pro erity,Ifballnever be mo- ved. Babylonglorified berfelfe, having fd in her heart , I fit a Oueene, andass no widdow, and (hall fee noforres', ( Revel :18. 7') Secondly,

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