Chap. 40. an Expofition upon the Book of Jo B. Vert; 12. Fourthly, Then do not envy proud ones. We are apt to en- vy thofe that are high inplace, though they are proud in fpirit ; but, do not envy proud ones, how high, howgreat foever you fee them, for they are indanger of falling, according ro the truth of this Scripture, and manyothers. When proud men are in their fullefl ruff, and highefi afcenr, then they are neareft a dreadful downfall; Before deftreillion the heart of man is haughty (faith Solomon, Prov. t 8. t z.) andbefore honour is humility. And the Apoftle Peter having given thiscounfel to thofe who are humbled by affiitlion (t Epifl. 5. 6.) bumbleyour felves under the mighty hand of God, fubjoyns this comfortable promife in the dote of the verle, That he may exalt you in due time, Fifthly, Thenpride is a veryprovoking fin. The Lord who de- clares himfelf againa all forts of (inners, declares himfeif molt againfl proud fanners (Prov. 16. 5.) Every one that ie proud in heart,is an abominationto the Lord; & mark what followeth in the fameverfe, though hand joyn in hand, he (char is, the proud man) pall not be unpunifhed. Pride is the Devils fin, the Devil is that Myftical Leviathan fpoken of in the 4 t ch Chapter of this Book, who it a Kingover all the children of pride. They whoare not fub- jei t to God ( proud menabove all men are not) are the Devils fubjeecs; He is aKing over all the children ofpride. There are four things in which the provocation ofthe fin of pride confìfls,any one of which may provoke God to pull down proud ones. Fir ft , Proud men fet themfelves in the place of God, Lucifer (by whom the pproud Bubilonian is meant) Paid (Ifa. 14.14.) I will be like the itk7 High. Thus the Lord Paid of the Prince of Tyros`(Ezek, 8.2.) Becaufe thine heart is lifted up, and thou haft Paid 1am aGod , I fsc inthe (eat ofGod, in the midil of thefeas ;yet thouarta man and not God , though thou [et thyheart as the heart ofGod. Seehow that proud Prince thought to carry it as God, as if he had been thefounder of his own ftrength. How can the Lord but be provoked with fuch an :grout as this ? Proud Jana/rn fpake this language,and at as high a rate Ufa. 47. S.) I , a.od none elfe betides me (is not thisto fpeak lu:' like God)I(hall not fit as awiddow,neitherpail the lofs ofchildren. Secondly , As pride is anufurparion of thr place and power of God , foof the providencesofGod. A proud man knovv til not how to acknowledgeGod in anymercy , nor how to be htm- Ffsf bled sss
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