Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That abundance ofworldly things carrfeth pride. 685 ritie,and abundance ofearthly bleflings in drawing men to this J fin ofpride, that it preuaileth not only with Heathens, Infidels, and worldlings;but euen withGods faithful feruants and deare childrê. Of both which we haue many examples;as of Pharaoh, who in the pride of his heart oppofed againa the knowne will ofGod; and in Nebuchadnezer, whobeholding all his pompe, glorie'andriches,attributeth the praife of all veto himfelfe,and robbeth God of the glory due vnto him, vanting himfelf in the pride of his hearr,and arrogantly bragging; (.r not this great Ba- Dan,4.a7. bel, that [hastebuilt for the.hora fe of the ksngdome, by the might of my power,and for the honorofmy maiesîie?So it is Paid of Vz,zrah z.Chron.aó.r 6 that finding the kingdom in a perplexed eftate, he did vpright_ lyin the fight of the Lord,& fought vnto. him ; for which when theLord had madehim to profper,and to wax ftrong, his heart was lift veto his deftruetion, and he tranfgreffed againfl the Lord his God : yea good Ezechiae was thus ouertaken,waxing Pfal.t; t to proud ofhis greatprofperitie, andvanting himfelfe in hisrich treafures : and holy Dowd himfclfe, who had profeffed that his z.Sam.a4. heart was not haughtie, norhis eyes loftie,bctt that he was be- come humble like a little child, wasafter this puffed vp with his great profperitie, & inthe pride of his heart numbreth the peo- ple.By all which it plainly appeareth,that worldly plen tie is the nurfe ofhellifh pride; for as fat commeth ofthe fuperfluitie of nourifhment,wüerby the bodie is made bigger,but not better, either in health,flrength,or nimblenes: yea rather it is the nurfe ofmanydifeafcs,`and maketh the bodie purfe, vnweldie, and' vnfit for a6tion : fo this (welling ofpride rifeth from the fuper- fluous abundance ofworldly benefits, and maketh a man grea- ter in his owne conceit, but not in true worth ; for the foule is not therby founder in grace,or ftronger and more a&iue in the duties ofpietie; yea contrariwife,this fwelling ofpride maketh way for all fpirituall difeafes, and caufeth him who is infeé ed with ir, to be more fluggifh andilothfull, vniveldie and impo- tent in all a&ions and duties ofpietie add Chriftianitie. Thus thegreateft honors bring with themthe greateftpride; §.seîl:ii., and though a man climbe never fo fait vpó theladder of prefer = That bonne, ment, yet his proud heart will Rill be one Prep at leafs aboue hisrigies and pies- -efface : yea oftentimes thefe earthly aduancements make the[irespufemen. -pride Ofinentomount fohigh, that they doe not only in their"?witbpride... ambitious