Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

006 not Jut:disceofworld) thing caufet6 pride. ambitions conceits anddefres attend vnto theclouds, & touch the heauens; but euen prefume to approdi vnto the throne of God,and to rob him of his glorie,that they may fet the crowne Plutarch. de vpon their owne heads.Thus Clitns magnified by thepeople for Ai ndr. a profperous expeditionby fea,wherein he had the viólory osier ?Arm a few (hips, magnified himfelfemuch more in his owne con- ceit,& was content to be called the god oF. eiie fea.So Demetrius being aduanced to a kingdome,would needsequal himfelfwirh God,& be called lsppirer; neither mutt now ambaffadors come vnto him as veto other Kings, to confer offiate butines; but as vnto a god they mots fend to enquire of him,and take al his an- fweres for oracles. So Alexander, 1Ve6IIchadnezer, and diuers ofihe Roman Emperors, arrogated vnto themfelues diuise ho- nors,and would needs haue their flames worfhipped; being fo blinded with ambition,and furfetted with pride, that theyfor- got their mortalitie; andasecame corrivals with rCodhiirfelfe in his honor and glory. The liketnay befaid of abundance of worldly riches,which are the bellowes of vaine glory, and r'he common caufes of pride againft God, who is the Author and fountain of our wealth and welfare:whereof it is that the Lord Deus.8.ia. fo carefully admonitheth the lfraelites, that when they thould :;a. through 'his bountifull blefling abound inriches, they thould -take heed that their hearts were not lifted vp with pride : and t.Tim.6.17. that the A,poftle would haue rich men fo ftráitly charged that they flaould not he highminded.And this is ÿ caufc wily pride isvfually called the worme ofriches, which breeding in them, eateth out al their goodnes,& maketh them euil veto vs,v, hick are good in their owne nature;and hurtful & perniciouc,whiell in themfelues are profitable and beneficial.Sothe Son ofSyrach Ecclefiafticus :faith, that riches lift vp themind;and Salomon telleth vs,that the 40.s6, rich M.94 filll'vijeinhis Anse conceit, ihiu h apooreman ofvn- Prowi8. "' derilandingcan trie bim,& difcerne his folly. To which purpofe AugttR.Serm, one faith, That there is nothing fo much to befeared in riches gtz.Tom.w, as pride,& that we arenot to feare riches themfelues, but pride which is the difeafe ofriches:for that mind is ofgreat vertueand magnanimitie,Whichin the abundance ofriches is not infer ltd with this difeafe,& being in an high eftate,is not allo high min- ded.Heis a rich man truly great,who doth not therefore thinke himfelfegreat,becaufe he is rich, whereas he who taketh all his . worth