Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

7úst?Yorldfy thingsworke, contempt of Cod. 689 hearts, anddoth put donne the mightie from their feats, exalting théo/ loor degree. And our Sauiour teacheth vs, that he who exal- Chapt8t4 teth h,mfetf foal be brought lav,a rd he that humbleth hirstflfe,/hal be exalred.As therfore mé lift vp higheft thofe earthen pitchers which they purpofe tobreakewith greateft violence,into molt pieces; fo the Lord intending to batter and bruife these fraile perfons puffed vp with pride, cloth lift them vp on high, that he may giue them the forer fall. And howfoeuer the Lord who is chiese iudgc of hcauen and earth, is the punisher of all vice and fin, yet becaufe he execttteth this vengeance more cer -. tainly,and euerely vpon proud perlons, therefore the Prophet Daurdmaketh it one of Gods attributesand titles, whereby he will beknownetobeapuntfherofthem;O thou whodeffroyef Pfal.ug.zt. theproud,and `b¡cked,mhrch erre from thy commandement r, take a- way from me !home and contempt, becaufe 1 keepe thy tef imonies. And as he bcareth an extraordinarie hatred unto this fin aboue others, fohe inflieleth on it extraordinarie punifhments; bran- ding it as an hainous and capitali offence,by impofingon it his greateft plagues.For whereas proud menin their ambitious de- Gres would be equal( with God, the Lord pulleth them downe in his fierce wrath,and maketh them Idle thenmen; for he ftri- kedt them commonly with frenzie and madneffe, and thereby depriuing them ofthe vfe ofreafon,the eflèntiall forme ofman, wherein chiefly his manhood confifleth, and whereby he is di- flinguifhed from the bratifh creatures, he maketh them equall Das.4.2,70 with beafls,and fo expofcth them, how great foeuer they were z8.3.. informer times, to the contempt, derifion, and iniuries ofthe bafefiand meaneft, whobefore heldthem in fuch greatrefpe& &, that they could notlooke upon them,or Bandin their prefence, but with much feare and re uerence. A plaine example whereof we haue in Nebuchadnezer, who forhis pride was driuen from his palace and regall throne, into the wild woods;and made of a great monarchand ruler ofmen,a companion with beafts,and farre worfe then his bafeft feruant.And the like we may obferuc in many in ourowne times, who offending in this finne,are o- uerthrownewith this punishment. For howfoeuerall excefliue pride is not thus punifhed ( for then -there would not be enow in their right wits toxend and rule. thofe who are madde) yeta man (hall feldome -fee this punishment following, where cx- Y y cetfiue