Self-admirers non-apprehenfive. 103 characters of profaneneffe carry about them the fignes and fymptomes of fpirituall blindneffe, bafeneffe, uncleanneffe, poverty, bondage and everlafting ruine, but they know it not : No man more ignorant of himfelfe, then he that hath highe[ thoughts ofhimfelfe, the Pharifees were great felfe-admirers, extraordinarily lifted up with the thought of their owne wifdome, holineffe and perfection, yet ve- ry miferably blinde and ignorant, blind leaders of the blind, Y Without the law, as S. Paul confeffnh, without the know - y Ro 7 9, ledge of the law in their under[andings, without the in- fcription of the law in their hearts, without conformity to the law in their lives. Without the light of the law difcovering their firmes, without the power of the law humbling their foules ; ignorance of mans owne vileneffe begets felf-admirations; the Laodicean was ftrangely puff:d up with thoughts of his owne fpirituall excellencies, and the maine ground therof was his blindneffe, hefaidhe was z rich and increafed in goods andwantednsthinç, not knowing t 1Lev.3,17. that he was poore, blind", naked, mifera6le and wretched, he that is of all men the wor[, is ufually in his .owne opi- nion--the be[ : carnali men thorough their blindneff, doe often take that for very great fpirituall riches, which in the account of God is no other then very poverty and bate- nefle. 2. Self-admirers are non- apprehenfive of the Ma;efly and i, Non -apyre perfetiion of god, and tranfcendent beauties ofChrift, mans heat vencffe of opinion of himfelf is finable to his apprehenfion of God, Gods &Chrif{s the more apprehenfive the foule is of Gods incomprehen- perfeetions Coble Ma}e[y, holineffe and glory, the more it is abafed in the fenfe of its owne emptineffe, bafeneffe and impurity. I have heard of thee (faith lob unto the Lord) by the hea- ring ofthe care, but now mine eye feeth thee, wherefore I ? ab- ' lab' 40. horre my feufe and repent in duff and alhes, he that is filled with the admiration 'of Gods perfeetions is emptied of felf-adtniration, and made very low and bafe in his own" thought and meditation of himfelfe. When the Prophet Efay had in vifion feen the Lord fitting upon the throne, he cryed out and complained of his uncleanneffe, then he faid,' ..--- --
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