Patron ofmany vices. and bow toGods Commandement, but exalts himfelfe above God, and becomes a law-giver to himfelf, walking after the counfell and imagination of his owne heart ; God bath ever leaft poffellion, where pridebath molt fway and dominion ; all fortsofvices arc the Subjeas of the Common-weak of' that foul,where pride fits in the heart as a King inhis throne: Pride (faith Augufline) is the beginning, end and castle of all Superbiaell on- finne, pride being not only fin, but alto no finne can, could or nium peccato- may be without pride, fincefinne is nothing elfe but a contempt rwn initiumg of god, whereby we defpife his precepts, and nothing perfwades quu>nn n° falum man to this butpride ; and pride (faith Aquina 's) is the begin- peccatumeft ip- ríngofallfnne; in regardof time, the firft finne of the Divell fafuperbia,&c, in heaven,andof Adam in Paradifesin regardof the caufe, con- tempt ofGod the caufe offin, being found in every fin, andin regard ofOriginall,all other vices fpringing either mediately or immediately from this; themore a man exalts himfelfe, the more he difhonours God, themore a manBoth lift himfelt up in hisownconceit andopinion,themorehe loth cart & plung himfelf into thegulf andmire offpirituall pollution : fulnes of pride and fulnefhe ofuncleanneffeare inféparablecompanions. a. Self-exaltation is thepatron andprote for of all other vices, ¡.Patron ofall this blinds men, that they cannot fée their finnes, this har- vices. dens men, that theywill not confeffe theirfinnes, this makes men fuch admirers ofthemfelves and their owne wayes that, they apprehend their very vices to bevirtues, thismakes men fludious and artificiali to cloake and colour, andhide their fins, this makes inftruelion and admonition the mcanesof fuppref fingfin contemptible, and caufeth man with impudency and fhamelef%holdnefl'e tomaintaine andplead for his pro fanenefk, the foule which learnesnot tobe humble, cannot ceufe from tranfgreftion;pride amongother vices is like Goliahamong the `Philiflines,the £hiliftines were invincible untill Goliah was o- verthrowne, other Tufts in thefoule of man are impugnable, untillPride and felt-exaltation is cast downe, mans labour in theworkeofmortification is vain and fruitles untill his pride ismortified, the fpirituall conqueft is never gotten, as long as pride beares_ the dominion : He that overcomes not this, overcomes no luft ; Selfe-exaltation in the foule 5 3 of 209
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