212 Caufeofbarrenneff'e, endowments ofman, the more he hath received, the leh mindful' he is of God, the higher thoughts he conceiveth ofhimfclfè, the more able and ative he iheweth himfif in evil', and the more he fleights and fcornes all inftru.1- ion : That man of all others is the fittef in:frument to doe the worke cf the prince of darknefre in whom abili- ties and a proudfpirit are concurrent ;. this like leaven fowrs r Es, t 5. 25. the whole lump of mans verrues, the r treefweetnedthe Wa_ tern oflvfarah which were bitter, but this like gall and' wormwood fowres and imbitters thole gifts and abilities ' which in t'hemfelves are very fweet and of fingular of ,, making vertue and the duties of piety, fubjeLtt and fervice- able to mans vain-glory ; it is Gregories obfervation that as humility cuts the finews ofall vices, and ftrengthens all verrues, fo pride deftroyes all verrues, and strengthens all vices ; pride is a very pernicious and venimoas herb; poyfoning all the liquor in the pot, his verrues will at the Iaft be cenfured as vices, in whom the ambitious humour of fclf-exaltation beares dominion , the leaf} =afire of grace with humility and meeknefl': is'farre better then the greateft abilities with a proud fpirit : It is better fee- ding on a (lender di(h well f afoned, then on a grat dith fanned with all dainties having poyfon mingled with it. s. Spfituill 5. Self-exaltation keepes the Jule barren, barren of know- barrennetle, ledge ; he that exilts hunfelfe regards not wholefome coun- s t Tim.6,4, fell, he rejels the Word of God, and there is no true will dome in hun ; the fraud (faith the Apoftle) f k.nowes no- thing: Nothing of God the Father regenerating him, of' Chrtft redeeming him, of,the Spirit fanaifying him, of the Word entightning, humbling, changing and renewing him; he leanes upon his owne corrupt and carnali reafon, a lamp wherin is no light; the proud mans light is dark- neffe, his very knowledge is tnif rabie and wretched igno- rance ; he continues barren of Faith, he builds on man and not on Chrift, How canyet beleeve (faith Chrift) Who t I011'544. feeke honour one ofanother, and not the honour Which cometh !from god; he rerttaines barren of love, a kW-lover, and no lover
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