SelfexaltationaJhamefullabatement cf God. 213 lover ofGod, the motion ofhis heart is terminated within himfelfe, he brings forth all his fruit unto himfelfe, and is an Hor. t o, r. u emptyvine inGods account, he continues barrenof all grace. Clod giving grace to the humble, but retrßinp the proud. Ifdore I n.4 6. relates that on the mountaine ofLibanres there are Cedars very tall, and glorioufly flourifhing, but never bearing fruit, and the reafon is rendered, becaufe theMountains on which they grow are fohigh, that they receivenot the' reflection of the Sunbeanies, and the waters tiatùraily defcend unto the val- leyes. Thusfelf_exalters feared on the high Mountaines of common abilities are barren cfallfruit acceptable unto God, becaufe they are neither favingly enlightned, nor warmed with thebeames ofthe Sun of Rightcoufneffe, nor watered with the dew and moyfture of heavenly grace; none more emptyoffaving goodnes then fuch asare mori exalted in their own imaginations. 6. Self - exaltation abafeth God: The`1hilißines placed their 6. Abatement Dagon above the Arke, theproud man fetshimfelfaboveGod, of God. ambitious Pelf- exalters, like fo many petty Antichrifts, ex- alt themfelves above all `that is called God, They Let them- ( felves above the law of God, they 8 breadte the bands therof afunder and call away the cordes theroffrom them, they ferve not God according to Gods inftitution, but after their own invention, infteád of receiving Gods prefcription, they pre- fcribe howGod (hall be fervedby them : they exalt them- felves above the Minigers of God, they efteeme not their inftrudion, their wordsare in their account but babling; they exalt themfelves above the offices ofChrift, they entertain not Chritt as aProphet inftru5ting them,as aPrieß tofanftify them, as a King to beare fpirituall dominion within them ;, they exalt themfelves above the attributes ofGod , above thedominion ofGod', refuting fubj°dion above the wife- dome of God, reje Ring his counfell, not fuffering them- (elves tobe guided by him,and above the powerofGod,refting upon anarmeof flefh,and not upon thearme ofthe Lord; there isnofin that makes man more injurious untoGod,nor that fets man ingreater oppofitionagainft God,thenklf exaltation; all . other vices,faith gregory,fly fromGod to thecreature,as cove- ) tous x Pf.a.z.
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