upon the Epiflle of J A M ll s. ' VII RS.6. of reproof, Confcience confenting to the checks of the ~Vord ~ but pride filfi blindet~ the mind, and thenarma h the ajfeDzom; 1~ la~the judgment afleep, and then awal<enerh a~1ger. Befidc:s, ~nde tS the caufe of all other fins: CovetoufnefJ IS the root of evtl, and Pride is thefoul of it; Cevcroufnefs is but Prides Purveyor: We purfue carnal enjoymems,that we rn_ay p~ffup ~~rf~lvc s in ~he pof– idfion of them ; and ufually that Whtch u purfued m !ttfl, u enyoj– erJ in pride : 'Tis but the complacency of the Soul in an earrhly e-x– cellency: Habafz:z. 5': He i& a proud man, and therefore enlflrgeth hiJ de{ire tU Hell. . 457 The Ufe of all is, Firfi, To caution us againfl: pride. There are Vfe. two forts of pride,: One in the mind,and the other in theaffi. [fionJ; fdfconceit, and an afjiring after 'Worldlygrea tnefi: both arena- ' rural to .us,efpeciaHy the former. 1. We. are marvdous apr to be puffed up with aconceit of our own excellwcy, be it in richcs,beau– ty, parts, or grace: Th€Apofile, 1 rok.2. I 6. callech ir pride oflife,., becaufe it fpreadech throughout all the employmems and comforts of life. Other lulls are limited, either by their end, as lujh ofthe .fiefo, to content the body; or by their infl:rumenc, as lufh of the eyes: But pride is of an univer{al and unlimited influence : 'Ti! pride oflife ; the whole life is bnt fphere enough for pride. Thofe that have nothing excellent, cannot excufe themfelves from fearing it. We many times find, that men that have nothing to beproud of, are mofi conceited: Bloaty fpirits are foon puffed up, like bladders filled with wind. We fee it in our natures; · Man was never more proud,then fince he was wretched and miferable : Pride came in by the Fall, and that which lbould take down the fpiric bath raifed it. But much more have they that excel callfe to fuf– pe.a themfelves; as richmen: 1 Tim. 6. 18. Charge them that are rich in thiJ World, that they b; not high-minded. Tis hard to carry a full cup without fpilling ; . and not to lift upour felves when we are raifed up byGod. PerCons that grow up in roan e– fiate out of nothing, are mofl: ape to tl'proud ; panly becaufe not able to dige£1: a fudde.n change; fuch happinefs is a firange thing to them,and therefore foon overfecteth the Spirit : Partly becaufe they look upon themfelves as tlle .makers of their own fortune; Is not this great Babe/ Which I have built ? Other mens eftates defcend upon them; but there is fame concurrence of their indufhy, and io they ari more apt to facrifice to their drag for the fatnefs of N·np their
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=