SECT. V.1 AND THE FAINT-HEARTED ANSWERED. SOS riches, who are surrounded with servants, and would be worshipped as little gods. Ps. lxxiii. 6, 7, 8, 12. " It is their eyes, which stand out with fatness, and because they have more than heart could wish, pride cornpasseth them about as a chain ; it is they who talk loftily, and set their mouth against the heavens, they speak wickedly concerning the oppression of the poor:" But what pride can be found with us? Our clothing is mean and tat- tered, our food is coarse and scanty, we have nothing to boast of, for we have hardly enough to live upon, and therefore we must needs be humble. But search thy own heart, O man of poverty, nor let the poor among women neglect the same inward enquiry. Tell me art thou content with that low station in which God bath placed thee ? Is thy will and humour so far mortified, as to be brought down to thy condition ? Dost thou not fancy thyself to have deserved something better? Post thou submit to the will of God as wise, in making thee poor and not rich, a servant and not a master? Art thou so well acquainted with thy sins and follies as to lie low at the foot of God, and receive all the little portion that he gives thee as from mere grace ? Art thou thank- ful for every mercy, and patient under all the pressing afflictions that attend thy low estate ? Doth thy heart never rise against God the governor of the world, nor repine at his dispensations as though he had not treated thee according to thy merit ? Art thou humble enough to receive alms,if God hath given theenothing of thy own? And art thou willing to be beholden to others for thy daily bread, and to accept thy portion in that way where- in God is pleased to dispense it without murmuring ? He that promises his children in this world food and raiment, has never promised to give it them without dependence: There is no promise which binds him to maintain thy body and thy pride too. But let us search a little farther. Thou canst not swell among the great ones, nor talk much of thyself among thy equals, and affect a superiority and esteem above them ? Dost thou not aggrandize thyself, and swell in thy little station upon some supposed excellencies, either of beauty of the face, or strength of limbs, or sharpness of wit, or tallness of stature ? Or perhaps thou art vain enough to betray thy pride even in the tokens of thy
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