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THE PRETENSES
OF
THE POOR,
[SECT.
q;
christians
;
look
on
thyself
as
a
pilgrim and stranger
here;
travel
as
a
foreigner through
this
dangerous wilderness,
and
having
food
and raiment
to supply
thy
wants and
support
thy
journey,
be
content.
It
is
not
of much
im-
portance whether
thou acquire
large treasures
of that
sort
of
coin
which
will
not
pass
in
the
city to
which
thou
art
travelling, nor
can ever be
remitted
to
thee by any
forms
of exchange.
It
is
not
of
great
moment
whether
thou
receive titles and honours among foreigners
in
this
strange country: These
honours and titles are the con-
tempt of
angels, and
are
of
no
account
in
thy native
land,
for
thou art
born
from
above. Live upon the views and
hopes
of
thy
fair
inheritance
on
high,
of
honours
prepared
for thee
at
home
in
thy
Father's
house,
among
the
sons
and
daughters of God, among
the angels
in
heaven, and
spirits
of
just
men made
perfect."
Alas!
HJw
contrary
is
the
spirit
of
a
christian
to
the
spirit
of
this
world
!
The
one
is
all for
self and shew
and
grandeur;
the
other
abases
self,
lies
at
the
foot
of God,
and
is
content without
honour
from
men.
This
fulness
of
self
is
opposite
to
the
very
temper
of the gospel, which
requires
us
to
be poor
in
spirit
;
and
yet
how
ready
we are
to indulge
it
?
How
few are there
among
those who take
up
the name
of
christian that watch against
this
vice, and
labour
to
subdue it?
which
of
us
can
lay
his
hand upon
his
heart and
say,
there
is
no
pride
dwells here
?"
SECTION
V.
The
Pretences
of
the
Poor, and
the
Faint
-
hearted
an.,
steered.
Upon
this
challenge there
are
two
sorts
of
men
that
rise
up and
deny the charge, and with their hand
on
their
heart
solemnly
declare,
there
is
no
pride within them.
These
are
the
poor and the faint
-
hearted. Let
us see
what
their pretences
are to avoid this
general
accusa-
tion.
Can
I
be
proud,
saith
the poor wretch, that
labours
for
his
daily
bread,
and can hardly procure
it
?
If
you
would
search
for
pride you
must
go
to
palaces, and
knock at
the gates
of
quality.
It
is
only
the great and the
rich
among mankind who
look
big and despise
their neigh-
bour. They
who
prosper
in
the
world and increase
ill