Wilson - BS2663 W54 653

472 An Expofitaon upon Chap.l i. all wicked men and hypocrites which [fear] which lignifies humble reverence are within the Church ; who having no of God, fhewes that thus we ought to with rightly to ingraffe them into take the word [ high minded. ] Chrift and his body, therefore they T r M. What is our ds trine from hence ? partake not in the root nor fatneffe of S a L. That pride of heart and high the Olive,but wholly want Chrif# with mindedneffe ought to be far from fuch his Sph it,grace,and falvation: in which asbe profeffed ;Chriftians. The reafons regard they are much to be pitied of hereof be thefe : Firft, it is forbidden of us and God is earneftly to be prayed, God, and maketh us odious to God and that fuch among them as belong unto men. Secondly , it takes Gods glory him, he would ingraff them into his from him, and gives it to men; and this Sonne by faith. Thirdly, it exhorts all is an abomination, to give his glory to men that have not the bleffing of . a be- any.Thirdly, it is an abfurd thing to be leeving heart,above all things to labour proud of that which is none of ours; for for it, that they may be made one with we have nothing at all, no not a crumme Ghrhl, and be bitfl'ed by bcleeving, of bread nor a drop of water, but of free Gal. 3, 9. For albeit faith be a gift freely gift, Matth. 6. it. James 1. 17. If it be a bellowed out of Gods mercy to whom fenfeleffe thing that a Stage- player he will, yet God ufeth not to give ; it to fhould be proud of anotlaers appareil the Cho: ting Chriftian, but to fuch as which is borrowed, and muff by and by labour and leek for it. Laftly, we are by put it off ; how void of fenfe fhould we this doarine called from pride and ar- be to be proud of fuch things as come rogancy, unto humility of heart : for without us, nay for fuch things as God feeing we become Chriflians and Gods might condemne in us , and us for children by faith, and faith comes not themdoecaufewe either abufe or corrupt tram our (elves, but it is the gift of Gods gifts, and thereby have caufe to God; we ought not to boaft as if it were be humbled in our belt eftate. Lailly, not freely given us, Ephef. 2.8. a Cor, 4. pride isavery dangerous thing ; for it 7. If faith both doe fpring from and pulled down Gods judgements upon wholly rely upon mercy, then the faith- Angels and upon Kings, (as 7 ebuchad- full have no caufe ofglorying,but to nezzar and .Herod,) :upon Nations,(as rejoyce rather in this, that they know the Romans and Jewes,) upon Apoffles, God to be merciful], yerem. 9. 24. Fur- (as Peter : ) therefore pride is by all Cher, feeing faith findes nothing in man means to be efchued and ftriven againff, to make him accepted to God, ( but fin both by good meditation, and earneft and death) and both fend men out of prayer, to have it mortified by grace, if thenrfelves to fetch righteoufneffe and we will pleafe cod, and profper now life from another: Therefore the faith- and for ever. full have great reafon to walke humbly T r M. Have we here any prefesot need of before God and men, Rom. 3. 28. Rom. this admonition? 4. 15 2. S t L.Yca very much and greatly, be- T a yt. Proceed and tell us what is meant caufe all manner of pride abounds a- by [high minded ?] mong us, it was never more rife, both g t L. Some refer this to the wifdome outward and inward pride, and in all of theminde, and expound it thus: Be forts and degrces;as our apparell,words, not wife in your felves,or be not wife in looks,gate,title, hunting after dignities, your own conceite; whereupon the ftriving for precedency, our boafting in Papifts build their abfurd implicite our knowledg, and difdaining of others; faith,againfl Scripture and reafon. But all this doth teftifie to our faces, that we they do much better which refer it to the are proud, and therefore have need to affeaions of the heart; expounding it repent, left we do perifh. thus: Be not haughty in heart, nor be T t M. tell in what is here meant by not proud in your thoughts. The word [fear? ] SrL.,-'

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