A Christian Directory Volume I Part 51

Fain they would be thought comely, that others may admire them, and be taken with their comeliness. If they thought that none would see them, they would spare their ornaments. And if a common decency were all that they affected, they would spare their curiosities and fas.h.i.+onable superfluities. Even they that would not be unclean in gross fornication with any, yet would be esteemed beautiful and desirable, and do that which tendeth to corrupt the minds of fools that see them.

These, and indeed almost all sin, are the natural progeny of pride.

3. As to the misery which they bring on themselves and others, (1.) The greatest is, that they forsake G.o.d, and are in danger to be forsaken by him: for G.o.d abhorreth the proud, and beholdeth them as afar off. So far as you are proud you are hated by him, and have no acceptance or communion with him. Pride is the highway to utter apostasy. It blindeth the mind; it maketh men confident in their own conceits; and venturous upon any new opinion; and ready to quarrel with the word of G.o.d before they understand it. When any thing seems hard to them, they presently suspect the truth of the matter, when they should suspect their dark, unfurnished minds. Mark those that are proud in any town, or any company of professors of piety; and if any infection of heresy or infidelity come into that place, these are the men that will soonest catch it. Mark those that have turned from truth or G.o.dliness, and see whether they be not such as were proud and superficial in religion before. But G.o.d giveth grace, and more grace to the humble: he dwelleth with them, and delighteth in them.[230]

(2.) A proud man is a tormentor of himself. Setting his mind on the thoughts of men, and desiring more of their esteem than he can attain, and that which is unsatisfying vanity when he hath obtained it, he is still under fruitless, vexatious desires, and frequent disappointments; every thing that he seeth, and every word almost that he heareth, or every compliment omitted, can disturb his peace, and break his sleep, and cast him into a fever of pa.s.sion or revenge. This wind that swelleth him, is running up and down, and disquieting him in every part. Who would have such a fire in his breast, that will not suffer him to be quiet?[231]

(3.) Pride bringeth sufferings, and then maketh them seem intolerable.

It makes the sinner more vex and gall his mind, with striving and impatient aggravating his afflictions, than the suffering of itself would ever do.

4. Pride is a deep-rooted and a self-preserving sin; and therefore harder to be killed and rooted up than other sins. It hindereth the discovery of itself. It driveth away the light. It hateth reproof. It will not give the sinner leave to see his pride when it is reproved; nor to confess it if he see it; nor to be humbled for it if he do confess it; nor to loathe himself and forsake it, though conviction and terror seem to humble him. Even while he heareth all the signs of pride, he will not see it in himself. When he feeleth his hatred of reproof, and knoweth that this is a sign of pride in others, yet he will not know it in himself. If you would go about to cure him of this or any other fault, you shall feel that you are handling a wasp or an adder; yet when he is spitting the venom of pride against the reprover, he perceiveth not that he is proud; this venom is his nature, and therefore is not felt nor troublesome. If all the town or congregation should note him as notoriously proud, yet he himself, that should best know himself, will not observe it. It is a wonder to see how this sin keepeth strength, in persons that have long taken pains for their souls, and seem to be in all other respects the most serious, mortified christians! Yet, let them but be touched in their interest or reputation, or seem to be slighted, or see another preferred before them, while they are neglected, and they boil with envy, malice, or discontent, and show you that the heart of sin, even selfishness and pride, is yet alive, unbroken, and too strong.

Especially if they are not persons of a natural gentleness and mildness, but of a more pa.s.sionate temper; then pride hath more oil and fuel to kindle it into these discernible flames. He is a christian indeed that hath conquered pride.

5. Pride is the defence not only of itself, but of every other sin in the heart or life. For it hateth reproof and keepeth off the remedy; it hideth, and extenuateth, and excuseth the sin, and thinketh well of that which should be hated.

6. Pride hindereth every means and duty from doing you good; and ofttimes corrupteth them, and turneth them into sin. Sometimes it keepeth men from the duty, and sometimes it keepeth them from the benefit of the duty. It makes men think that they are so whole and well as to have little need of all this physic, yea, or of their daily necessary food. They think all this is more ado than needs: what need of all this preaching, and praying, and reading, and holy conference, and meditation, and heavenly-mindedness? One is ashamed of it, and another wants it not, and another is above it, and they ask you, Where are we commanded to pray in our family, and to pray so oft, and to hear so oft, and read any book but the holy Scriptures, &c.; for they feel no obligation from general commands, (as to "pray continually,"

and "always," and "not wax faint," nor be "weary of well doing," to "redeem the time," and "do all to edification," and be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," &c. 1 Thess. v. 17; Luke xviii. 1; Gal. vi.

9; Eph. v. 16; 1 Cor. xiv. 26; Rom. xii. 11,) because they feel not that need or sweetness which should help them to perceive, that frequency is good or necessary for them. If the physician bid two men "eat often," and one of them hath a strong appet.i.te, and the other hath none; he that is hungry will interpret the word "often," to signify thrice a day, at least, and he that hath no appet.i.te will think that once a day is "often." Healthful men do not use to ask, How prove you that I am bound to eat twice or thrice a day? Feeling the need and benefit, they will be satisfied with an allowance without a command. They will rather ask, How prove you that I may not do it? for they feel reason in themselves to move them to it, if G.o.d restrain them not. So it is with a humble soul, about the means of his edification and salvation: it feeleth a need of preaching, and prayer, and holy spending the Lord's day, and family duties, &c. Yea, it feeleth the need and benefit of frequency in duties, and is glad of leave to draw near to G.o.d, and feels the bond of love constrain.

Whereas, the proud are full and senseless, and could easily be content with little in religion, if the laws of G.o.d or man constrained them not, and will do no more than needs they must. Yea, some of late have been advanced by pride above all ordinances, that is, above obedience to G.o.d, in the use of his appointed means, but not above the need of means, nor above the plagues prepared for the proud and disobedient.

Humility secureth men from many such pernicious opinions.

_Direct._ IV. To the conquering of pride, it is necessary that you perceive that indeed it is in yourselves, and is the radical sin, and the very poison of your hearts; and that you set yourselves watchfully to mark its motions; and make it a princ.i.p.al part of your religion and business of your lives to overcome it, and to walk in humility with G.o.d and man. For if you see not that it is your sin, you will let it alone, and little trouble yourselves about it. Pride liveth in men that seem religious, because they perceive it not, or think they have but some small degree, which is not dangerous. And they see it not in themselves, because they mark not its operations and appearances: the life in the root must be perceived in the branches, in the leaves, and fruit. If you saw more evil in this, than in many more disgraceful sins, and set yourselves as heartily and diligently to conquer it, as you do to cast out the sins which would make you be judged by men to be utterly unG.o.dly, no doubt but the work would more happily go on, and you would see more excellent fruits of your labour, in the work of mortification, than most christians see.

_Direct._ V. Be much in humbling exercises; but so as to take heed of mistaking the nature of them, or running into extremes. I have told you the true nature of humility before. Abundance of christians are tempted by Satan to think it consisteth, much more than it doth, in pa.s.sionate grief, and tears, and bodily exercises, of long and frequent fastings, and confessions, and penance, or such like: and thus Satan diverteth them from true endeavours for true humiliation, by keeping them employed all their days, in striving for tears, or in these external exercises! Whereas, you should most strive for such a sight of your sinfulness and nothingness, as will teach you highly to esteem of Christ, and to loathe yourselves, and take yourselves to be as vile and sinful as you are, and will make you humbly beg for mercy, and stoop to any means to obtain it; and will make you patient under the rebukes and chastis.e.m.e.nts of G.o.d, and under the contempts and injuries of men: this is the humility which you must labour for.

But in order to this, external exercises of humiliation must be used: especially studying the holy law of G.o.d, and searching yourselves, and confession of sin, and moderate, seasonable fastings, and taming of the flesh. And indeed the exercises of humiliation do most become those that are most p.r.o.ne to pride: and the doctrine of those men who cry down true humiliation, doth come from pride, and is made to cherish pride in others. A humble soul cannot receive it; but is p.r.o.ner here to run into excess.

_Direct._ VI. There is no more powerful means to take down pride, than to look seriously to G.o.d, and set yourselves before his eyes, and consider how he loveth the humble, and abhorreth the proud. One sight of G.o.d by a lively faith, would make you know with whom you have to do, and teach you to abhor yourselves as vile. A glowworm is not discerned in the suns.h.i.+ne, though it glister in the dark. A glimpse of the majesty of G.o.d would make thee, with Isaiah, cry out, "Woe is me, for I am undone, a man of unclean lips," &c.; and, chap. vi. 5, with the Israelites, desire that Moses, and not G.o.d, might speak unto you, lest you die. Men are proud because they know not G.o.d, and look not to him, but to fellow-sinners, with whom they think they may be bold to compare themselves.

[Sidenote: A summary of the signs of humility.]

[Sidenote: Signs of pride.]

Remember also that G.o.d is as it were engaged against the proud, both in the holiness of his nature, and in honour; for a proud man sets up himself against him, and is such an idol as G.o.d will either take down by grace, or spurn into the fire of destruction. And if he do appear before G.o.d among others in days and external exercises of humiliation, you may judge how much an abhorred person will be accepted. It is not to all that are clothed in sackcloth, but to the humble soul that G.o.d hath respect; even to the self-abhorring person, who judgeth himself unworthy to come among the people of G.o.d, or to be door-keepers in his house, or to eat of the crumbs of the children's bread; that subject themselves to one another, and think no office of love and service too low for them to perform to the least believer; that in charitable meekness instruct opposers, and bear contradiction and contempt from men; that patiently suffer the injuries of enemies and friends, and heartily forgive and love them; that bear the most sharp and plain reproofs with gentleness and thanks; that think the lowest place in men's esteem, affections, and respects, the fittest for them; that are much more solicitous how they love others, than how others love them, and how they discharge their duties to others, than how others do what they ought for them; that will take up with smaller evidence to think well of the hearts or actions of others, than of their own; that reprove themselves ofter and sharplier than other men reprove them, and are readier to censure themselves than others, or than most others are to censure them; that have a low esteem of their own understandings, and parts, and doings, and therefore are readier to learn than teach, and to hear than speak; that highly value every bit and drop of mercy, especially Christ, and grace, and glory. These are the humble that G.o.d accepteth, and this is the fast that he requireth.

These are they that pray effectually, and that must save the land.

These only are sensible what sin is; when others feel it not, or are proud in the midst of their largest confessions and tears. These only do from their hearts acknowledge their desert of G.o.d's severest judgments, and justify G.o.d when he afflicteth them. Others rather marvel at the greatness and continuance of judgments, and expostulate with G.o.d as dealing hardly and unkindly with them, and tell him how good a people he afflicteth. These only understand the sinfulness of their very humiliations and prayers, through the weakness of that good which should be in them, and the mixture of much evil; when the proud are marvelling if G.o.d hear them not at the first word. These only wait in patience for G.o.d's answer, and accept of mercy in his time and measure; when the proud are short-winded, and if G.o.d come not just when they expected, they do, with Saul, 1 Sam. xiii. 9-12, make haste, or murmur at his providence, and say it is in vain to serve the Lord, and begin to think of forsaking him, and taking some better way. These proud ones that have joined in outward humiliations, and have lift up themselves in heart, while they cast down their bodies, are they that have turned the heart of G.o.d so much against us, to break us in pieces, because he hath found among us so many of the proud whom he taketh for his enemies. We have had those humbling themselves in our a.s.semblies, that were wise in their own eyes, despising, and scorning, and reviling their teachers; such as undervalued and censured others, that were not for their opinions and interest; that over-loved the respect and honour that is from men, and could not endure to be disesteemed or little set by; that could not bear an injury or a foul word, but were p.r.o.ne to anger, if not revenge; that could not seek peace, nor stoop to others, nor bear plain-dealing in reproof, nor forgive a wrong without much submission; that had high expectations from others, and loved those best that most esteemed them; that counted it baseness to stoop to the meanest places or services for others' good; yea, that quarrelled with G.o.d, his word, and providences, and valued no other mercies but those that exalted themselves or pleased their flesh (which proved judgments). And yet while they thus by pride excommunicated themselves from the face of G.o.d, and made themselves abhorred by him, they separated from the holiest a.s.semblies and servants of G.o.d in the land, as unworthy of communion with such as they, unless they would first become of their opinion and sect. We little consider how great a hand this pride hath had in our desolations. G.o.d hath been scattering the proud of all sorts in the imaginations of their own hearts, Luke i. 51.

_Direct._ VII. Look to a humbled Christ to humble you. Can you be proud while you believe that your Saviour was clothed with flesh, and lived in meanness, and made himself of no reputation, and was despised, and scorned, and spit upon by sinners, and shamefully used, and nailed as a malefactor to a cross? The very incarnation of Christ is a condescension and humiliation enough to pose both men and angels, transcending all belief but such as G.o.d himself produceth by his supernatural testimony and Spirit.[232] And can pride look a crucified Christ in the face, or stand before him? Did G.o.d take upon him the form of a servant,[233] and must thou domineer and have the highest place? Had not Christ a place to lay his head on, and must thou needs have thy adorned, well-furnished rooms? Must thou needs brave it out in the most fantastic fas.h.i.+on, instead of thy Saviour's seamless coat? Doth he pray for his murderers, and must thou be revenged for a word or petty wrong? Is he patiently spit upon and buffeted, and art thou ready, through proud impatiency, to spit upon or buffet others? Surely he that "condemned sin in the flesh,"

condemned no sin more than pride.

_Direct._ VIII. Look to the examples of the most eminent saints, and you will see they were all most eminent in humility. The apostles, before the coming down of the Holy Ghost on them, contended which of them should be the greatest (which Christ permitted that he might most sharply rebuke it, and leave his warning to all his ministers and disciples to the end of the world, that they that would be greatest must be the servants of all, and that they must by conversion become as little children, or never enter into the kingdom of G.o.d). But afterward in what humility did these apostles labour, and live, and suffer in the world! Paul "made himself a servant unto all, that he might gain the more, though he was free from all men," 1 Cor. ix. 10.

They submitted themselves to all the injuries and affronts of men; to be accounted the plagues and troublers of the world, and as the scorn and offscouring of all things, and a gazing-stock to angels and to men.[234] And are you better than they? If you are, you are more humble, and not more proud.

_Direct._ IX. Look to the holy angels, that condescend to minister for man; and think on the blessed souls with G.o.d, how far they are from being proud; and remember, if ever thou come to heaven, how far thou wilt be from pride thyself. Such a sight as Isaiah's would take down pride: Isa. vi. 1-3, "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly (signifying humility, purity, and obedience). And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: his glory is the fulness of the whole earth." So Rev. iv. 8, 10, "The elders fall down, and cast their crowns before him that sitteth on the throne." Look up to heaven, and you will abhor your pride.

_Direct._ X. Look upon the great imperfection of thy grace and duties.

Should that man be proud that hath so little of the Spirit and image of Jesus Christ? that believeth no more, and feareth G.o.d no more, and loveth him no more? and can no better trust in him, nor rest upon his word and love? nor any more delight in him, nor in his holy laws and service? One would think that the lamentable weakness of any one of all these graces, should take down pride and abase you in your own eyes. Is he a christian that doth not even abhor himself, when he perceiveth how little he loveth his G.o.d, and how little all his meditations on the love and blood of Christ, and of the infinite goodness of G.o.d, and of the heavenly glory, do kindle the fire, and warm his heart? Can we observe the darkness of our minds, and ignorance of G.o.d, and strangeness to the life to come, and the woeful weakness of our faith, and not be abased to a loathing of ourselves? Can we choose but even abhor those hearts that can love a friend, and love the toys and vanities of this life, and yet can love their G.o.d no more? that take no more pleasure in his name, and praise, and word, and service, when they can find pleasure in the accommodations of their flesh? Can we choose but loathe those hearts that are so averse to G.o.d, so loth to think of him, so loth to pray to him, so weary of prayer, or holy meditation, or any duty, and yet so forward to the business and recreations of the flesh? Can we feel how coldly and unbelievingly we pray, how ignorantly or carnally we discourse, how confusedly and vainly we think, and how slothfully we work, and how unprofitably we live, and yet be proud, and not be covered with shame? Oh! for a serious christian to feel how little of G.o.d, of Christ, of heaven is upon his heart, and how little appeareth in any eminent holiness, and fruitfulness, and heavenliness of life, is so humbling a consideration, that we have much ado to own ourselves, and not lie down as utterly desolate. Should that soul admit a thought of pride, that hath so little grace as to be uncertain whether he have any at all in sincerity or not? that cannot with a.s.surance call G.o.d, Father, or plead his interest in Christ or in the promises? nor knoweth not if he die this hour, whether he shall go to heaven or h.e.l.l? Should he be proud that is no readier to die? and no more a.s.sured of the pardon of sin? nor willinger to appear before the Lord? If one pained member will make you groan, and walk dejectedly, though all the rest do feel no pain, a soul that hath this universal weakness, a weakness that is so sinful and so dangerous, hath cause to be continually humbled to the dust.

_Direct._ XI. Look upon thy great and manifold sins, which dwell in thy heart, and have been committed in thy life, and there thou wilt see cause for great humiliation. If thy body were full of toads and serpents, and thou couldst see or feel them crawling in thee, wouldst thou then be proud? Why, so many sins are ten thousand-fold worse, and should make thee far viler in thy own esteem! If thou wert possessed with devils, and knewest it, wouldst thou be proud? Why, devils possessing thy body are not so bad or hurtful to thee, as sin in thy soul! The sight of a sin should more take down thy pride, than the sight of a devil. Should that man be proud that hath lived as thou hast lived, and sinned as thou hast sinned, from thy childhood until now? that hath lost so much time, and abused so much mercy, and neglected so many means, and omitted so many duties to G.o.d and man, and been guilty of so many sinful thoughts, and so many false or foolish words, and hath broken all the laws of G.o.d? Should not he be deeply humbled that hath yet so much ignorance,[235] error, unbelief, hypocrisy, sensuality, worldliness, hardheartedness, security, uncharitableness, l.u.s.t, envy, malice, impatience, and selfishness, as is in thee? Should not thy very pride itself be matter of thy great humiliation, to think that so odious a sin should yet so much prevail?

Look thus on thy leprous, defiled soul, and turn thy very pride against itself! Know thyself, and thou canst not be proud.

_Direct._ XII. Look also to the desert of all thy sins, even unto h.e.l.l itself, and try if that will bring thee low. Though pride came from h.e.l.l effectively, yet h.e.l.l, objectively, may afford thee a remedy against it. Think on the worm that never dieth, and the fire that never shall be quenched, and consider whether pride become that soul, that hath deserved these. Wilt thou be proud in the way to thy d.a.m.nation? Thou mightst better be proud of thy chains and rope, when thou art going to the gallows! Think, whether the miserable souls in h.e.l.l are now minding neat and well set attire, or seeking for dominion, honour, or preferment, or contending who shall be the greatest, or striving for the highest rooms, or setting out themselves to the admiration and applause of men, or quarrelling with others for undervaluing or dishonouring them! Do you think there is any place or matter there for such works of pride, when G.o.d abaseth them?

_Direct._ XIII. Look to the day of judgment, when all proud thoughts and looks shall be taken down; and to the endless misery threatened to the proud. Think of that world, in which your souls must ere long appear, before the great and holy G.o.d, whose presence will abase the proudest sinner. When the tyrants, and gallants, and wantons of the earth, must with trembling and amazement give up their accounts to the most righteous Judge of all the world, then where are their lofty looks and language? then where are their glory, and gallantry, and proud, imperious domineering, and their scornful despising the humble, lowly ones of Christ? Would you then think that this is the same man, that lately could scarce be seen or spoken with? that looked so big, and swaggered it out in wealth and honour? Is this he that could not endure a scorn, or to be slighted, or undervalued, or plainly reproved? that must needs have the honour and precedency in wit, and greatness, and command? Is this the man that thought he was perfect and had no sin; or that his sins were so small, as not to need the humiliation, renovation, and holy diligence of the saints? Is this the woman that spent half the day in dressing up herself, and house, and furniture for the view of others, and must needs be in the newest or the neatest fas.h.i.+on? that was wont to walk in an artificial pace, with a wandering eye, in a wanton garb, as if she were too good to tread on the earth? Oh! then how the case will be altered with such as these! Can you believe, and consider how you must be judged by G.o.d, and yet be proud?

_Direct._ XIV. Look to the devils themselves that tempt you to be proud, and see what pride hath brought them to; and remember, that a proud man is the image of the devil, and pride is the devil's special sin. He that envieth your happiness, knoweth by sad experience the way to misery; and therefore tempteth you to be proud, that you may come, by the same way, to the same end that he himself is come to. "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the judgment of the great day," Jude 6.

_Direct._ XV. Look well upon thyself, both body and soul, and think whether thou be a person fit for pride. G.o.d hath purposely clothed thine immortal soul in the coa.r.s.e attire of corruptible flesh, and placed it in so poor and ruinous a cottage, that it might be kept from pride: yea, he made this frail and corruptible body to be a const.i.tutive part of our very person, that in knowing it, we may know ourselves. Some will have a dead man's skull stand by them, in their studies or chambers, as an antidote against pride. But G.o.d hath fastened us yet closer to mortality: death dwelleth in our bowels. We are apt to marvel that so n.o.ble a soul should be lodged in so mean a body, made of the earth to which it must return![236] A stone is durable and clean; but my flesh is corruptible, and must turn to loathsome filth and rottenness. A marble pillar will stand firm and beautiful from age to age, but I must perish and consume in darkness.

The seats we sit upon, the pillars we lean to, the stones we tread upon, will be here, when we are turned to dust. The house that I build, may stand when I am rotten in the grave. A tree will live, when he that planted it is dead. Our bodies are of no better materials than the brutes; our substance is in a continual flux or waste, and loseth something every day; and if it were not repaired and patched up by daily air and nourishment, it would soon be spent, and our oil consumed. If you were chained to a dead carca.s.s, which you must still carry about with you, it were not a matter so fit to humble you, as to be united so nearly to so vile a body of your own. We carry a dunghill continually within us. Alas! how silly a piece is the greatest, the strongest, and the comeliest of you all! What is that flesh which you so much pamper, but a skin full of corruption? a bag of filth, of phlegm, or choler, or such like excrements? If the curiousest dames had but a sight of the phlegm in their heads and bowels, the choler about their liver and galls, the worms or filth in other parts, they would go near to vomit at such a sight: the swine or beast hath as clean an inside. And what if this filth be covered with a whiter skin or clearer colour than your neighbours have, is there any cause of pride in that? When sickness hath altered and consumed you, then where is that which you call beauty? If but the leprosy or the small pox deform it, or a fever, consumption, or dropsy waste it, or the stone, or gout, or any such torment seize upon thee, thou wilt feel or see that which may shame thy pride. Should such a worm be proud, that cannot, though he be a Herod, keep the worms from eating him alive?

that in a flux cannot retain his excrements? that cannot bear easily the aching of a tooth? If thou be fit for pride, forbid diseases to touch thy flesh, or stain thy beauty; do not be sick, nor weak, nor pained; let not the worm and corruption be thy guests. Or if thou be so poor a thing, as cannot hinder any of these, then know thyself, and be ashamed of pride.

And when thou art in sickness, thou wilt be burdensome to others. It is likely thou must have their helps, even to feed thee, to dress thee, to turn thee, and keep thee clean; and when all is done, thou must die, and be laid in darkness in a grave! There must thou lie rotting night and day, till thy flesh be turned into earth. The gra.s.s doth wither when it is cut down, but yet it is sweet; the tree that is cut down will rot in time, but not with such a loathsome stink as we.

He that had seen what the late doleful wars did often show us, when the fields were strewed with the carca.s.ses of men, and when they lay by heaps among the rubbish of the ditches of towns and castles that had been a.s.saulted, would think such loathsome lumps of flesh should never have been proud. When once death hath deprived thy body of its soul, thy best friends will quickly be weary of the remainder, and glad to rid thee out of sight and smell. Go to the churchyard, and look on the dust and bones that are there cast up and scattered, and bethink thee whether those that must come to this have reason to be proud? See whether there be any differing mark of honour upon the dust of the rich, or strong, or beautiful? and whether the bones there strive for princ.i.p.ality and dominion? Therefore the desire of adorned monuments upon men's graves, is one of the most odious sorts of pride; when the neighbourhood of rottenness and dust doth shame it. As our serious poet Herbert saith,

When the hair grows sweet with pride and l.u.s.t, The powder doth forget the dust.

And though thy soul be far n.o.bler than thy body, yet here how ignorant, and weak, and distempered is it! How full of false ideas are men's minds! How little know they of that which they might know, or are confident they do know! How dark are we about all the works of G.o.d, and about his word; much more about himself! The greatest doctors are strongly tempted to be sceptics; and the ignorant that this year are confident to a contempt and censoriousness of all that differ from them, perhaps the next year do change their judgments, and recant themselves.

And are our hearts and lives any happier than our understandings; while we are imprisoned in flesh, and its interest is ours, and its appet.i.tes and pa.s.sions have so much advantage, to corrupt, seduce, or disturb the soul? Know thyself, and pride will die.

_Direct._ XVI. If thou have any thing to be proud of, remember what it is, and that it is not thine own, but given or lent thee by that G.o.d who chiefly hateth pride. 1. Art thou tempted to be proud of riches?

Remember that they are in themselves but dross, which will leave thee at the grave as poor as any. And as to their usefulness, they are but thy Master's talents; and the more thou hast, the greater will be thine account. And very few rich men escape the snare, and come to heaven. Thy charge and danger therefore should rather humble thee, and make thee exceedingly to fear. Read James v. 1-4; and Luke xii. 19, 20.

2. Is it greatness, and dominion, or human applause, or honour, that you are proud of? Remember that this also is in itself a dream, that maketh thee really neither better nor safer than other men. Thou standest upon higher ground, where thou hast more than others of the storms and dangers, and shalt be levelled with the lowest in thy fall.

And as to the use of thy power and greatness, it is for G.o.d, and not thyself. And so great will be thy reckoning, according to the trust reposed in thee, as would affright a considerate believer to foresee.

3. Is it youthful strength that you are proud of? How little can it do for thee, of that which thou most needest! And how soon will it be turned to weakness! How many are cut off in youth, and their life is among the unclean, as Elihu speaks, Job x.x.xvi. 14. Their bones are full of the sins of their youth, which shall lie down with them in the dust, Job xx. 11.

4. Is it beauty that you are proud of? I have told you what sickness and death will do to that before. When G.o.d rebuketh man for sin, he makes his beauty to consume as a moth: surely every man is vanity, Psal. x.x.xix. 11. Read Psal. xlix. 12-14. And if your beauty would continue, how little good will it do you! and who but fools do look at the skin of a rational creature, when they would discern their worth?

A fool, and a slave of l.u.s.t and Satan, may be beautiful. A sepulchre may be gilded that hath rottenness within. Will you choose the finest purse, or the fullest? Who but a child or fool will value his book by the fineness of the cover, or gilding of the leaves, and not by the worth of the matter within? Absalom was beautiful, and what the better was he? 2 Sam. xiv. 25. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised, Prov. x.x.xi. 30.

5. If it be fine clothes and gaudy ornaments that you are proud of, it is a sin so foolish, and worse than childish, that I shall give it no other confutation, than to tell you, that it contradicteth itself, by making the person a scorn and laughing-stock to others, when their design was to be more admired; and that an a.s.s or a post may have as fine and costly attire as you; and that shortly you shall change it for a winding-sheet.[237]

6. Is it your birth, and progenitors, and great friends that you are proud of? Personal merits are incomparably more excellent than this relation to the most meritorious parents; much more than a relation to their empty t.i.tles. Cain was the son of Adam the father of mankind, and Ham of Noah, and Esau of Isaac, and Absalom of David; when a G.o.dly son of a wicked father is more honourable than they. Your ancestors are but of the common stock of sinful Adam: and your great friends may possibly become your enemies: and it is little that the greatest of them can do for you, if G.o.d be not your friend.

7. Is it your learning, or wisdom, or ability for speech or action, that you are proud of? Remember that the devils, and many that are now in h.e.l.l, have far exceeded you in these; and that the wiser you are indeed, the humbler you will be; and by pride you confute your ostentation of your wisdom. Ahithophel's wisdom, which saveth not the owner from perdition, is little cause of glorying. Jer. viii. 8, 9, there were men that boasted of their wisdom, even in the law of G.o.d, who yet were ashamed and dismayed; for they rejected the word of the Lord: and then what wisdom could there be in them? Therefore, "thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these do I delight, saith the Lord," Jer. ix. 23, 24. Those were not unlearned, of whom Paul speaketh; "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? Hath not G.o.d made foolish the wisdom of this world?" 1 Cor. i. 20.

8. Is it success in wars, or great undertakings, that you are proud of? But by whose strength did you perform it? and how unhappy a success is that which hindereth your success in the work of your salvation! and how many have been brought down again to shame, that have been lifted up in pride of their successes!

9. Is it the applause of men that proclaim your excellency that you are proud of? Alas, how poor a portion is the breath of man! and how mutable are your applauders! that perhaps the next day will turn their tunes, and as much reproach you. Will you be proud of praise, when it is the devil's whistle, purposely to entice you into this pernicious snare, that he may destroy you? It is a danger to be feared; for it destroyeth many: but not a benefit much to be rejoiced in, much less to be proud of; for few are the better for it. t.i.tles and applause increase not real worth and virtue, but puff up many with a mortal tympany.

10. Is it your grace and goodness, or eminency in religion, that you are proud of? This is most absurd; when predominant pride is a certain sign that you have no saving grace at all, and so are proud of what you have not: and if you have it, so far as you are proud of it you abuse it, contradict it, and destroy it; for pride is to grace, what the plague or consumption is to health. It is novices that have least grace and knowledge, that are aptest to be puffed up with pride, and thereby to fall into the condemnation of the devil, 1 Tim. iii. 6; that is, into the like punishment for the like sin. When the pot boileth over, that which was in it is lost in the fire. Rise not too high in the esteem of your grace, lest you rise to the loss of it. "Be not highminded, but fear," Rom. xi. 20. When you "think you stand, take heed lest you fall," 1 Cor. x. 12.

_Direct._ XVII. Look to the nature and tendency of every grace and ordinance and duty, and use them diligently; for they all tend to the destruction of pride. Knowledge discerneth the folly and pernicious tendency of pride, and abundant matter for humiliation. Faith is the casting off our pride, and going with empty, hungry souls to Christ for mercy and supply. It showeth us the most powerful sight in the world for the humbling of a soul, even a crucified Christ, and a most holy G.o.d, and a glorified society of humble souls, and a dreadful judgment and d.a.m.nation for the proud. I might show you the same of every grace and duty, but for being tedious.

_Direct._ XVIII. Look to the humbling judgments of G.o.d on yourselves and others, and turn them all against your pride. You will sure think it an unsuitable and unseasonable thing for the calamitous to be proud. Are you not oft complaining of one thing or other, upon your consciences, your bodies, your estates, your names, your relations, or friends? and yet will you be proud while you complain? If the judgments that have already befallen you humble you not, if G.o.d love you, and will save you, you may expect you should feel more, and the load should be increased, till it make you stoop. O miserable, obstinate sinners! that can groan with sickness, and yet be proud! and murmur under want, and yet be proud! and daily crossed by one or other, and yet be proud! yea, and tormented with fears of G.o.d's displeasure, and yet be proud! Have not all the wars, and blood, and ruins that have befallen us in these kingdoms, been yet enough to take down pride? Many humbling sights we have seen, and many humbling stripes we have felt, and yet are we not humbled! We have seen houses robbed, and towns fired, and the country pillaged, and the blood of many thousands shed, and their carca.s.ses scattered about the fields, and yet are we not humbled! If we were proud of our riches, they have been taken from us; if proud of our buildings, they have been turned into ruinous heaps; if we have been proud of our government, and the fame and glory of our country, we have seen how our sins have pulled down our government, dishonoured our rulers, and blemished our glory, and turned it into shame; and yet are we not humbled! If you lived in a house infected with the plague, and had buried father and mother, and brothers and sisters, and but a very few were left alive, expecting when their turn came next; if these few were not humbled, would you not think them blind and sottish persons? Do you yet look high, and contend for pre-eminence, and look for honour, and envy others, and desire to domineer, and have your will and way, and set out yourselves in the neatest dress? Must you have sharper stripes, before you will be humbled? Must greater injuries, and violences, and losses, and fears, and reproaches be the means? Why will you choose so painful a remedy, by frustrating the easier? If it must be so, the judgment shall shortly come yet nearer to thee: it shall either strip thee of the rest, or cover thee with shame, or lay thee in pain upon thy couch, where thy head shall ache, and thy heart be sick, and thy body weary, and thou shalt pant and gasp for breath; wilt thou then be proud, and contest for honour, when thou expectest hourly when thy proud and guilty soul shall be turned out of thy body, and appear before the holy G.o.d? when the bell is ready to toll for thee, and thy winding-sheet to be fetched out, and thy coffin prepared, and the bier to be fetched to carry thee to thy grave, and leave thee in the dark with worms and rottenness; wilt thou then be proud? Where then are your high looks, and lofty minds, and splendid ornaments, and honours? Then will you be climbing into higher rooms, and seeking to be revenged on those that did eclipse your honour? Saith David, even of princes, and all the sons of men, Psal. cxlvi. 3, 4, "His breath goeth forth: he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish."

_Direct._ XIX. Look on the lamentable effects of pride about you in the world, and that will help you to see the odiousness and pernicious nature of it. Do you not see how it setteth the whole world on fire? how it raiseth wars, and ruineth kingdoms, and draweth out men's blood, and filleth the world with malice and hatred, and cruelty and injustice, and treasons and rebellions, and destroyeth mercy, truth, and honesty, and all that is left of G.o.d upon the mind of man? Whence is all the confusion and calamity, all the censoriousness, revilings, and cruelties, which we have seen, or felt, or heard of, but from pride?

What is it that hath trampled upon the interest of Christ and his gospel through the world, but pride? What else is it that hath burnt his martyrs, and made havoc of his servants, and distracted and divided his church with schisms, and set up so many sect-masters and sects, and caused them almost all to set against others, but this cursed, unmortified pride? He that hath seen but what pride hath been doing in England in this age, and yet discerneth not its hatefulness and perniciousness, is strangely blind. Every proud man is a plague or burden to the place he liveth in: if he get high, he is a Nabal; a man can scarce speak to him; he thinks all under him are made but to serve his will and honour, as inferior creatures are made for man. If he be an inferior, he scorneth at the honour and government of his superiors, and thinks they take too much upon them, and that it is below him to obey.

If he be rich, he thinks the poor must bow all to him, as to the golden calf, or Nebuchadnezzar's golden image: if he be poor, he envieth the rich, and is impatient of the state that G.o.d hath set him in: if he be learned, he thinks himself an oracle: if unlearned, he despiseth the knowledge which he wanteth, and scorneth to be taught. What state soever he is in, he is a very salamander, that liveth in the fire, he troubleth house, and town, and country, if his power be answerable to his heart: he is an unpolished stone, that will never lie even in any building; he is a natural enemy to quietness and peace.