THE Apoſtle having in the firſt Verſe of this Chapter, affectionately Exhorted the believing Romans, to Holineſs in general; does more partiticularly in the following Verſes, diſſwade them from two Evils which are great Hindrances thereof, viz. Conformity to the ſinful Cuſtoms of the World, and high Thoughts of their own Attainments. It is the laſt of theſe which the Apoſtle ſpeaks againſt in the Words of our Text, For I ſay through the Grace given unto me: i. e. I require and enjoyn you, by the Authority that God has graciouſly given me as an Apoſtle, 1 Cor. iii. 10. to every Man that is among you: i. e. To one as well as another: As if the Apoſtle had ſaid; I addreſs you all, my Brethren, as if I particularly mentioned your Names; I except none of any Condition or Character, for you all need the Injunction, not to think of himſelf more highly than he ought to think: i. e. Not to be proud or puffed up with overweening extravagant Conceits of his Endowments and Attainments, ſuch as wiſdom, ability, &c. but to think ſoberly, i. e. modeſtly; let him contain himſelf within Bounds, and not take upon him what doth not belong to him; let him not contemn others, and pretend to more than he hath. See Pool's Annotations As God hath dealt to every Man the Meaſure of Faith. By Faith the Apoſtle doubtleſs intends, ſpiritual Gifts, which are called Faith, becauſe they are given with it, and exercis'd by it. Theſe Gifts are given forth in various Degrees or Meaſures to the Children of Men, a modeſt Notice of which, we may, and ought to take, that ſo we may be induc'd to give to God the Glory of them, and encourag'd to improve them for his Honour and Kingdom. But then we ſhould be careful that we do not indulge an unreaſonable Conceit of the Extent of our Powers, or Meaſure of our Talents, imagining them to be much greater than they are; for tho' that may flatter our Arrogance, yet it betrays our Ignorance and Weakneſs; it is as injurious to our Honour among the Intelligent, as it is prejudicial to our Uſefulneſs in the World. It is ſurely a great Inſtance of true Wiſdom, to think ſoberly of our ſelves; and hence the original Word Sophronein. in our Text, ſignifies to be wiſe to ſobriety. Mr. Poole juſtly obſerves, That there is an elegant Paranomaſia, (or ſymphony of Sounds) in this Place of Scripture in the Greek, which our Language cannot reach. Me uperphronein, par O Dei phronein alla phronein, eis to Sophronein.

From what hath been ſaid I would obſerve, That even good Men are in great Danger of ſpiritual Pride, and of being puffed up for a Time with groundleſs and fooliſh Conceits of their Attainments. If this was not the Caſe, there wou'd have been no Need of the Injunction in our Text; nether wou'd their have been any Neceſſity of a Meſſenger of Satan ſent to buffet Paul, leaſt he ſhould be lifted up thro' the Abundance of Revelations that were given him.

In Diſcourſing upon this Subject, I ſhall ſpeak upon the Nature, Ingredients, Cauſes, Fruits and Cure of ſpiritual Pride.

Now Pride, as to its general Nature, may be thus deſcrib'd, viz. That it is a groundleſs Conceit of our Attainments, accompanied with an inordinate Deſire of our own Honour and Contempt of our Neighbour's Excellencies and Credit. To underſtand which, let the following Ingredients (or particulars included in it) be conſider'd, viz.

Firſt: High-Mindedneſs, which is the Loftineſs or Swelling of the Mind with unreaſonable Self-Conceit. When Perſons have too high Thoughts of their Powers and Talents, and are hereby diſpoſed to over-value themſelves and undervalue others; this is as natural to Mankind as it is unreaſonable in it ſelf, and fatal in its Conſequnces. Againſt this pernicious Evil, the Text I am diſcourſing upon is expreſly Directed. This is indeed the bitter Root, the poyſonous Fountain from which the other ſinful Ingredients graſp'd in ſpiritual Pride (which I ſhall anon mention) do flow. Againſt this the Apoſtle Paul excellently cautions the Gentile Churches, in his Epiſtle to the Romans, Rom. xi. 20. in the following Words: Well, becauſe of Unbelief they were broken off; (meaning the Jews) and thou ſtandeſt by Faith. Be not high minded but fear. Now altho' gracious Perſons may for a Time be carried away with High-Mindedneſs, thro' the Violence of Temptation; yet to be under the Habitual or general Government of it, is certainly an Evidence of a bad State towards God. This the Apoſtle Paul aſſures us of in his Epiſtle to Timothy 2 Tim. iii. 3, 4. in theſe Words: Without natural Affection, truce Breakers, falſe Accuſers, incontinent, fierce, deſpiſers of thoſe that are good, Traytors, Heady, high Minded, Lovers of Pleaſures more than Lovers of God. Upon theſe Words, viz. heady, high-minded, Mr. Poole thus gloſſeth: Vide Pool's Annotations in loc. Raſh, inconſiderate, blown up as Bladders with an Opinion of their own Deſerts. You may obſerve in the Verſes now quoted, that the Apoſtle puts high-minded Perſons in the ſame Catalogue with the groſſeſt Tranſgreſſors, and declares that they love not God tranſcendently. Surely thoſe that are renewed by the Holy Ghoſt, do learn of Jeſus to be meek and lowly in their habitual Temper of Mind and outward Behaviour. Matt. xi. 29. They are made to receive the Kingdom of Heaven as little Children, Luke xviii. 17. are Fools in their own Eyes; 1 Cor. iii. 18. and in compariſon of many others, they ſometimes ſee themſelves to be in reſpect of Knowledge, but as brute Beaſts. Prov. xxx. 2.

The Apoſtle in his Epiſtle to the Coloſſians, Coloſſ. ii. 18. juſtly Terms high-mindedneſs, to be the puffing up of a Perſon, vainly by his fleſhly Mind; probably alluding to Liquors ſwelling by the Yeſt into Spume and Froth, which has a Shew but no Solidity. For indeed, Pride is to the Mind of Man, in reſpect of Agitation and Tumor, as Yeſt is to Liquors.

Secondly: Another Ingredient in ſpiritual Pride is Ambition, which is an inordinate Seeking of Dignity, or high Places; proud Perſons have aſpiring Thoughts, and imagine themſelves to be the fitteſt to manage the Helm of the State, or the Church; and if others don't think ſo, they are not well pleas'd; they cannot bear to have others preferred before them, altho' the Preference be juſt and reaſonable. Something of this ſinful Temper appear'd in the Apoſtles Conduct, before the extraordinary Effuſion of the Holy Spirit at Pentecoſt; there was alſo a Strife among them which of them ſhould be accounted the Greateſt. This our Lord ſeaſonably oppoſed, Luke xxii. 24, 25, 26. and for what we can learn, it ſoon evaniſh'd. But when a Love of Preheminence among the Brethren is habitual as well as inordinate, and attended with a malicious pratting againſt the faithful Servants of Chriſt, on the Account of ſmall Differences in Sentiment or Practice, which ſeems to have been the Caſe of Diotrephes, as the Apoſtle John informs us, 3 Epiſt. 9, 10. it is an awful Sign of a bad State! But to proceed,

Thirdly: Another Ingredient in ſpiritual Pride is Arrogance; which conſiſts in pretending to what we have not, and in deſiring that others ſhould think of us above what we are or have; this was the Practice of the falſe Teachers who troubled the Church of Corinth; they commended themſelves by boaſting of Things beyond their Meaſure, hereby ſeeking to leſſen their Eſteem of the Apoſtle Paul and other ſound Preachers. 2 Cor. x. 10,—12, 13. The very contrary whereof he determined ſhou'd be the Meaſure of his Conduct: 2 Cor. x. 12, 13. For we dare not, (ſays he) make our ſelves of the Number, or compare our ſelves with ſome that commend themſelves.— But we will not boaſt of Things without our Meaſure, but according to the Meaſure of the Rule which God hath diſtributed to us. This leads me

Fourthly: To another particular included in ſpiritual Pride, which is boaſting of the Gifts or Graces which we really have: Proud Perſons and Boaſters are put together in the ſame Claſs by the Apoſtle Paul in his Epiſtle to the Romans, Rom. i. 30. thus, Backbiters, haters, of God, deſpiteful, Proud, Boaſters. Proud Perſons are full of Blaze and Oſtentation about their Attainments; they take up much of their Time in trumpeting their own Praiſes, either more openly or covertly, and wou'd have all to admire them without Cauſe, as they do themſelves. But this low Artifice, procures not for them the Eſteem and Reſpect they deſire and Deſign from the Judicious, but the Contrary.

Fifthly: Another Ingredient in ſpiritual Pride is, Contempt of, and Envy againſt others Excellencies, becauſe they ſtand in our Light and ſeem to diminiſh our Luſtre. This the Apoſtle James confirms Jam. iv. 5, 6. in the following Words: Do ye think that the Scripture ſayeth in vain, the Spirit that dwelleth in us luſteth to Envy.—Wherefore he ſayeth, God reſiſteth the Proud, but giveth Grace to the Humble. As much as we overvalue our own Attainments, ſo much will we be enclined to undervalue others, that ſo we may Triumph in an imaginary Aſſendant over them. But this Diſpoſition of Mind is very Diſpleaſing to God and detrimental to us; and hence Solomon aſſures us, that the Almighty ſcorneth the Scorners, but giveth Grace unto the lowly. Prov. iii. 34.

Sixthly: Another Ingredient is Preſumption, which appears in our attempting what exceeds our Strength, and medling with Things two high for us. Proud Perſons are full of vain Confidence, not knowing their Ignorance and Weakneſs, they ruſh into Snares and graſp at a Weight which their Shoulders are not equal to. Directly contrary to this was the Pſalmiſt's Practice, and hence he was able to appeal to God in the following Language: Lord my Heart is not haughty nor mine Eyes lofty, neither do I exerciſe my ſelf in great Matters, or in Things too high for me. Pſalm cxxxi. 1. In theſe Words it is plainly intimated, that haughty or proud Perſons have lofty Looks, and are diſpoſed to meddle with Things above their Capacity, which turns to their Diſgrace in the Iſſue.

Now the Cauſes of Pride are theſe, viz.

Firſt, Our Violation of the Covenant of Works, by this we have loſt the Image of God, and contracted that of the Devil, of which Pride is a dreadful Lineament, Rom. vii. 18. Rom. iii. 12.19. and altho' the Governing Power of this evil be broken by Converſion, yet there are ſuch Remains of it, as will be a Grief and Exerciſe to us while we live. Rom. vii. 24. This Original Apoſtacy is therefore the primary Cauſe of Pride. But,

Secondly, A more immediate Cauſe is the neglect of our own Hearts. If theſe were conſtantly watch'd, and frequently examined, as they ſhould be, we would ſee continual Reaſon for Humiliation, and have an Opportuniry of giving check to the firſt budings of Pride within us; But when our Hearts are neglected, our Wickedneſs is hid from us, the firſt Motions of Sin are not oppos'd, and thus we are puff'd up in our vain Imaginations, and look on our ſelves in a falſe Light.

Thirdly, Another Cauſe of Pride, is the Temptations of the Devil. He tries to blow the Coal of Corruptions in us to a Flame; he ſooths our Vanity, and flatters our Arrogance until we fall from the imaginary Pinacle into the Myre. Thus he treated David and Hezekiah; the former he ſtirr'd up to Number the People, 1 Chron. xxi. 17. and the Latter to ſhew his Treaſures to the Aſſyrian Ambaſſador, which brought Wrath upon the Nation.Iſa. xxxix. 4—7

Fourthly, The groundleſs Eſteem and Applauſe of ignorant People, and the Hypocritical Panegyricks of deſigning Paraſites, are apt to ſtir up Pride, tho' they be equally unworthy of our Notice; for the former know not our Weakneſs, and the latter are not ſo Honeſt as to acquaint us of it.

It is true, Applauſe is apt, at firſt eſpecially, to affect and pleaſe us; for as Solomon obſerves, as the fining Pot is for Silver, and the Furnace for Gold, ſo is a Man to his Praiſe. Proverbs xxvii. 21. However it is a Sign of a weak Mind to be frequently overcome by ſuch a Temptation! Certainly the leſs Knowledge we have of God, our ſelves, or the Things of God, and the ſmaller Meaſure of Divine Grace we poſſeſs, the more apt we are to be puff'd up. Superficial Notions of Things give Occaſion for Pride, but a thorough Knowledge of them has a humbling Tendency.

But I proceed to ſpeak of the Fruits of Pride, and that both in Relation to God, our ſelves, and others.

Now in Relation to God, Pride has the following awful Fruits! It diſpoſes to contemn his Authority, to ſlight his Love, to murmur at his Providence, and refuſe a Submiſſion to his Righteouſneſs,

Pride diſpoſes to diſdain the Divine Authority and Government, like the wicked Iſraelites, of whom the Prophet Jeremiah ſpeaks. Jer. ii. 31. They ſaid they were Lords and would come no more to the Almighty. Surely thoſe that wou'd hear the Commands of God to Purpoſe, muſt oppoſe Pride, and hence the Prophet intreated the People of Iſrael in the following Manner, Jer. xiii. 15. Hear ye, be not proud for the Lord hath ſpoken.

And indeed Pride does equally diſpoſe to Ingratitude, againſt the Divine Love and Goodneſs. The Reaſon of which is this, ſuch Perſons have a high Opinion of their own Excellency's, and hence are inclin'd to look upon the Gifts of God, as leſs then their Merit.

Pride does likewiſe for the ſame Reaſon diſpoſe Men to murmur at God's providential Government, of the World in general, and of their Lot in Particular. They think that Things are not ſo well manag'd as they ſhould be, and eſpecially as to their Circumſtances: The Language of which is, that had they been of God's Council, they could have taught him Knowledge. O blaſphemous Arrogance!

I may add, that another Fruit of Pride in Relation to God, is the Sinners Labour to eſtabliſh a Way of Juſtification by his own Righteouſneſs, and his Refuſal of Submiſſion to the Righteouſneſs of God. Rom. x. 3. The Pride of Man's Heart is ſuch, that he diſlikes to be ſtrip'd of all Self-Dependance, and ſav'd in a Way of pure Grace! But,

Secondly, The Fruits of Pride in Relation to our ſelves, are theſe; viz. It tends to deceive us, as to our State of Soul, and Progreſs in Religion, as well as to corrupt us in Principle and Practice.

Pride tends to deceive us as to the State of our Souls, by inclining us to think that we are ſomething when we are nothing. Gal. vi. 3. Many are prompted by the Pride of their Hearts, to take Conviction for Converſion; legal, for evangelical Sorrow, and Preſumption for that Faith which works by love, and changes the Life as well as the Heart. What avail ſuch Comforts as do not humble the Soul and reform the Practice?

But if it does not entirely deceive us as to the State of our Souls, yet it tends to impoſe a cheat on us, as to our Progreſs in Religion, and to rob us of the Comforts of it; for by this we are inclined to think that we are better in Degree than we are, and for this God looks upon Sinners a-far off. Pſalm cxxxviii. 6.

Pride has likewiſe awful Tendency to corrupt us in principle; and no wonder, becauſe it gives acceſs to the influence of that proud Spirit who is the Father of Lies, and great Hereſiarch; as well as creates an Averſion to Truth, which is of a humble Tendency, and ſo its contrary. It was a juſt Obſervation of Auſtin, "That Pride is the Mother of Hereticks." Simon Magus, who was the Hatcher of many Hereſies, was a very proud Man; he gave out that he was ſome great one. Acts. viii. 〈…〉 Pride makes Perſons raſh and poſitive in their Opinions, and that even about Things of a doubtful and circumſtantial Nature, and will not give them leave to weigh well what 〈◊〉 objected againſt them. Mark thoſe, ſaith one, who are turned any where from the Way of Truth, and ſee if they are not proud and conceited Perſons.

But this is not all, Pride alſo has a corrupt Influence upon the Practice; by this Men are diſpoſed to neglect the ſecret Duties of Relegion, becauſe of the Diſtance from God occaſioned by it, and as to their publick Performances; they are more for Show than Subſtance, regarding the Praiſes of Men more than of God. I may farther obſerve, That Pride inclines different Perſons, yea ſometimes the ſame Perſons at different Times to contrary Vices: e. g. To Covetouſneſs and Prodigality. What is Covetouſneſs but the Purveyor of Pride, that greedily ſeeks ſomething to ſupport its grandeur; and hence the Prophet Habakkuk aſſures us, That the proud Man enlargeth his Deſire as Hell, and is as Death and cannot be ſatisfied Hab. ii. 5. And on the contrary, Men are prodigal from the ſame proud Principle, with deſign to appear great and to be talk'd of. But I haſten

Thirdly, To ſhew the bad Fruits of Pride in relation to others. And theſe are indeed many: ſuch as lying, raſh-judging, backbiting, ſinful Contention, hatred of Reproof and Schiſm!

Proud Perſons are generally great Lyers; the inordinate Deſire they have to be admired and applauded, makes them tell lies in order to anſwer that End, they knowingly and repeatedly ſtretch Things beyond the Truth in Converſation, that they may affect thoſe they ſpeak to, and excite either their Surprize, Love, Admiration or Hatred, to a great Degree!

Pride likewiſe cauſes raſh judging of others States and Conduct for ſmall Matters. Too much of this unhappy Temper and Practiſe appear'd for a Time among both the Jewiſh and Gentile Converts, in the Apoſtolick Day, they judg'd and cenſur'd one another ſeverely for their different Opinions and Practice about Days and Meats; Bigots on both ſides of the Queſtion were very poſitive and Fire-hot, yea to ſuch a Degree of uncharitableneſs, did indiſcreet and diſproportion'd Zeal, carry thoſe Ignorant but well meaning Zealots; that they not only condemned one anothers States, but were alſo diſpos'd to deſpiſe and reject one another out of Church Communion, on the Account of the aforeſaid circumſtantial Differences. This temper and Practice the Apoſtle Paul condemns.Rom. xiv. 3, 4. Let not him that eateth, (ſayeth he,) deſpiſe him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgeſt another Man's Servant? To his own Maſter he ſtandeth or falleth. On the Contrary he recommends, Forbearance, Rom. xiv. 5. Love, 1 Cor. x. 32, 33. 1 Cor. viii. 13. Acts xvi. 3. Act xxi. 20, 21, 24. Condeſcenſion, Rom. xiii. 9, 10. Peace, and a mutual receiving each other into Church Fellowſhip. Rom. xiv. 1. Rom xv. 7. But to proceed,

Another Fruit of Pride is, Whiſperings and Backbitings; theſe the Apoſtle puts together in his Epiſtle to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. xii. 20. in theſe Words: Envyings, Wraths, Strifes, Bacbitings, Whiſperings, Swellings, Tumults. Where there are Swellings of Pride, there will be Whiſperings and Backbitings: Proud Perſons will not content themſelves, with Rom. xiv. 9. raſh Judging of others in their Hearts, which is a great Evil; but they will reproach them with their Tongues alſo, that ſo they may raiſe their own Credit upon the Ruin of anothers Character!

Again, Pride cauſes by the Evils before mentioned, and many others, ſinful Contenition, and makes Perſons hate Reproof; as Solomon obſerves, he that is of a proud Heart ſtireth up Strife: Prov. xxviii. 25 And he elſewhere informs us, that a Scorner loveth not one that reproveth him. Prov xv. 12. Herod impriſoned John for telling him of his Sin, tho' he before reverenced him. Mark vi. 20, 27.

And indeed Pride makes Perſons Separatiſts and Schiſmaticks, theſe are they ſaith Jude, with ſeparate themſelves, ſenſual, having not the Spirit. Jude xix. Undoubtedly Pride is the great Source of all thoſe Diviſions and Factions with which the Church of Chriſt has been rent and torn into ſo many Parts, from its early beginnings thro' the Succeſſive Periods of Time to this Day! Pride does not only prompt Men to rend themſelves from Churches, but alſo by unſound Doctrines and other ſinful Methods, to cauſe Diviſions in them. Of ſuch the Apoſtle ſpeaks in his Epiſtle to the Romans in the following Manner: Rom. xvi. 17, 18. Now I beſeech you Brethren, mark them that cauſe Diviſions and Offences, contrary to the Doctrines which we have learned, and avoid them. For they that are ſuch, ſerve not our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but their own Belly; and by good Words and fair Speeches, deceive the Hearts of the ſimple. But it is Time to proceed to the laſt General Head of Diſcourſe, which was to ſpeak of the Cure of Pride; to which End I would obſerve,

Firſt: That it is neceſſary to inſpect our own Hearts and Lives, and labour to get a Senſe of our Guilt as to this Sin; and doubtleſs all of us are in a greater or leſſer Degree guilty of it; but ſuch as are generally under its governing Power are in the Gaul of Bitterneſs and Bond of Iniquity, and therefore ſhould repent of this their Wickedneſs, and pray to God, if perhaps, the Thoughts of their Hearts may be forgiven them Act viii. 21.—23. And indeed, all that are in any Degree guilty of this malignant Evil, have great Cauſe for Grief and Shame!

Secondly: We ſhould conſider ſeriouſly and frequently upon the Aggravations of this Sin; which are theſe following, viz.

1ſt: It is an antient Evil, the firſt Enemy that ever God had: By this the Angels and our firſt Parents fell from their original Integrity and Happineſs; the Angels wanting to be independent like God, became Devils; and we by the ſame Iniquity, have made our ſelves worſe than Beaſts.

2dly, It is an unreaſonable Evil; we have nothing to be proud of, who are ſinful dependent Creatures, that derive all the Good we poſſeſs from God, and carry our Breath in our Noſtrils.

Neither the Endowments of Nature, Improvements of Art, or Aids of Birth and Fortune, tho' they raiſe Men above the common Level, give them reaſon for Pride or a Contempt of their Fellow-Creatures; when it is conſidered, that theſe Accompliſhments were not their own originally, but the immerited Gifts of a ſoverign Providence, which might have ordered us the Lot of Beggars or Ideots: Now ſeeing the difference between us and others is entirely owing to the divine Diſpoſal, and we have received all our Gifts from God, wherefore ſhould we glory as tho' we had not received them? 1 Cor. iv. 7.

The Continuance of thoſe Things is alſo ſo ſhort and uncertain, that it may juſtly give check to our aſpiring Thoughts about them; it is the vaineſt Vanity to be high-minded, and truſt in uncertain Riches, which often make to themſelves Wings and fly away, as the Eagle towards Heaven! Prov. xxiii. 5.

But even tho' Wealth were permanent, yet its uſe is but narrow and limited, it cannot ſatisfy the Deſires of the Mind, or heal the Diſtreſſes of the Conſcience; all the Treaſures of the Indies cannot purchaſe a Balm for a wounded Spitit; and inſtead of curing the moral Diſorders of the Soul, it is frequently the occaſion of increaſing them; yea there are many Miſeries incident to human Life, wherein it can yield no Relief: e. g. if a Man is afflicted with a Fit of the Gout or Stone, all the Banks of the Univerſe cannot purchaſe a Moments eaſe; and if our Character is aſpers'd, whole Ingots of Gold cannot ſtop the Mouth of Fame! What has been ſaid of Wealth is juſtly applicable to other Gifts: and therefore let not the wiſe Man glory in his Wiſdom, nor the mighty Man in his Might, nor the rich Man in his Riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he underſtandeth and knoweth me, ſayeth the Almighty by the Prophet. Jer. ix. 23, 24.

I may add, that it is very unreaſonable for us to be proud, conſidering the Meanneſs of our Original; ſurely we had our riſe from Nothing at firſt, and after we received a Being, it was, and is but a precarious One, and that conveyed with a criminal Taint, for we are ſhapen in Iniquity and conceiv'd in Sin. Pſalm li. 5. Now it is enough to take down the Spirit of the brighteſt Intelligence, to conſider that nothing was his Original, for this is a State more diſhonourable than the Chaos it ſelf; yet the Depravity with which we received our Nature, adds ſuch an Increaſe of Meanneſs and Diſhonour to our Original, as no Words are equal to!

Thirdly, Pride is a pregnant Evil, moſt of the Sins of the World are either contain'd in it, or iſſue from it, as appears in ſome Meaſure from what hath been ſaid, to which let me add a few Particulars.

Pride ſtrikes at the Foundation of all thoſe Offices that we owe to our Neighbour; which take up the ſecond Table of the Law: For if we ſlight our Neighbour, how ſhall we perform any Duty we owe to him?

And when we ſlight our Neighbour, do we not conſequently contemn God, who has by his Authority enjoyn'd us to honour him?

Moreover by Pride we bring contempt upon ourſelves: For as thoſe that honour God, ſhall be honour'd by him; ſo thoſe that contemn him, ſhall be lightly eſteemed. 1 Sam. ii. 30.

By Pride our Neighbour is wrong'd of that which is next to his Life, viz. His Character. Solomon juſtly obſerves, that a good Name is as precious Ointment. Pro. vi. 16.17. Our Uſefulneſs as well as Comfort do in ſome Meaſure depend upon our Rep •••• ion; both which are ſtruck at by Pride.

Pride, in its Tendency, breaks the Bands 〈◊〉 •••• iety, and ſaps the Foundations of all ſocial Juſtice, Comfort, and Benefit! It aims at the final Overthrow of all Society whether in Families, Churches, or Common-Wealths. The Comfort and Uſe of which depend upon that Honour which is due from Inferiors to their Superiors; without which ſocial Offices cannot be with Reaſon expected.

It was Pride, my Brethren, that brought Strife into Heaven it ſelf, and caſt down the Apoſtate Angels thence. It is Pride that robs God of the Honour due to his Providence, and makes Men guilty of the wildeſt Idolatry in burning Incenſe to their own Net!

Surely it is Pride that makes men ſo maſterly and imperious in their Behaviour; ſo raſh in their Judgments and Cenſures; ſo peeviſh in their Tempers, and obſtinate in their Reſolutions. This makes Men, Argus-ey'd, in ſpying Motes in their Brothers Eye, but as blind as Moles in not diſcerning the Beam that is in their own! And thus it prevents Repentance, and puts a Bar to improvement. It makes Men ſtorm at reproof, and deaf to Advice and Council: It magnifies the ſlender Shadow of Piety and Virtue in thoſe that are under its Government, and ſilences the Checks of Conſcience. And thus it paves the Way for Deluſion and Ruin! Which brings me to ſay,

Fourthly: That Pride is a God-provoking Evil. It is one of the Six Things that God hates, yea of the Seven which is an Abomination to him. Prov. vi. 16.17. And hence we are told that he reſiſts the Proud, James iv. 6. and looks on them afar off: Pſalm cxxxviii. 6. As if they were not fit, as one expreſſeth it, to be touch'd with a pair of Tongs. And Jehovah likewiſe aſſures us, that Pride goes before Deſtruction, and a high Mind before a Fall. Prov. xvi. 18. But,

3dly: We ſhould not only think often on the Aggravations of Pride, but likewiſe upon the Imperfections of our Graces and Duties; how weak are the former and corrupt the latter? How much Water is mingled with our Wine, and Droſs with our Silver?

4thly, We ſhould often meditate upon the Evils of our Hearts and Practice: Shall we be proud who have ſuch a Sink of Wickedneſs within us? Who have done ſo little for God and ſo much againſt him?

Fifthly: We ſhould alſo think frequently upon Death and Judgment: Shall ſuch dying Worms as we be proud, who muſt be ſo ſoon reduced to rotteneſs, and brought to a ſtrict Account for all our Talents? As to civil Differences, they'll ſoon be levelled in undiſtinguiſh'd Duſt!

Sixthly: My dear Brethren! let us ſeek after more of the Knowledge of God, and greater Nearneſs to him, both which have a noble Tendency to break the Pride of our Hearts, it was this that made Job abhor himſelf, Job xlii. 6. and Iſaiah complain, that he was a Man of unclean Lips! Iſa. vi. 5.

Seventhly: Think often on the Example of the Cloud of Witneſſes that have gone before you to Glory; particularly upon Abraham, who in his Supplication, expreſs'd the humbleſt Reverence of God's Majeſty; behold, ſaid he, I who am but Duſt and Aſhes, have taken upon me to ſpeak to the Lord, O let not the Lord be angry! Gen. xviii. 27. Upon David who was abaſed by the Thoughts of the divine Goodneſs to him, ſaying, What am I, and what is my Father's Houſe, that thou has brought me hitherto? There are alſo many others that deſerve your Thoughts and Imitation, which time would fail to enumerate! and therefore I proceed to ſay,

Eightly: Think on the Example of Chriſt's Humility, who tho' he was in the Form of God, aſſumed the Form of a Servant: And ſhall not we for whoſe Sake this was done be cloathed with Humility, and ſeek to have the ſame Mind in us which was alſo in Chriſt Jeſus? Surely the aſtoniſhing Stoop of Divine Majeſty, to the humbleſt Circumſtances of Humanity, may make us aſham'd of ambitious Aſpirings!

In fine, my dear Brethren! It ſhould be ſeriouſly conſidered that the ſubduing of our Pride, is the Deſign of God's providential Dealings towards us, both in its proſperous and adverſe Occurrences. The former ſhould make us aſham'd of it, and the latter imbitter it to us! O! therefore let us oppoſe the Stirrings of that malignant Diſorder in us, and invite the Aſſiſtance of Heaven by importunate Supplications; in the mean Time, thinking of our ſelves ſoberly as we ought to think.