Deformity and Blemish to it; fo these Profeffors that are high fwoln and puff'd up with Conceit, they are but Wens' in the Body mystical; they are but Blifters, that contain nothing in them but ill Humours, and bring a great deal of Deformity and Difcredit upon that holy Reli gion which they profefs,

There is a twofold Pride; Childish, and Devilish: A Childish Pride, I call that which is converfant about the Body, adorning that beyond Decency; and then thinking themselves by fo much better than others, by how much their Cloaths are finero Anita dute Fus clove A Devilish Pride, is thats which Jurks within, when Men are proud of their Excellencies and Perfections, proud of their Wit, of their Judgment, of their Elocution, or any other of God's Gifts 3 yea, and Pride is such a Ruft and Canker as can féize on the pureft Metals; there may be fome proud of their very Graces; yea, proud of their very Humility. w

Now though the former Pride be more ridiculous, yet this latter is more perni çious and baneful, and both are contrary to the Spirit of the Gospel, and bring a Blemish upon the Profeffors of it.

There

There be Two Things in Pride that make it so unlovely: Unfociableness, and Contention.

A proud Man is an unfociable Man. He looks upon all others as below him ; hates a Rival, and fcorns to have an Equal. If all will not vail to his Opi nion in Matters of Difpute, or to his Humour in Matters of Practice, he takes himself as affronted by them; and because he hath given himself a kind of Sovereignty over others, looks upon himself as wronged, if others will not do fo too, and let him controul and govern them as the only fit and able Perfon to do it. Hence we may commonly obferve it, that though there is a kind of Love and Complacency between all other Sinners one towards another; as the Drunkard loves his Pot-Companion, and feeks his Company; the Thief joins himself in Society with thofe who are Thieves, and every one labours to rub his Vice upon as many as he can; yet never was it seen that two proud Men could agree together: For none is a greater Enemy to Pride in any but himfelf, than a proud Man; and that because this is a Vice that always feeks Superiority and Preeminence, which a proud Man cannot bear in any but himself.

Again, Pride is always contentious, full of Strife and Brawl: And it must needs be fo; for as Tumours and fwel, ling Biles in the Body are very fore, and the leaft Touch makes them ake and rage, fo thefe fwelling, proud Men, if they be but at all touch'd in their Repute or Intereft, yea, or but in their Fancy and Opinion, they presently rage and storm, and cannot bear, no not the leaft Thing which they imagine to be an Injury done them for proud Flesh is always tender. And therefore, faith the wife Man, Prov, !13.10. Only by Pride cometh Contention. Now how unfeemly a Thing is this untractable Humour how infinitely contrary, to the Doctrine of Chrift? The Apostle, commands us, Phil, 2, 3 That nothing be done Out of Strife or Vain-glory, but in Lowliness of Mind let each efteem other better than themselves. A Temper, which when it fhall please God to redeem Religion from all the Contempt and Obloquy that is caft upon it, he will infpire into the Hearts of Profeffors. I am fure I can fee but very little of it abroad in the World No, we are grown now to that pafs, that he is thought the belt. Man who can find the moft Fault, and make the moft Strife. And whosoever bath but Wit enough to make a quick nicgA

and

ando (mart Reply, begins to think of fetting up for himself, and being \the Head of a Sect and Party, and conceits himself fit to be a Judge and Controuler of all Orders, and of wall Offices, 1 whe ther Civil or Sacred. For fhame, O Chris ftians! boaft not your felves beyond your own Line:If you have any Place tin the Body myftical of Jefus Chrift, keep your felves within your Proportion know your own Meafures, and your own Bounds. If thou beeft an Eje, vandsfo canft guide the reft of the Bodygolorif thou beeft an Hand, and fo ant useful for the Service of the Body whatsoever be thy Place, thy Parts, thy Gifts what foever Member thou art, be hot afwoln one let not Pride blifter thee gustór if thou give Way to these kind of Tumours, thou wilt be fo far from being an Ornament, that thou wilt only be a Blemish and Deformity to the Body of Chrifto. This is a fourth Grace which I would recommend to you as adorning the Doctrine of God our Saviour.

60 h moba dhem de bal Muzi

Fifthly Obedience to our Magiftrates and Rulers, doth exceedingly become the Profeffion of the Gofpel. See what the Apostle faith offerit,în Pet. poda.stHaving your Converfation honeft among the

I

Gentiles,

+

Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as Evil Doers,they may by your good Works, which they fhall behold, glorifie God. But how may this be done? He presently fubjoins, V.13,14. Submit your felves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's fake ; whether to the King, as Supreme, or to Governours fent by bim: And obferve the Reafon of this Injunction, V.15. For fo is the Will of God, that by well-doing, ye may put to Silence the Ignorance of foolish Men. We ought still to walk by the fame Rule, and by our Submiffion and Obedience to the Powers God hath fet over us, make it appear, that Religion is not Faction; and that in whatsoever Man's Law, and God's, do not contradict one another, our obeying of Man's, is but part of our obeying God's, who hath commanded us to be Subject to the higher Powers, not only for Fear, and upon Politick Refpects, but for Confcience fake; and hath threatned all Refiftance and Oppofition with Damnation, Rom. 13.00

Sixthly, It doth much adorn the Doarine of Chrift to be just and upright in our Dealings with Men. It must needs be a moft foul Blemish to Religion, when those who profess it shall pretend to high Spiritual Enjoyments, and yet neglect the