A Christian Directory Volume I Part 50

_Sign_ V. A proud man after his duty is more inquisitive how he was liked by men, and what they think or say of him, than whether G.o.d and conscience give him their approbation. He hath his scouts to tell him whether he be honoured or dishonoured: this is the return of prayer that he looks after; this is the fruit of preaching which he seeks to reap.

But these are inconsiderable things to a serious, humble soul; he hath G.o.d to please, his work to do, and sets not much by human judgment.

_Sign_ VI. A proud man is more troubled when he perceiveth that he is undervalued and misseth of the honour which he sought, than that his preaching succeeds not for the good of souls, or his prayers prevail not for their spiritual good.[217] Every man is most troubled for missing that which is his end. To do good and get good is the end of the sincere, and this he looks after, and rejoiceth if he obtain it, and is troubled if he miss it. To seem good, and wise, and able is the proud man's end; and if the people honour him, it puffs him up with gladness, as if he were a happy man; and if they slight him or despise him, he is cast down, or cast into some turbulent pa.s.sion, and falls a hating or wrangling with them that deny him the honour he expects, as if they did him a heinous wrong: as if a physician should want both skill and care to cure his patients, but hateth and revileth them, because they prefer another that is abler, and will not die to secure his honour, or magnify his skill for killing their friends. The proud man's honour is his life and idol.

_Sign_ VII. The heart of the proud is not inclined to humbling duties, to penitent confessions, and lamentations for sin, and earnest prayer for grace and pardon; but unto some formal observances and lip-labour, or the Pharisee's self-applause, "I thank thee that I am not as other men, nor as this publican." Not but that the humblest have great cause to bless G.o.d for their spiritual mercies and his differencing grace; but the proud thank G.o.d for that which they have not; for sanctification, when they are unsanctified; and for justification, when they are unjustified; and for the a.s.sured hope of glory, when they are sure to be d.a.m.ned if they be not changed by renewing grace; and for being made the heirs of heaven while they continue the heirs of h.e.l.l. And therefore the proud are least afraid of coming without right or preparation to the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ: they rush in with confident presumption; when the humble soul is trembling without, as being oft more fearful to enter than it ought.

_Sign_ VIII. Proud persons are of all others the most impatient of church discipline, and uncapable of living under the government of Christ. If they sin, they can scarce endure the gentlest admonition; but if they are reproved sharply (or cuttingly) that they may be sound in the faith, you shall perceive that they smart by their impatience.

But if you proceed to more public reproof and admonition, and call them to an open confession of their sin to those whom they have wronged, or before the congregation, and to ask forgiveness, and seriously crave the prayers of the church, you shall then see the power of pride against the ordinance and commands of G.o.d. How scornfully will they spurn at these reproofs and exhortations! How obstinately will they refuse to submit to their unquestionable duty!

And how hardly are they brought to confess the most notorious sins! or to confess that it is their duty to confess them; though they would easily believe that it is the duty of another, and would exhort another to do that which they themselves refuse! The physic seemeth so loathsome to them which Christ hath prescribed them, that they hate him that bringeth it, and will die and be d.a.m.ned before they will take it; but perhaps will turn again and all to rent you (unless where they are restrained by the secular arm.) But if you proceed to reject them, for their obstinate impenitency in heinous sin, from the visible communion of the church, you shall then see yet more how contrary pride is to the church order and government ordained by Christ. How bitterly will they hate those that put them to such (necessary) disgrace! How will they storm, and rage, and turn their fury against the church; as if Christ's remedy were the greatest injury to them in the world! You may read their character in the second Psalm. Therefore Christ calleth men to come as little children into his school; or else they will be unteachable and incorrigible, Matt. xviii. 3.

_Sign_ IX. A proud man hath an heretical disposition, even when he crieth out against heretics. He is apt to look most after matters of dispute and contention in religion; obscure prophecies, G.o.d's decrees, controversies which trouble the church more than edify, circ.u.mstances, ceremonies, forms, outwards, orders, and words: and for his opinion in these he must be somebody.

_Sign_ X. A proud man is unsatisfied with his standing in communion with the church of Christ, and is either ambitiously aspiring to a dominion over it, or is inclined to a separation from it. They are too good to stand on even ground with their brethren: if they be teachers or rulers they can approve the const.i.tution of the church; but otherwise it is too bad for them to have communion with; they must be of some more refined or elevated society: they are not content to come out and be separate from the infidel and idolatrous world, but they must also come out and be separate from the churches of Christ, consisting of men that make a credible profession of faith and G.o.dliness. They think it not enough to forbear sin themselves, and to have no fellowship with the works of darkness, but reprove them, nor to separate from men as they separate from Christ; but they will also separate from them in their duty, and odiously aggravate every imperfection, and fill the church with clamours and contentions, and break it into fractions by their schisms, and this not for any true reformation or edifying of the body, (for how can division edify it?) but to tell the world that they account themselves more holy than the church.[218] Thus Christ himself was quarrelled with as unholy by the Pharisees for eating with publicans and sinners; and his disciples for not washing before meat, and observing the traditions of the elders;[219] and for rubbing out corn to eat on the sabbath-day.

And they that will not be strict in their conformity to Christ, will be righteous overmuch, and stricter than Christ would have them be, where pride commandeth it. They will be of the strictest party and opinions, and make opinions and parties that are stricter than G.o.d's commands; and run into errors and schisms that they may be singular, from the general communion of the church; and will be of a lesser than Christ's little flock.

_Signs of Pride in common Converse._

_Sign_ I. Pride causeth subjects to be too quick in censuring the actions of their governors, and too impatient of what they suffer from them, and apt to murmur at them, and rebel against them. It makes inferiors think themselves competent judges of those commands and actions of their superiors, the reasons of which they never heard, nor can be fit to judge of, unless they were of their council. It makes them forget all the benefits of government, and mind only the burdens and suffering part, and say as Korah, Numb. xvi. 3, "Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" Ver. 13, 14, "Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?--Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men?" Proud men are impatient, and aggravate their disappointments, and think they have reason and justice on their side.

_Sign_ II. A proud man is more disposed to command than to obey, and cannot serve G.o.d contentedly in a mean and low condition. He is never a good subject, or servant, or child, for subjection seems a slavery to him. He thinks it a baseness to be governed by another. He hath a reason of his own, which still contradicteth the reason of his rulers, and a will of his own that must needs be fulfilled, and cannot submit or yield to government. He is still ready to step out of his rank, and prepare for suffering by disorder, that he may taste the sweetness of present liberty; as if your horse or cattle should break out from you to be free, and famish in the winter, when snow depriveth them of gra.s.s. Whereas the humble know it is much easier to obey than govern, and that the valleys are the most fruitful grounds, and that it is the cedars and mountain trees that are blown down, and not the shrubs, and that a low condition affordeth not only more safety, but more quietness and leisure to converse with G.o.d, and that it is a mercy that others may be employed in his preservation, and keeping the walls, and watching the house, while he may follow his work in quietness and peace; and therefore willingly payeth honour and tribute to whom it is due.

_Sign_ III. If a proud man be a ruler, he is apt to be lifted up in mind; and to despise his inferiors, as if they were not men, or he were more. He is apt to disdain the counsels of the wise, and to scorn admonition from the ministers of Christ, and to hate every Micaiah that prophesieth not good of him, and to value none but flatterers, and discountenance faithful dealers, and not endure to hear of his faults. He is apt to fall out with the power of G.o.dliness, and the gospel of Christ, as that which seemeth to cross his interest; and to forget his own subjection to G.o.d, and the danger of his subjects. He is more desirous to be obeyed by his inferiors, than himself to obey his absolute Lord. He expecteth that his commands be obeyed, though G.o.d command the contrary; and is more offended at the neglect of his laws and honour, than at the contempt of the honour and laws of G.o.d.

_Sign_ IV. If there be any place of office, honour, or preferment void, a proud man thinks that he is the fittest for it; and if he seek it he taketh it for an injury if another be preferred before him as more deserving: and though they that had a hand in putting him by, and preferring another, did it never so judiciously, and impartially, and for the common good, without any respect to any friend or interest of their own, yet all this will not satisfy the proud, who knoweth no reason or law but selfishness; but he will bear a grudge to men for the most righteous, necessary action. What ignorant men and impious have we known displeased, because they were not thought worthy to be teachers in the church! or because a people that knew the worth of their souls, had the wit and conscience to prefer a worthier man before them! What worthless men (in corporations and elsewhere) have we seen displeased, because they were not chosen to be governors! So unreasonable a sin is pride.

_Sign_ V. A proud man thinks, when he looks at the works of his superiors, that he could do them better himself, if he had the doing of them. There is not one of them of a hundred but think that they could rule better than the king doth, and judge better than the judge doth, and perhaps preach better than the preacher doth, unless his ignorance be so palpable as that he cannot question it. Absalom would do the people justice better than his father David, if he were king.

If all the matters of church and commonwealth were at his disposal, how confident is he that they should be well ordered, and all faults mended; and oh! how happy a world should we have!

_Sign_ VI. A proud man is apt to overvalue his own knowledge, and to be much unacquainted with his ignorance: he is much more sensible of what he knoweth, than how much he is wanting of what he ought to know: he thinks himself fit to contradict the ablest divine, when he hath scarce so much knowledge as will save his soul.[220] If he have but some smattering to enable him to talk confidently of what he understandeth not, he thinks himself fittest for the chair; and is elevated to a pugnacious courage, and thinks he is able to dispute with any man, and constantly gives himself the victory. If it be a woman that hath gathered up a few receipts, she thinketh herself fit to be a physician, and venture the lives of dearest friends upon her ignorant skilfulness; when seven years' study more is necessary to make such novices know how little they know, and how much is utterly unknown to them, and seven years more to give them an encouraging taste of knowledge: yet pride makes them doctors in divinity and physic by its mandamus, without so much ado; and as they commenced, so they practise, in the dark: and to save the labour of so long studies, can spare, and gravely deride, that knowledge, which they cannot get at cheaper rates. And no wonder, when it is the nature of pride and ignorance to cause the birth and increase of each other. It were a wonder for an ignorant person to be humble; and when he knoweth not what abundance of excellent truths are still unknown to him, nor what difficulties there are in every controversy which he never saw. How many studious, learned, holy divines would go many thousand miles (if that would serve) to be well resolved of many doubts in the mysteries of providence, decrees, redemption, grace, free-will, and many the like, and that after twenty or forty years' study: when I can take them a boy or a woman in the streets, that can confidently determine them all in a few words, and pity the ignorance or error of such divines, and shake the head at their blindness, and say, G.o.d hath revealed them to themselves that are babes! yea, and perhaps their confidence taketh dissenters for such heretical, erroneous, intolerable persons, that they look upon them as heathens and publicans, and either with the papists reproach and persecute them, or with the lesser sects divide from them, as from men that receive not the truth: and thus pride makes as many churches as there are different opinions.

_Sign_ VII. Pride maketh men wonderful partial in judging of their own virtues and vices in comparison of other mens. When the humble are complaining of their weaknesses and sinfulness, and have much ado to believe that they are any thing, or to discern the sincerity of their grace; and think their prayers are as no prayers, and their duties so bad that G.o.d will not regard them; the proud think well of all they do, and are little troubled at their greater wants. They easily see another man's failings; but the very same, or worse, they justify in themselves. Their own pa.s.sions, their own overreachings or injurious dealings, their own ill words, are smoothed over as harmless things, when other men's are aggravated as intolerable crimes. Another is judged by them unfit for human societies, for less than that which they cannot endure to be themselves reproved for, and will hardly be convinced that it is any fault: so blind is pride about themselves.

_Sign_ VIII. Pride makes men hear their teachers as judges, when they should hear them as learners and disciples of Christ: they come not to be taught what they knew not, but to censure what they hear, and as confidently pa.s.s their judgment on it, as if their teachers wanted nothing but their instructions to teach them aright. I know that no poison is to be taken into the soul upon pretence of any man's authority, and that we must prove all things, and hold fast that which is good: but yet I know that you must be taught even to do this; and that the pastor's office is appointed by Christ as necessary to your good; and that the scholars that are still quarrelling with their teachers, and readier to teach their masters than to learn of them, and boldly contradicting what they never understood, are too proud to become wise; and that humility and reason teacheth men to learn with a sense of their ignorance, and the necessity of a teacher.

_Sign_ IX. A proud man is always hard to be pleased, because he hath too great expectations from others: he looks for so much observance and respect, and to be humoured and honoured by all, that it is too hard a task for any man to please him that hath much to do with him, and hath any other trade to follow; he that will please him, must either have little to do with him, and come but seldom in his way, or else he must study the art of man-pleasing, compliment, and flattery, till he be ready to commence doctor in it, and must make it his trade and business, as nurses do to tend the sick, or quiet children. One look, or word, or action, will every day fall cross, and some respect or compliment will be wanting. And, as G.o.dly, humble men do justly aggravate their sins from the greatness and excellency of G.o.d whom they offend; so the proud man foolishly aggravates every little wrong that is done him, and every word that is said against him, and every supposed omission or neglect of him, by the high estimation he hath of himself against whom it is done.

_Sign_ X. The proud are desirous of precedency among men: to be saluted with the first, and taken by great ones into the greatest favour; and to be set in the upper room, at table, and at church; and to take the better hand. He grudgeth at those who are set above him and preferred before him, unless they are much his superiors: or, if he have the wit to avoid the disgrace of contending for such trifles, and showing the childishness of his pride to others, yet he retaineth a displeasure at the heart: when the humble give precedency to others, and set themselves at the lower end, Luke xiv. 9, 10.

_Sign_ XI. A proud man expecteth that all the good that he doth be remembered, and that others do keep a register of his good works, and take notice of his learning, worth, and virtues: as their own memories are stronger here than in any thing, so they think other men's should be; as if (being conscious how unfit they are for the esteem of G.o.d) they thought all were lost which is not observed and esteemed by men.

As their eye is upon themselves, so they think the eye of others should be also; and that as their own, to admire the good, and not to see infirmities and evil.[221]

_Sign_ XII. No man is taken for so great a friend to the proud as their admirers; whatever else they be, they love those men best, that highliest esteem them: the faults of such they can extenuate and easily forgive. Let them be drunkards, or wh.o.r.emongers, or swearers, or otherwise unG.o.dly, the proud man loveth them according to the measure of their honouring him. If you would have his favour, let him hear that you have magnified him behind his back, and that you honour him above all other men. But if the holiest servant of G.o.d think meanly of him, and speak of him but as he is; especially if he think they are disesteemers of him, or are against his interest and honour, all their wisdom and holiness will not reconcile him to them, if they were as wise or good as Peter or Paul. It signifieth nothing to him that they are honourers of G.o.d, if he think they be not honourers of him. Nay, he will not believe or acknowledge their goodness, but take all for hypocrisy, if they suit not with his interest or honour: and all because he is an idol to himself.

_Sign_ XIII. A proud man is apt to domineer with insolency when he gets any advantage, and perceiveth himself on the higher ground. He saith as Pilate to those that are in his power, "Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and power to release thee?" forgetting that they "have no power at all against any, but what is given them from above," John xix. 10, 11. Victories and successes lift up fools, and make them look big and forget themselves, as if their shadows were longer than before. Servants got on horseback will speak disdainfully of princes that are on foot.[222] David saith, "The proud have had me in derision," Psal. cxix. 51. If they get into places of power by preferment they cannot bear it, but are puffed up and intoxicated as if they were not the same men they were. They deal worse by their inferiors if they humour them not, than Balaam by his a.s.s; when they have made them speak, their insolency cannot bear it: whereas the humble remembereth how far he is equal with the lowest, and dealeth gently with his servants themselves, "remembering that he also hath a Master in heaven," Col. iv. 1, 2; Eph. vi. 9.

_Sign_ XIV. A proud man is impatient of being contradicted in his speech; be it right or wrong you must say as he, or not gainsay him.

Hence it is that gallants think that a man's life is little enough to expiate the wrong, if a man presume to say, they lie. I know that children, and servants, and other inferiors must not be unreverent or immodest, in an unnecessary contradicting the words of their superiors, but must silently give place when they cannot a.s.sent to what is said; but yet an impatience of sober and reasonable contradiction, even from an inferior or servant, is not a sign of a humble mind.

_Sign_ XV. Wherever a proud man dwelleth, he is turbulent and impatient if he have not his will. If he be a public person, he will set a kingdom all on fire, if things may not go as he would have them.

Among the crimes of the last and perilous times, Paul numbereth these; to be "lovers of their own selves, boasters, proud, traitors, heady, high-minded," 2 Tim. iii. 2-4. If they have to do in church affairs, they will have their will and way, or they will cast all into confusion, and hinder the gospel, and turn the churches upside down.

In towns and corporations they are heady and turbulent to have their wills. In families there shall be no peace, if every thing may not go their way. They cannot yield to the judgment of another.

_Sign_ XVI. Proud men are pa.s.sionate and contentious, and cannot put up injuries or foul words; when a humble man "giveth place to wrath,"

and "avengeth not himself," nor "resisteth evil;" but is meek and patient, "forbearing and forgiving," and so heaping coals of fire on his enemies' heads.[223] "Only by pride cometh contention," Prov.

xiii. 10. "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife," Prov.

xxviii. 25. What is their wrath, their scorns, their railing and endeavouring to vilify those that have offended them, but the foam and vomit of their pride? "Proud, haughty scorner is his name, that dealeth in proud wrath," Prov. xxi. 24.

_Sign_ XVII. A proud man is either an open or a secret boaster. If he be ashamed to show his pride by open boasting, then he learneth the skill of setting out himself, and making known his excellencies in a closer and more handsome way. His own commendations shall not seem the design of his speech, but to come in upon the by, or before he was aware, as if he thought of something else: or it shall seem necessary to some other end, and a thing that he is unavoidably put upon, as against his will: or he will take upon him to conceal it, but by a transparent veil, as some proud women hide their beauties: or he will conjoin the mention of some of his infirmities, but they shall be such as he thinks no matter of disgrace, but like proud women's beauty spots, to set out the better part which they are proud of.[224] But one way or other, either by ostentation or insinuation, his work is to make known all that tendeth to his honour, and to see that his goodness, and wisdom, and greatness be not unknown or un.o.bserved; and all because he must have men's approbation, the hypocrite's reward: he is as buried if he be unknown. "Proud" and "boasters" are joined together, Rom. i. 30; 2 Tim. iii. 2. "Theudas" the deceiver "boasted himself to be somebody," Acts v. 36. "Simon Magus gave out that himself was some great one, and the people all gave heed to him from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of G.o.d," Acts viii. 9, 10. "Such love the praise of men more than the praise of G.o.d," John xii. 43. But the humble hath learned another kind of language; not affectedly, but from the feeling of his heart, to cry out, I am vile; I am unworthy to be called a child; my sins are more than the hairs of my head. And he hateth their vanity that by unseasonable or immoderate commendations, endeavour to stir him up to pride, and so to bring him to be vile indeed, by proclaiming him to be excellent. Much more doth he abhor to praise himself, having learned, Prov. xxvii. 2, "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." He praiseth himself by works, and not by words, Prov. x.x.xi. 31.

_Sign_ XVIII. A proud man loveth honourable names and t.i.tles; as the Pharisees to be called Rabbi, Matt. xxiii. And yet they may have so much wit as to pretend, that is but to promote their service for the common good, and not that they are so weak to care for empty names; or else that they were forced to it, by somebody's kindness, without their seeking, and against their wills.

_Sign_ XIX. Pride doth tickle the heart of fools with content and pleasure to hear themselves applauded, or see themselves admired by the people, or to hear that they have got a great reputation in the world, or to be flocked after, and cried up, and have many followers.

Herod loveth to hear in commendation of his oration, "It is the voice of a G.o.d, and not of a man," Acts xi. 22. It is a feast to the proud, to hear that men abroad do magnify him, or see that those about him do reverence, and love, and honour, and idolize him. Hence hath the church been filled with busy sect-masters, even of those that seemed forwardest in religion; which was sadly prophesied of by Paul to the Ephesians, Acts xx. 29, 30. Two sorts of troublers, under the name of pastors, pride hath in all ages thrust upon the church; devouring wolves, and dividing sect-masters. "For I know this, that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." See also Rom. xvi. 16, 17.

_Sign_ XX. Pride maketh men censorious and uncharitable: they extenuate other men's virtues and good works, and suspect ungroundedly their sincerity. A little thing serves to make them think or call a man a hypocrite. Very few are honest, or sincere, or G.o.dly, or humble, or faithful, or able, or worthy in their eyes, even among them that are so indeed, or that they have cause to think so: a slight conjecture or report seemeth enough to allow them to condemn or defame another. They quickly see the mote in a brother's eye. Their pride and fancy can create a thousand heretics, or schismatics, or hypocrites, or unG.o.dly ones, that never were such but in the court of their presumption. Especially if they take men for their adversaries, they can cast them into the most odious shape, and make them any thing that the devil will desire them. But the humble are charitable to others, as conscious of much infirmity in themselves, which makes them need the tenderness of others. They judge the best till they know the worst, and censure not men until they have both evidence to prove it, and a call to meddle with them, having learned, Matt. vii. 1-4, "Judge not that ye be not judged."

_Sign_ XXI. Pride causeth men to hate reproof: the proud are forward in finding faults in others, but love not a plain reprover of themselves.

Though it be a duty which G.o.d himself commandeth, Lev. xix. 17, as an expression of love, and contrary to hatred, yet it will make a proud man to be your enemy. Prov. xv. 12, "A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him, neither will he go unto the wise." Prov. ix. 7, 8, "He that reproveth a scorner, getteth himself shame; and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." It galleth their hearts, and they take themselves to be injured, and they will bear you a grudge for it, as if you were their enemy. If they valued or honoured you before, you have lost them or angered them if you have told them of their faults. If they love to hear a preacher deal plainly with others, they hate him when he dealeth so with them. Herod will give away John's head, when he hath first imprisoned him for telling him of his sin, though before he reverenced him and heard him gladly. They can easily endure to be evil, and do evil, but not to hear of it. As if a man that had the leprosy, loved the disease, and yet hated him that telleth him that he hath it, or would cure him of it. This pride is the thing that hath made men so unprofitable to each other, by driving faithful reproof and admonition almost out of the world, because men are so proud that they will not hear it. Hence it is that others hear oftener of men's faults, than they do themselves; and that backbiting is grown the common fashion, because proud sinners drive away reprovers, by their impatience and displeasure. Husbands and wives, yea, servants with their masters, are so far out of love with just reproof, that they can hardly bear it.

He must be exceedingly skilful in smoothing and oiling every word, and making it more like to a commendation or flattery, than a reproof, that will escape their indignation.

_Sign_ XXII. When a proud man is justly reproved, he studieth presently to deny or extenuate his fault; to show you that he is more tender of his honour than of his honesty. It is a hard thing to bring him to free confession, and to thank you for your love and faithfulness, and to resolve upon more watchfulness for the time to come: when the humble soul is readier to believe that he is faulty than that he is innocent, and to say more against himself than you shall say (if truly). This one sign may tell you how commonly pride reigneth in the world. How few are they among many that are heartily thankful for a just and necessary reproof! Mark them, whether the first word they speak, in answer to you, be not either a denial or an excuse, or an upbraiding you with something that they think you faulty in, or else a pa.s.sionate, proud repulse, bidding you meddle with yourselves?

_Sign_ XXIII. Pride maketh men talkative; and more desirous to speak than to hear, and to teach than to be taught: because such think highly of their own understandings, and think others have more need of their instructions, than they of other men's.[225] Not that humility is any enemy to communicative charity, or to zealous endeavours for the converting and edifying of souls; but a teaching, talking disposition, where there is no need, and beyond the measure of your calling and abilities, when you have more need to learn yourselves, is the fruit of pride. When you take less heed what another saith to you, than you expect he should take of what you say to him: when your talk is not so much by way of question as becomes a learner, but in the discourses and dictates of a teacher: when you are so full of any thing that is your own, and so contemptuous of what is said by others, that you have not the patience to hear them silently till they come to the end; but unmannerly interrupt them, and set in yourselves; which is as much as to say, Hold your tongue, and let me speak that am more wise and worthy: when you strive to have the most words, and to be speaking; as horses in a race, strive which shall go foremost: this is because pride puffs you up, and moves your tongues, as a leaf is shaken by the wind; it fills your sails; and makes you like bag-pipes, that are loudest when they are full of wind, and pressed. Eccl. x. 14, "A fool is full of words." Prov. x. 19, "In the mult.i.tude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise."

_Sign_ XXIV. Pride maketh men excessively loth to be beholden to others; so that some will starve or perish before they will stoop so far as to seek, or be obliged to thankfulness by any; especially if they be such as they have any quarrel with. And this they take for manlike gallantry, and a scorning to be base. I confess that, as Paul saith to servants, if we can be free, we should rather choose it; and that no man should unnecessarily make himself a debtor to another, by being beholden to him: especially ministers, who should avoid all temptations of dependence upon man: and therefore should neither hang on great ones, lest they be tempted to unfaithful silence or flattery; nor needlessly live on the people's charity, lest they be hindered from the free exercise of their ministry. Therefore Paul laboured with his hands where he thought it would hinder his work to be chargeable to the churches, or give occasion to the envious to reproach him;[226]

and he would "rather die than any should make this his glorying void,"

1 Cor. ix. 15. Innocency and independency, as Mr. Bolton was wont to say, do steel the face, and help a minister to be bold and faithful.

As Camerarius said, when he was invited to the court,

Alterius ne sit, qui suus esse potest.

But yet man is a sociable creature; and we are made to be helpful to each other: we are like the wheels of a watch, that can none of them do their work alone, without the concurrence of the rest. And therefore a proud man that would live wholly on himself, and scorneth to be beholden, would break himself off from the place that G.o.d hath set him in, and separate himself from human society, and be either a world of himself, or a G.o.d to others. But G.o.d hath caused all the members purposely to stand in need of one another, that none might be despised, and that all might still exercise love in communicating, and humility in accepting of each other's help.

_Sign_ XXV. Pride maketh people desirous to equal their superiors, and exceed their equals, in apparel, or handsome dwellings, and provisions, and entertainments, and all appearances that tend to set them out, and make them seem considerable in the world:[227] for it excessively regards the eye of man. A fit respect to decency must be had (so we place no greater a necessity in it than we ought): but pride would fain go with the highest, and have more curiosity than needs; and maketh a greater matter of decency than the thing requireth. I am not of their humour, that censure every man whose hair is not of their cut, and whose garments are not of their fashion, and who are bred in a way of more gentility and ceremony than myself. But yet the affectation of imitating fashion-mongers, and bearing a port above one's rank, and rather desiring the converse and company of superiors than inferiors, and to live like those that are a step above us, than those that are a step below us, are signs as significant of pride, as the robes of a judge or a doctor are of their dignities and degrees. I am sure humility hath learnt this lesson, Rom. xii. 16, "Mind not high things; but condescend to men of low estate: be not wise in your own eyes." As for the ridiculous, effeminate fashions and deportment of some men, and the spots, and paintings, and nakedness, and other antic fashions of some women, and the many hours which they daily waste in dressings and adornings, and preparing themselves for the sight of others, they are the badges of so foolish, and worse than childish a sort of pride, that I will not trouble myself and the reader in reprehending them. Manly pride is ashamed of such toys. Let the patrons of them please their patients, by proving them lawful, while they have no wiser work to do; and when they have done, let them go on to prove that it is lawful for sober persons to wear such irons as they do in Bedlam; and that such chains as they in Newgate wear are no signs of a prisoner; and that it is lawful for an honest woman to wear a harlot's habit. If the proud have no more wit than to wear the badges of their childishness or distraction, and show their shame to all they meet, and make themselves as ridiculous as men that lay aside their breeches, and wear sidecoats again like children, I will leave them to themselves, and will not now trouble them with any longer contradiction.

_Sign_ XXVI. Proud persons are ashamed and troubled if any necessity force them to go lower in apparel, or provisions, or deportment, than others do of their degree; to show you that it is not as a duty that decency is regarded by them, but as the ornaments of pride, else they would be quiet when Providence maketh it cease to be their duty. They are not so much ashamed of sin, and the neglect of G.o.d and their salvation, as they are to be seen in sordid attire, or in a poor and homely garb: beggars and servants show here that they are as proud as lords. What abundance of them go but seldom to church, and give this as a reason, I wanted clothes! as if they would neglect their souls, their G.o.d, their greatest duty, rather than do it in such clothes as they do their common work. Doth Christ appoint you to give him the meeting, that by his ministers he may instruct you for salvation, and that you may ask and receive the pardon of your sins; and will you disappoint him, and refuse to come, for want of better clothes? Sure you do not think that these are the wedding garment which he requireth you to bring. You would beg if you were naked or in rags, and will you not come to beg of G.o.d, because you have no better clothes? Do you set more by the reputation of your clothes, than the means of your salvation? How little do such wretches set by G.o.d, and by his mercy now, that will shortly on their death-beds cry for mercy, without any such regard of clothes! Naked they come into the world, and naked they must go out, and yet they will turn their backs on the worship of G.o.d, for want of clothes. They are not ashamed nor afraid to be unG.o.dly, and to forsake their duty, but they are ashamed of torn or poor attire. What, say they, shall we make ourselves ridiculous! When their pride and unG.o.dliness is cause of a thousand-fold more shame. We read of thousands, even of the poor, that crowded after Christ to hear him; but of none that staid at home for want of clothes; when it is like they had no better than yours.

_Sign_ XXVII. If a proud man be wronged, he looketh for great submission before he will forgive: you must lie down at his feet, and make a very full confession, and behave yourself with great submission; especially if the law be in his hands. And he is p.r.o.ne to revenge, and cruel in his revenge: but if he have wronged others, he is hardly brought to confess that he wronged them; and more hardly to humble himself for reconciliation, and ask them forgiveness: when a humble person is ready to let go his right for peace, and easily forgiveth, and easily stoopeth to ask forgiveness.

_Sign_ XXVIII. Lastly; Pride maketh men inordinately desire to have an honourable memorial kept of their names when they are dead (if they are persons that rise to the hopes of such a remembrance;) Many a monument hath pride erected;[228] many a book hath it written to this end; many a good work materially hath it done, and made it bad by such a base intention! Many an hospital, and almshouse, and school-house it hath built; and many a pound hath it given to charitable uses in pretension, but to proud and selfish uses in intention. Not that any should causelessly suspect another's ends, or blemish the deserved honour of good works, which it is lawful ordinately to regard; but we should suspect our own hearts, and take heed of so horrible a sin, which would turn the excellentest parts and works into poison or corruption. And remember how heinous a thing it is, for a man to be laying proud designs, when he is turning to the dust, and going to appear before his Judge! yea, to set up the monuments of his pride over his rotten flesh and bones; and to show that he dieth in so great a sin without repentance, by endeavouring that as much as may be of it may survive, when he is dead and gone! If such wicked ends do sometimes offer to intrude into necessary, excellent works, an honest heart must abhor them, and cast them out, and beg forgiveness; and not for that forbear his work, nor refuse the comfort of his more sincere desires and intents: but such good works do sink the hypocrite into h.e.l.l, that are princ.i.p.ally done as a service to pride, to leave a name on earth behind him.

Thus I have been long in showing you the signs of pride, because the discovery is a great part of the cure: not that every proud person hath all these signs; for every one hath not the same temptations or occasions to show them; but every one hath some, and many of these; and he that hath any one of them, hath a sign of pride. And again I say, that for all this, our reputation, as it subserveth the honour of G.o.d and our religion, and our brethren's good, must be carefully by all just means preserved, and by necessary defences vindicated from calumniators; though we must quietly bear whatever infamy or slander we are tried with.

_Direct._ III. Having understood the nature and the signs or effects of pride, consider next of the dreadful consequents and tendency of it, both as it leadeth to further sin, and unto misery. Which I shall briefly open to you in some particulars.

1. At the present it is the heart of the old man, and the root and life of all corruption, and of dreadful signification, if it be predominant. If any man's "heart be lifted up, the Lord will have no pleasure in him, or it is not upright in him," Hab. ii. 4. I had rather have my soul in the case of an obscure humble christian, that is taken notice of by few, or none but G.o.d, and is content to approve himself to him, than in the case of the highest and most eminent and honourable in church or state, that looks for the observation and praise of men.[229] G.o.d judgeth not of men by their great parts, and profession, and name; but justifieth the humbled soul that is ashamed to lift up his face to heaven, and thinketh himself unworthy to speak to G.o.d, or to have communion with his church, or to come among his servants; but standing afar off, smiteth upon his breast, and saith, (in true repentance,) O "G.o.d, be merciful to me, a sinner," Luke xviii. 13. Pride is as a plague-mark on the soul.

2. There is scarce a sin to be thought on that is not a sp.a.w.n in the bowels of pride. To instance in some few (besides all that are expressed in the signs): 1. It maketh men hypocrites, and seem what they are not, for the praise of men. 2. It makes men liars: most of the lies that are told in the world, are to avoid some disgrace and shame, or to get men to think highly of them. When a sin is committed against G.o.d or your superiors, instead of humble confession, pride would cover it with a lie. 3. It causeth covetousness, that they may not want provision for their pride. 4. It maketh men flatterers, and time-servers, and man-pleasers, that they may win the good esteem of others. 5. It makes men run into profaneness, and riotousness, to do as others do to avoid the shame of their reproach and scorn, that else would account them singular and precise. 6. It can take men off from any duty to G.o.d that the company is against; they dare not pray, nor speak a serious word of G.o.d, for fear of a jeer from a scorner's mouth. 7. It is so contentious a sin, that it makes men firebrands in the societies where they live; there is no quiet living with them longer than they have their own saying, will, and way; they must bear the sway, and not be crossed; and when all is done, there is no pleasing them, for the missing of a word, or a look, or a compliment, will catch on their hearts, as a spark on gunpowder. 8. It tears in pieces church and state. Where was ever civil war raised, or kingdom endangered or ruined, or church divided, oppressed, or persecuted, but pride was the great and evident cause? 9. It devoureth the mercies and good creatures of G.o.d, and sacrificeth them to the devil. It is a chargeable sin: what a deal doth it consume in clothes, and buildings, and attendance, and entertainments, and unnecessary things! 10. It is an odious thief and prodigal of precious time. How many hours that should be better employed, and must one day be accounted for, are cast away upon the foresaid works of pride! especially in the needless compliments and visits of gallants, and the dressings of some vain, light-headed women, in which they spend almost half the day, and can scarce find an hour in a morning for prayer, or meditation, or reading the Scriptures, because they cannot be ready; forgetting how they disgrace their wretched bodies, by telling men that they are so filthy or deformed, that they cannot be kept sweet and cleanly and seemly, without so long and much ado. 11. It is odiously unjust. A proud man makes no bones of any falsehood, slander, deceit, or cruelty, if it seem but necessary to his greatness, or honour, or preferment, or ambitious ends. He careth not who he wrongeth or betrayeth, that he may rise to his desired height, or keep his greatness. Never trust a proud man further than his own interest bids you trust him. 12. Pride is the pander of wh.o.r.edom and uncleanness: it is an incentive to l.u.s.t in themselves, and draws the proud to adorn and set forth themselves in the most enticing manner, as tends to provoke the l.u.s.t of others.