But to leave ancient and former examples, and to turn the edge to our selves, woeful experience, by diligent observation of their own hearts, hath taught many, that after some sweet & plentiful measure of Gods mercy received, they have waxed less careful & jealous over their own affections, & so for a time have bin left of the Lord: whereby though not some fearful destruction, yet some grievous fall hath ensued upon them. It is good therefore for us to keep a careful watch over our selves, and to see whether after we have been refreshed with some special graces of God, in preaching, praying and admonishing, we have not been less careful, and so the nearer to some fall, and unfitter to receive some new benefit, until the Lord by humbling of us hath prepared us with some new desire. And hereupon cometh it to pass•, that when we have been some long time bathed, & as it were embalmed, with some inward feelings and outward fruits of the holy▪ Ghost, we have been corrected for that1 self love, and buffeted with some privy pride dwelling in the flesh, by some grievous deadness and dullness of the spirit, humbling us under the hands of God, as it did the Apostle Paul. Now as we have by these examples of others, and experience in our selves2 proved, that an haughty mind goeth before destruction: so on the contrary we will prove, (using none other order but that before set down) that before honour goeth lowliness. Saul before he was exalted and advanced to the sceptre, hid himself in great humility,3 as one that thought himself unworthy so great a dignity, and so afterward was exalted. Ahab though a most wicked man, humbling himself at Elijah rebuke, was not punished4 in his own person, but in his posterity. Rehoboam being humbled with his people, was5 exempted from that plague, which otherwise was like to have fallen upon him. But this6 we may behold more lively in the godly, whether we respect those revelations and apparitions of Angels, which in former times happened to the fathers being humbled: or whether we consider other graces of God in like estate bestowed upon them, Abraham was humbled, Isaac was humbled, Jacob was humbled; then came the promise, then appeared7 Angels, then received they visions.
But to leaue ancient and former examples, and to turne the edge to our selues, wofull experience, by diligent obseruation of their owne hearts, hath taught many, that after some sweet & plentifull measure of Gods mercy receiued, they haue waxed lesse careful & iealous ouer their owne •ffections, & so for a time haue bin left of the Lord: whereby though not some fearefull destruction, yet some grieuous fall hath ensued vpon thē. It is good therfore for vs to k•epe a carefull wa•ch ouer our selues, and to see whether after we haue been refreshed with some speciall graces of God, in preaching, praying and admonishing, we haue not beene lesse carefull, and so the neerer to some fall, and vnfitter to receiue some new benefit, vntill the Lord by humbling of vs hath prepared vs with some new desire. And hereupon commeth it to pass•, that when we haue been some long time bathed, & as it were enbalmed, with some inward feelings and outward fruits of the holy▪ Ghost, we haue beene corrected for that1 selfe loue, and •uffeted with some priuie pride dwelling in the flesh, by some grieuous deadnes and dulnes of the spirit, humbling vs vnder the hands of God, as it did the Apostle Paul. Now as we haue by these examples of others, and experience in our selues2 proued, that an hautie minde goeth before destruction: so on the contrarie we will proue, (vsing none other order but that before set downe) that before honour goeth lowlinesse. Saul before he was exalted and aduaunced to the scepter, hid himselfe in great humilitie,3 as one that thought himselfe vnworthie so great a dignitie, and so afterward was exalted. Ahab though a most wicked man, humbling himselfe at Elias rebuke, was not punished4 in his owne person, but in his posteritie. Rehoboam being humbled with his people, was5 exempted from that plague, which otherwise was like to haue fallen vpon him. But this6 we may behold more liuely in the godly, whether we respect those reuelations and apparitiōs of Angels, which in former times happened to the fathers being humbled: or whether we consider other graces of God in like estate bestowed vpon them, Abraham was humbled, Isaac was humbled, Iacob was humbled; then came the promise, then appeared
- 1Privy pride and the fruit of it.Priuie pride and the fruit of it.
- 22. Cor. 12.
- 3Saul.
- 4Ahab.
- 5Rehoboam.
- 61. Sam. 9. 12. 10. 22. 1 King 2•. 27. and 29. 1. King. 12. 24.
- 7Hum•tie in the godly.
