The Christians two chief lessons viz. self-denial, and self-trial. As also the privilege of…The Christians tvvo chiefe lessons viz. selfe-deniall, and selfe-tryall. As also the priviledge of…

2. Deceitfulness, in that he thinks himself a jolly fellow while he compares himself with the rabble and multitude that live in the open transgression of Gods great Laws; when he beholds himself by a reflection from them, he grows strongly conceited that it must needs be well with him for that he outstrips such swarms of offenders.

2. Deceitfulnesse, in that he thinkes himselfe a jolly fellow while he compares himselfe with the rabble and multitude that live in the open transgression of Gods great Lawes; when he beholds himselfe by a reflexion from them, he grows strongly conceited that it must needs be well with him for that he outstrips such swarmes of offenders.

By this manner of reasoning, a man might conclude, the coursest cloth that is to be fine; because, if you compare it with a Rug, it makes a fair show; will not comparisons make those things that are naughty in themselves seem good? Let that alone be held for good, that is good in it self, whose goodness is to be found in the nature of the thing, not in the respective reference only to that which is worse then naught. In a ⟨p. 217⟩word, what so bad in a kind that might not be justified, if it were lawful thus to trifle• might not some naughty and sinful men that live in the breach of some of Gods great commandments, hope for heaven, if a comparative righteousness would be accepted▪ for are there not numbers, though vile in their courses and abhorred of God and good men, yet if you compare them, you shall find whole swarms of such as do exceed them? Secondly, learn further the absurdity of this reasoning, and that by another similitude taken from the clean contrary practise of men in earthly things: if a man have some competency of wealth, he for the further enlarging of it looks not back, how many there be poorer then himself, so he might think himself a rich man; but his eye is always looking how many richer there are then himself? why should we not do so in spiritual things not to look how many have lese then we, to consider rather how many go before us, exceed us in the graces needful to a better life: Shall it be no root of contentment for wealth, that we are richer then many million in the world? and yet in matters of salvation, any thing shall serve the turn, to satisfy our hearts, that we are in better case then great troops who shall never see God in the life to come. In the running of a race, a man may leave many behind him, yet lose the goal, so in the seeking of the Crown of life, we may out-strip a number, and yet miss of the salvation of our souls: we must therefore be careful so to run, that we may obtain.