so the heart of man lusteth after pride, though he have many hart breaks and pull downs, and many times no countenance to show it: yet if a little spark be put to the tow, you shall see how soon this ⟨p. 440⟩flax will flame: therefore Solomon saith, Eccles. 3. 10. that all the troubles that God layeth upon a man, have this purpose, to humble him; as though all troubles were little enough to humble pride, and that but for pride there were no need almost of our troubles. For the avoiding of this vice, GOD suffereth men to fall into other vices, which men abhor and punish, as theft, and fornication, and drunkenness, to make them ashamed by these vices which were not ashamed of pride: this is an argument, that of all sins pride is the worst, because God suffereth other sins to come and shame us, least we should be proud. Again, Pride hath this property and sleight that it mixeth it self with our good works, and followeth virtue: As from the ashes of a Phoenix ariseth another Phoenix, so of the ashes of our good works ariseth pride. When the devil cannot stay us from a good work, then he laboureth by all means to make us proud of it, and so he staineth our work and stealeth our reward. For though a man do never so much good, yet if he be proud of it he loseth his reward, as the Pharisees did: therefore the best and the wisest, and the holiest men had need to watch this vice: for if they take not great heed, it will make them proud of their wisdom, and of their zeal, and of their goodness.1 Paul was almost puffed ⟨p. 441⟩up with revelations:2 Aron and Miriam began to rebel, because they thought themselves as good as Moses; and all the fathers of any heresy, began their heresy at this, a magnificate opinion of themselves, and an overweening of their own gifts. So pride setteth upon the best,3 even as the temper set upon Christ. Again, a man had need to take heed of pride, for she will not keep counsel: but if he be proud, she will tell that he is proud, and therefore is called an impudent sin, because she descrieth her self in the eye, in the speech, in the gesture, in the look, in the ga•e, like the drunkard, so that a man cannot be proud, and seem humble.
so the heart of man lusteth after pride, though he haue many hart breakes and pull downes, and many times no countenance to shew it: yet if a little sparke be put to the tow, you shal see how soon this ⟨p. 440⟩flaxe will flame: therefore Salomon saith, Eccles. 3. 10. that all the troubles that God layeth vpon a man, haue this purpose, to humble him; as though al troubles were little inough to humble pride, and that but for pride there were no need almost of our troubles. For the auoiding of this vice, GOD suffereth men to fall into other vices, which men abhorre and punish, as theft, and fornication, and drunkennes, to make them ashamed by these vices which were not ashamed of pride: this is an argument, that of all sinnes pride is the worst, because God suffereth other sinnes to come and shame vs, least we should bee proude. Agayne, Pride hath this propertie and sleight that it mixeth it selfe with our good workes, and followeth vertue: As from the ashes of a Phoenix ariseth another Phoenix, so of the ashes of our good workes ariseth pride. When the diuell cannot stay vs from a good worke, then he laboureth by all meanes to make vs proud of it, and so he staineth our worke and stealeth our reward. For though a man doe neuer so much good, yet if he be proude of it hee loseth his reward, as the Pharisies did: therefore the best and the wisest, and the holiest men had need to watch this vice: for if they take not great heed, it will make them proud of their wisedome, and of their zeale, and of their goodnes.1 Paul was almost puffed ⟨p. 441⟩vp with reuelations:2 Aron and Miriam began to rebell, because they thought themselues as good as Moses; and all the fathers of any heresie, began their heresie at this, a magnificate opinion of themselues, and an ouerweening of their owne gifts. So pride setteth vpon the best,3 euen as the temper set vpon Christ. Agayne, a man had need to take heede of pride, for she will not keepe counsaile: but if he be proud, she will tell that he is proud, and therefore is called an impudent sinne, because she descrieth her selfe in the eye, in the speech, in the iesture, in the looke, in the ga•e, like the drunkard, so that a man cannot bee proud, and seeme humble.
- 12. Cor. 12.
- 2Num. 12.
- 3Math. 4.
