Now in that David must have such a sharp corrosive to consume that proud flesh that had grown about his ⟨p. 20⟩heart, by reason of his mighty forces, and the largeness of his dominions,1 the Doctrine is, that it is a wonderful hard thing to take down the pride of mans heart: it is no small affliction that will do it, as is plain Job 33. 14. &c: where is at large showed, that God useth all means, and that again & again, and yet men will not profit thereby: then he finds out the cause of it to be pride, verse. 17. and so layeth corrections upon them suitable thereunto, smiting them with sorrow upon their beds, so that the grief of their bones is sore: pinching them with grievous sicknesses and diseases, and making their bones to clatter, so that their souls draw near to the grave, and their life to the buriers. Now when these or the like woeful distresses have tamed and mastered their unruly affections, then do they begin to be somewhat more tractable: and whereas neither dreams, nor visions, nor any of Gods ordinances would do any good upon them before, after that, if God send unto them a messenger or Interpreter one of a thousand, they will begin to hearken unto them, and to learn how they may obtain mercy and reconciliation with God, that they descend not into the pit of destruction. Further, we may observe what a great deal of woe David sustained by reason of the haughtiness of his heart, and his earthly confidence (which is a sign thereof) when he thought his mountain so strong, that he should never be moved: 2for God turned away his face from him, and he was troubled, and even ready to go down into the pit, 3& to descend unto the dust, &c. Neither did God minister unto him a stronger purgation then he needed: but his pride required full as much affliction as the Lord laid upon him, this was also the case of uzziah, who being in a moderate estate, did exceeding much good both for the Church and the common wealth: but when he was grown mighty and strong, his heart was lifted up, and then he could not content himself with his kingly dignity, but he would ⟨p. 21⟩needs take upon him the office of the High-priest also, and so went into the Temple of the Lord, to burn incense upon the Altar of incense; but what came of this presumptuous fact of his?
Now in that Dauid must haue such a sharpe corasiue to consume that proud flesh that had growne about his ⟨p. 20⟩heart, by reason of his mightie forces, and the largenesse of his dominions,1 the Doctrine is, that it is a wonderfull hard thing to take downe the pride of mans heart: it is no small affliction that will doe it, as is plaine Iob 33. 14. &c: where is at large shewed, that God vseth all meanes, and that againe & againe, and yet men will not profit thereby: then he findes out the cause of it to be pride, verse. 17. and so laieth corrections vpon them sutable thereunto, smiting them with sorrow vpon their beds, so that the griefe of their bones is sore: pinching them with grieuous sicknesses and diseases, and making their bones to clater, so that their soules draw neere to the graue, and their life to the buriers. Now when these or the like wofull distresses haue tamed and maistered their vnruly affections, then doe they begin to be somewhat more tractable: and whereas neither dreames, nor visions, nor any of Gods ordinances would doe any good vpon them before, after that, if God send vnto them a messenger or Interpreter one of a thousand, they will begin to hearken vnto them, and to learne how they may obtaine mercy and reconciliation with God, that they descend not into the pit of destruction. Further, we may obserue what a great deale of woe Dauid sustained by reason of the hautinesse of his heart, and his earthly confidence (which is a signe thereof) when he thought his mountaine so strong, that he should neuer be mooued: 2for God turned away his face from him, and he was troubled, and euen ready to goe downe into the pit, 3& to descend vnto the dust, &c. Neither did God minister vnto him a stronger purgation then he needed: but his pride required full as much affliction as the Lord laide vpon him, this was also the case of vzziah, who being in a moderate estate, did exceeding much good both for the Church and the common wealth: but when he was growen mighty and strong, his heart was lifted vp, and then he could not content himselfe with his kingly dignitie, but he would ⟨p. 21⟩needs take vpon him the office of the High-priest also, and so went into the Temple of the Lord, to burne incense vpon the Altar of incense; but what came of this presumptuous fact of his?
