A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 6 That pride is a singular impediment to a godly life.

Besides these, there are divers other carnal corruptions, which are notable impediments unto a godly life. The first whereof is natural pride, whereby we have an high conceit of our selves, and of every shadow and show of grace in us, and imagine that we have so much already, that we need not to labour after more, nor to use any means for enriching of our selves with those graces whereof we stand in need. An example whereof we have in the Pharisees, who thought they saw, when as they were blind, ¹and therefore neglected the light of truth, when as the Sun of righteousness did shine unto them. In the Laodiceans, who thought that they were rich, and had need of nothing, when as they were poor and miserable, ²blind and naked. In the young Justiciary, who thought he had done all ³that God required of him, and attained unto perfection, when as yet he had done nothing, but still remained the slave of sin, loaded with corruptions and imperfections. And in the Corinthians, who proudly conceited that they were rich, and reigned as Kings, not needing any help from the blessed Apostle, when as still their lusts reigned in them. The which, above all other corrupt affections, hindereth us from proceeding in the ways of godliness. First, because God denieth to give his graces to such as being proudly conceited of themselves, do not acknowledge that they stand in need of them, and consequently would never be thankful for them. For he exalteth the humble, and pulleth down the proud, he filleth the hungry with good things, and sendeth the full empty away. Secondly, ⁴because they, thinking that they have enough already, never labour after more, but neglect all good means which God hath ordained for the begetting and increasing of all his graces in us; and having scarce set one foot forward in the course of Christianity, yet conceiting that they have almost attained unto the Goal of perfection, & that they have far outstripped all others, they stand still, as though there were no need of further proceeding. Now if we would remove this impediment, we must mortify our carnal pride, and labour after true humility, that having a sight of our sin and misery, we may not content our selves, but labour to come out of this wretched estate.