A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

8 Get and keep that humble frame of Heart, which being ever ⟨p. 193⟩sensible of its present Condition, seeth so great Defects in all its Good, that it dares not think there is a sufficient ground for any Praise beyond the ordinary laudable temper. The Good I would I do not: And as to what may be culpable, let no mans Flattery pervert your Judgment, but humbly acknowledge you better know your own Inclinations, than any glossing, fawning Hypocrite in the world; and so long as you can maintain such a humble sense of your Imperfections, your Humility will be your Antidote against the Infection and danger of this Disease. The Flies blow when the Sun is warm and gotten high; so when we are high in our own Opinions of our selves, these Flesh-flies, base Colloguers, blow us: In a cold Season, and the Sun, i. e. our Opinions, low, and in the Brumal Solstice, when we have colder Thoughts of our own Goodness, these Flies are numbed and Impotent, &c. It is our own Pride that gives these Creatures an Opportunity to hurt us. Whilst Alexander M. kept a sense of his humane Original, he kept himself from this Disease; as Pride grew on him, he opened his Ears to seducing Flatterers, and at last fell into the highest Frenzy, in the height whereof he dreams of a Divine Original, and will be better than a man, whilst he is lower than a beast. I know no better Prophylactic to keep from, nor better Therapeutic to Cure us if tainted, than that of Christ, if we had done all, yet [Greek or Hebrew], When you have done Good and 'tis praised,¹ remember what Humility would say both of the Praise and the Praiser; did the Praiser know you as you know your selves, he had never spent so many words, and put you to the blush; and since the Praise is but a mistake, you may not account it to your Gain, for it must be discounted when the reckoning is stated aright. Who so owns 'tis Candour in our Neighbour, and Grace in our God that covers the faults we are guilty of, and accepts the Good we are doers of, and humbly acknowledgeth, is in great measure Cured of this loathsome Disease.

8 Get and keep that humble frame of Heart, which being ever ⟨p. 193⟩sensible of its present Condition, seeth so great Defects in all its Good, that it dares not think there is a sufficient ground for any Praise beyond the ordinary laudable temper. The Good I would I do not: And as to what may be culpable, let no mans Flattery pervert your Judgment, but humbly acknowledge you better know your own Inclinations, than any glozing, fawning Hypocrite in the world; and so long as you can maintain such a humble sense of your Imperfections, your Humility will be your Antidote against the Infection and danger of this Disease. The Flies blow when the Sun is warm and gotten high; so when we are high in our own Opinions of our selves, these Flesh-flies, base Colloguers, blow us: In a cold Season, and the Sun, i. e. our Opinions, low, and in the Brumal Solstice, when we have colder Thoughts of our own Goodness, these Flies are nummed and Impotent, &c. It is our own Pride that gives these Creatures an Opportunity to hurt us. Whilst Alexander M. kept a sense of his humane Original, he kept himself from this Disease; as Pride grew on him, he open'd his Ears to seducing Flatterers, and at last fell into the highest Phrensie, in the height whereof he dreams of a Divine Original, and will be better than a man, whilst he is lower than a beast. I know no better Prophylactique to keep from, nor better Therapeutique to Cure us if tainted, than that of Christ, if we had done all, yet , When you have done Good and 'tis prais'd,