Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

O that the Lord would lay us at his feet, in the tears of unfeigned sorrow for this sin! Brethren, may I take leave a little to expostulate this case with my own heart and you, that we may see the shame of our sin and be reformed? Is not Pride the sin of Devils? the first-born of Hell? is it not that wherein Satan's Image doth much consist? and is it tolerable evil in a man that is so engaged against him and his Kingdom as we are? The very design of the Gospel doth tend to self abasing; and the work of grace is begun and carried on in Humiliation. Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature. It is a contradiction to be a sanctified man, or a true Christian, and not humble. All that will be Christians must be Christs Disciples, and come to him to learn; and their lesson is, to be meek and lowly, Mat. 11. 28. O how many precepts and admirable examples hath our Lord and master given us to this end? Can we once conceive of him as purposely washing and wiping his servants feet, and yet be stout and Lordly still? shall he converse with the meanest, and we avoid them as contemptible people, and think none but persons of riches and honour to be fit for our society? How many of us are oftener found in the houses of Gentlemen, then in the poor cottages of those that have most need of our help? There are many of us that would think it a baseness, to be daily with the most needy and beggarly people, to instruct them in the matters of life, and supply their wants? As if we had taken charge only of the souls of the rich! Alas what is it that we have to be proud of? Of our body? why, are they not made of the like ⟨p. 178⟩materials as the brutes? and must they not shortly be as loathsome and abominable as the dung? is it of our Graces? Why the more we are proud of them, the less we have to be proud of. And when so much of the nature of Grace is in Humility its a great absurdity to be proud of it. Is it of our Learning, Knowledge, abilities and gifts? Why sure if we have any knowledge at all, we must needs know much reason to be humble; and if we know more then others, we must know more reason then others do to be humble. How little is it that the most Learned know, in comparison of that which yet they are ignorant of?

O that the Lord would lay us at his feet, in the tears of unfeigned sorrow for this sin! Brethren, may I take leave a little to expostulate this case with my own heart and you, that we may see the shame of our sin and be reformed? Is not Pride the sin of Devils? the first-born of Hell? is it not that wherein Satans Image doth much consist? and is it tollerable evil in a man that is so engaged against him and his Kingdom as we are? The very design of the Gospel doth tend to self abasing; and the work of grace is begun and carried on in Humiliation. Humility is not a meer ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature. It is a contradiction to be a sanctified man, or a true Christian, and not humble. All that will be Christians must be Christs Disciples, and come to him to learn; and their lesson is, to be meek and lowly,