The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

5. Another cloak of Pride is opinionative and doctrinal Humility: When we have heard and read much against Pride, and can speak (or preach) against it, as freely, and fluently, and vehemently, and movingly, as any others; and in all company and conference signify our dislike of it; when we are much in dissuading others from it, and in extolling humility, and lowliness of mind; this doth not only deceive others, but very often the speaker himself; and makes him think that he hath no great degree of Pride.

5. Another cloak of Pride is opinionative and doctrinal Humility: When we have heard and read much against Pride, and can speak (or preach) against it, as freely, and fluently, and vehemently, and movingly, as any others; and in all company and conference signifie our dislike of it; when we are much in disswading others from it, and in extolling humility, and lowliness of mind; this doth not only deceive others, but very often the speaker himself; and makes him think that he hath no great degree of Pride.

But speculation, and opinion, and talk, are one thing, and a renewed truly humble soul is another thing. If all this while you are as great, and wise, and good in your own esteem, and make as great a matter of mens opinion of you, as others do that speak less against Pride, your speeches and preachings serve but to condemn your selves. It is as easy to talk against covetousness, gluttony, and other sins, whilst he that condemneth them, continueth in them, and condemneth himself. Talking against an enemy, obtaineth no victory; and talking against sin, may signify what you have learned to say, or perhaps what dislike you have to that sin at a distance, or in specie, or in ⟨p. 453⟩another, when yet you may damnably love it in your selves. It were well for Preachers, if it were as easy or common to conquer sin, as to preach against it: But alas it is not so.

But speculation, and opinion, and talk, are one thing, and a renewed truly humble soul is another thing. If all this while you are as great, and wise, and good in your own esteem, and make as great a matter of mens opinion of you, as others do that speak less against Pride, your speeches and preachings serve but to condemn your selves. It is as easie to talk against covetousness, gluttony, and other sins, whilest he that condemneth them, continueth in them, and condemneth himself. Talking against an enemy, obtaineth no victory; and talking against sin, may signifie what you have learned to say, or perhaps what dislike you have to that sin at a distance, or in specie, or in