A26951:2038
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb. 11, 1, formerly preached before His Majesty, and published by his command, with another added for the fuller application : the second is instructions for confirming believers in the Christian faith : the third is directions how to live by faith, or how to exercise it upon all occasions / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1670
Part 3 › Chapter 15: How to be poor in spirit. And how to escape the pride of Prosperity.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And if the proudest Gallants can, with their hat at your foot, profess themselves your humble servants, why may not Religious Bride go as far?
And note here, that this Religious Pride, is of a higher and more aggravated strain than the other: 1. Because it is committed against more humbling means. 2. Because it is a sin against more knowledge. 3. Because it is accompanied with the profession of Humility, and so is aggravated by more hypocrisy. 4. Because it is an abuse of more excellent things: It is more odious to turn the pretence of wisdom, revelations, humility, godliness, good works, &c. into pride, than to be proud as children are of their fine clothes; or as addle-brained women are of their precedencies. 5. Because it most odiously fathereth it self on God, as if it were but the grateful magnifying of his graces: To put Gods Name into the boasts of Pride, and say, I thank thee, Lord, that I am not as other men, nor as this Publican (Luke 18.11.) To say, God hath revealed more to me than to you; or hath made me more holy and spiritual than you, Isa. 65.5. Stand by thy self; come not near ⟨p. 454⟩me; for I am holier than thou: This is, when Pride speaketh it, most odious blasphemy; to father the first-born of the Devil upon God.
And note here, that this Religious Pride, is of a higher and more aggravated strein than the other: 1. Because it is committed against more humbling means. 2. Because it is a sin against more knowledge. 3. Because it is accompanied with the profession of Humility, and so is aggravated by more hypocrisie. 4. Because it is an abuse of more excellent things: It is more odious to turn the pretence of wisdom, revelations, humility, godliness, good works, &c. into pride, than to be proud as children are of their fine cloaths; or as addle-brained women are of their precedencies. 5. Because it most odiously fathereth it self on God, as if it were but the grateful magnifying of his graces: To put Gods Name into the boasts of Pride, and say, I thank thee, Lord, that I am not as other men, nor as this Publican (