The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

1. Enquire carefully into your humility. It is not for nothing that Christ hath said so much of the excellency and necessity of this Grace; When he bids us learn of him to be meek and lowly: when he blesseth the meek and poor in spirit: when he setteth a little child in the midst of them, and telleth them, Except they become as that child they could not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: when he stoopeth to wash and wipe his Disciples feet, requiring them to do so by one another. How oft doth the Holy Ghost press this upon us? Commanding us, to submit our selves to one another: and not to mind high things; but to condescend to men of low ⟨p. 291⟩estate, Rom. 12.16. and not to be wise in our own esteem, but in honour prefer others before our selves, Rom. 12.10. How oft hath God professed to resist and take down the Proud, and to give Grace to the humble and dwell with them? Search carefully therefore lest this sin get ground upon you. For though it may not be so predominant and reigning as to damn you, yet may it cause God to afflict you and hide his face from you, and humble you by the sense of his displeasure, and the concealment of his Love. And though one would think that doubting troubled souls should be always the most humble, and freest from pride, yet sad experience hath certified me, that much pride may dwell with great doubtings and distress of mind. Even some of the same souls that cry out of their own unworthiness, and fear lest they shall be firebrands of Hell, yet cannot endure a close reproof, especially for any disgraceful sin, nor cannot bear a disparaging word, nor love those, nor speak well of them who do not value them, nor endure to be crossed or contradicted in word or deed, but must have all go their way, and follow their judgement, and say as they say, and dance after their pipe, and their hearts rise against those that will not do it; much more against ⟨p. 292⟩those that speak or do any thing to the diminishing of their Reputation: They cannot endure to be low, and past by, and overlooked when others are preferred before them, or to be slighted and disrespected, or their words, or parts, or works, or judgements to be contemned or disparaged: