Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. In regard of Authority. How unreasonable is pride in the presence of Majesty? How foolish is it for a Country Justice of Peace, to think himself as great as his Prince that Commissioned him? How unreasonable is pride in the presence of the greatest Sovereignty? What is humane greatness before Divine? The Stars discover no light when the Sun appears, but in a humble posture withdraw in their lesser Beams, to give the sole Glory of enlightening the World to the Sun, who is as it were the Sovereign of those Stars, and imparts a light unto them. The greatest Prince is infinitely less, if compared with God, than the meanest scullion in ⟨p. 776⟩his kitchen can be before him. As the Wisdom, Goodness, and Holiness, of man is a mere mote, compared to the Goodness and Holiness of God, so is the Authority of man a mere trifle in regard of the sovereignty of God. And who but a simple Child would be proud of a mote, or trifle. Let man be as great as he can, and command others, he is still a subject to one greater than himself. Pride would then vanish like smoke at the serious consideration of this sovereignty.

1. In regard of Authority. How unreasonable is pride in the presence of Majesty? How foolish is it for a Country Justice of Peace, to think himself as great as his Prince that Commission'd him? How unreasonable is pride in the presence of the greatest Soveraignty? What is humane greatness before Divine? The Stars discover no light when the Sun appears, but in a humble posture withdraw in their lesser Beams, to give the sole Glory of enlightning the World to the Sun, who is as it were the Soveraign of those Stars, and imparts a light unto them. The greatest Prince is infinitely less, if compar'd with God, than the meanest scullion in ⟨p. 776⟩his kitchin can be before him. As the Wisdom, Goodness, and Holiness, of man is a meer mote, compared to the Goodness and Holiness of God, so is the Authority of man a meer trifle in regard of the soveraignty of God. And who but a simple Child would be proud of a mote, or trifle. Let man be as great as he can, and command others, he is still a subject to one greater than himself. Pride would then vanish like smoak at the serious consideration of this soveraignty.