No man is proud in the presence of another whom he thinks to be his better. The sight of greater beauty, keeps down pride of beauty. Pride cannot live in the eye of that which is above the reason of it in our selves: Yea, he that finds he is but equal, or upon even ground with others, can hardly be proud of any thing in himself. While we suppose our gifts or knowledge, but like those of other men, we are not lifted up in the opinion of them. Now, If equality check pride, a thought of superiority must needs kill it. And if the common superiority of a man kiss our pride, how much more doth the knowledge of that superexcellent superiority which is in God? Doth not the beauty and dignity ⟨p. 377⟩of God, obscure the lustre and darken the beauty of all creatures? Is the shining of the stars any thing, when the Sun appears? Much less is the holiness, strength, and goodness of man any thing, when the goodness, holiness and strength of God stand forth or appear: we must say we are nothing, when we see what God is. The sight of him, in whom nothing of our imperfections can be found, cannot but humble us in the sight of all our perfections. Hence, when the Lord would abase man, and extol himself, he removes all of man from himself (1 Sam. 15.29.) God is not a man that he should repent; Men are full of repentings, and that they are so, shows them to be men. There is a repentance which is a grace of God, and there is a repentance which is an infirmity in man. By the former, men turn to God from that sin, in which they were, or have done. By the later, men turn both from God and man in what they promise or purpose, either to be or do. They are this day of one mind, and to morrow of another; to day they love, and to morrow they hate; now they vvill, and anon they vvill not. They are in and out, no man knows where to find them; but God is ever the same, he changes not. Elihu sends a challenge to all teachers, in the name of God, Who teacheth like him? (Chap. 36.22.) God himself challengeth Job in his own name (Chap. 40.9.) Hast thou an arm like God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? To whom will you liken me (saith God, when he would bring down the pride of the creature) To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? (Isa. 46.5.) Why do ye exalt your selves? Why have ye such high thoughts of your selves?
No man is proud in the presence of another vvhom he thinks to be his better. The sight of greater beauty, keeps down pride of beauty. Pride cannot live in the eye of that which is above the reason of it in our selves: Yea, he that findes he is but equall, or upon even ground vvith others, can hardly be proud of any thing in himself. While vve suppose our gifts or knowledge, but like those of other men, vve are not lifted up in the opinion of them. Now, If equality check pride, a thought of superiority must needs kill it. And if the common superiority of a man kiss our pride, how much more doth the knowledge of that superexcellent superiority vvhich is in God? Doth not the beauty and dignity ⟨p. 377⟩of God, obscure the lustre and darken the beauty of all creatures? Is the shining of the stars any thing, vvhen the Sun appears? Much lesse is the holines, strength, and goodnes of man any thing, when the goodnes, holines and strength of God stand forth or appear: we must say we are nothing, when we see what God is. The sight of him, in vvhom nothing of our imperfections can be found, cannot but humble us in the sight of all our perfections. Hence, vvhen the Lord vvould abase man, and extoll himself, he removes all of man from himself (1 Sam. 15.29.) God is not a man that he should repen; Men are full of repentings, and that they are so, shews them to be men. There is a repentance vvhich is a grace of God, and there is a repentance vvhich is an infirmity in man. By the former, men turn to God from that sin, in vvhich they vvere, or have done. By the later, men turn both from God and man in what they promise or purpose, either to be or doe. They are this day of one minde, and to morrow of another; to day they love, and to morrow they hate; now they vvill, and anon they vvill not. They are in and out, no man knows vvhere to finde them; but God is ever the same, he changes not. Elihu sends a challenge to all teachers, in the name of God, Who teacheth like him? (Chap. 36.22.) God himself challengeth Job in his own name (Chap. 40.9.) Hast thou an arm like God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? To whom will you liken me (saith God, vvhen he vvould bring down the pride of the creature) To whom will you liken me, and make me equall, and compare me, that we may be like? (Isa. 46.5.) Why doe ye exalt your selves? Why have ye such high thoughts of your selves?
