An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

First, Be not proud of what ye are, all's the work of God: How beautiful or comely, how wise or holy soever ye are, 'tis not of your selves. What hath any man either in naturals or supernaturals, which he hath not received?

First, Be not proud of what ye are, all's the work of God: How beautifull or comely, how wise or holy soever ye are, 'tis not of your selves. What hath any man either in naturals or supernaturals, which he hath not received?

Secondly, Despise not what others are or have, though they are not such exact pieces, though they have not such excellent endowments as your selves, yet they are what the hand of God hath wrought them, and they have what the hand of God ⟨p. 445⟩hath wrought in them. Be more thankful if ye are better framed, and have more workmanship bestowed upon you, sleight not those upon whom God hath bestowed less.

Secondly, Despise not what others are or have, though they are not such exact pieces, though they have not such excellent endowments as your selves, yet they are what the hand of God hath wrought them, and they have what the hand of God ⟨p. 445⟩hath wrought in them. Be more thankfull if ye are better framed, and have more workmanship bestowed upon you, sleight not those upon whom God hath bestowed lesse.

Thirdly, Despise not what your selves are; To do so is a sin, and a sin (in respect of the body) very common. Many are ashamed to be seen, as God hath made them, few are ashamed to be seen, what the devil hath made them. Many are troubled at small defects in the outward man: Few are troubled at the greatest deformities of their inner man; they call for no repairs, for no fresh colours to be laid on there; many buy artificial beauty to supply the defects of natural, who never had a thought of buying (without money) spiritual beauty to supply the defects of supernatural. The crookedness and distortions, the blackness and uncomeliness of the soul are most deplorable, yet are they little deplored; we are called every day to mend and cure them, we are told where and how we may have all set right, and made fair again, and yet the most stir not, or not to purpose. God will not know any body at the last day, unless his souls be mended by grace, and some do so mend their bodies by art, that God will not know their souls at that day. Depart from me, I know you not (will be all their entertainment) ye have mended your bodies till ye have marred your souls. Besides, What can the man do that cometh after the King? saith Solomon (