Secondly, Pride is more abominable, because it is not only ⟨p. 314⟩the folly of man, but a robbery of God; nothing robs God of his honour so much as pride. It is said of Jesus Christ (Phil: 2.6.) He thought it no robbery to be equal with God; He did not wrong God in making himself his equal, himself being God. But if men will match themselves with God, or are lifted up in their spirits, (as proud men are beyond the line of man) this is a robbery of God. Whatsoever we take to our selves more then is due, we take from God, yea we steal from God. They who forget God the author and fountain of all they have, and take glory to themselves, commit the worst kind of robbery, and are the most dangerous Thieves. (Isa: 42.8.) My glory will I not give to another; therefore if any take glory to themselves (as (I say again) all proud men do) 'tis stealing, and 'tis not only (as I may say) picking of his pocket, but the breaking open of his Treasury, of his Cabinet, to carry away the chief Jewel of his Crown, so is his glory (Rom: 11.36.) All is from him, therefore all must be to him; all is from the father of light, therefore what light, what gifts, what strength soever we have, it must return to him in praises, and in the glorifying of his name; we may not deck or adorn our own name with it, nor put our name upon it? How much soever we have we have received, it is from the Lord; therefore 'tis extremely sinful and sacrilegious to take or keep it to our selves. And as whatsoever good we have we have it of God, so whatsoever good we have done, we have had light and strength from God to do it; natural yea spiritual strength, not only the first power of acting, but all subsequent actings of that power are from God; therefore to have secret liftings up of spirit, in our own actings, is to rob God (Psal: 51.15.) Open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise, said David; As if he had said, Lord if thou wilt open my lips, and help me to speak as I ought, I will not show forth my own praise, nor boast of what I have either spoken or done, but I will show forth thy praise; because the opening of the lips is from thee.
Secondly, Pride is more abominable, because it is not only ⟨p. 314⟩the folly of man, but a robbery of God; nothing robs God of his honour so much as pride. It is said of Jesus Christ (Phil: 2.6.) He thought it no robbery to be equall with God; He did not wrong God in making himselfe his equall, himselfe being God. But if men will match themselves with God, or are lifted up in their spirits, (as proud men are beyond the line of man) this is a robbery of God. Whatsoever we take to our selves more then is due, we take from God, yea we steale from God. They who forget God the author and fountaine of all they have, and take glory to themselves, commit the worst kind of robbery, and are the most dangerous Theeves. (Isa: 42.8.) My glory will I not give to another; therefore if any take glory to themselves (as (I say againe) all proud men doe) 'tis stealing, and 'tis not only (as I may say) picking of his pocket, but the breaking open of his Treasury, of his Cabinet, to carry away the chief Jewel of his Crowne, so is his glory (Rom: 11.36.) All is from him, therefore all must be to him; all is from the father of light, therefore what light, what gifts, what strength soever we have, it must returne to him in prayses, and in the glorifying of his name; we may not deck or adorne our own name with it, nor put our name upon it? How much soever we have we have received, it is from the Lord; therefore 'tis extreamly sinfull and sacrilegious to take or keepe it to our selves. And as whatsoever good we have we have it of God, so whatsoever good we have done, we have had light and strength from God to doe it; naturall yea spirituall strength, not only the first power of acting, but all subsequent actings of that power are from God; therefore to have secret liftings up of spirit, in our owne actings, is to rob God (Psal: 51.15.) Open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise, sayd David; As if he had sayd, Lord if thou wilt open my lips, and help me to speak as I ought, I will not shew forth my owne praise, nor boast of what I have either spoken or done, but I will shew forth thy praise; because the opening of the lips is from thee.
