His fourth reason is that of the text and point; Pride is a great wickedness, because usually it infects great men. They that are great in power, great in gifts, great in learning, great in any thing, are sure to be assaulted if not blemished and blasted with this sin, insomuch that it had been better for many to have been fools, then learned, low then high, mean then great, poor then rich in this world. There is a temptation in power, in greatness, in riches, in knowledge, in gifts, in the best things, to make the mind swell, and the man that is stored with them proud. Pride is (as I may say) of a very high extraction, it was conceived in and borne by the now Apostate Angels, whose place, first estate (or principality, as we put in the Margin of the Epistle of Jude v. 6.) was aloft in heaven. Angels were the nearest servants and attendants upon God himself, who calleth heaven the habitation of his holiness, and of his glory; And surely the habitation which the Apostle Jude in the same verse saith the Angels left, (and he calls it their own, that is, that which was allotted and allowed them by God as their portion, this habitation, I say,) must needs be a very high and excellent one, as themselves by nature were in the highest classis or form of creatures. Now as pride began from and had its birth in these high and noble spirits (which gave one occasion (though it be as hellish a lust as any in hell) to call it Heavenly by Nation) so the higher men are (who at highest are but dust) the more doth pride haunt them, and insinuate it self to get a dwelling of seat in them,1 as the most proper and congenial subjects which it can find here on earth it self, with those of whom it first took possession and whom it made its first habitation, being for ever cast down from heaven. Pride having once dwell in those who were so high, loves still to dwell or take up its lodging (at least) in those, who upon any reference whether to natural, civill, or spiritual things, are called and reputed Highest.
His fourth reason is that of the text and poynt; Pride is a great wickednesse, because usually it infects great men. They that are great in power, great in gifts, great in learning, great in any thing, are sure to be assaulted if not blemished and blasted with this sin, insomuch that it had been better for many to have been fools, then learned, low then high, meane then great, poore then rich in this world. There is a temptation in power, in greatness, in riches, in knowledge, in gifts, in the best things, to make the mind swell, and the man that is stored with them proud. Pride is (as I may say) of a very high extraction, it was conceived in and borne by the now Apostate Angels, whose place, first estate (or principality, as we put in the Margin of the Epistle of Jude v. 6.) was aloft in heaven. Angels were the neerest servants and attendants upon God himselfe, who calleth heaven the habitation of his holinesse, and of his glory; And surely the habitation which the Apostle Jude in the same verse saith the Angels left, (and he calls it their owne, that is, that which was allotted and allowed them by God as their portion, this habitation, I say,) must needs be a very high and excellent one, as themselves by nature were in the highest classis or forme of creatures. Now as pride began from and had its birth in these high and noble spirits (which gave one occasion (though it be as hellish a lust as any in hell) to call it Heavenly by Nation) so the higher men are (who at highest are but dust) the more doth pride haunt them, and insinuate it selfe to get a dwelling of seate in them,1 as the most proper and congeniall subjects which it can find here on earth it selfe, with those of whom it first tooke possession and whom it made its first habitation, being for ever cast downe from heaven. Pride having once dwell in those who were so high, loves still to dwell or take up its lodging (at least) in those, who upon any reference whether to naturall, civill, or spirituall things, are called and reputed Highest.
- 1Quia natione coelestis sublim•um animos inhabitat. Hugo.
