1. Against Pride in the Mind; consider what little Reason we have to be proud Poor Men! in whose Birth there is Sin, in whose Life there is Misery, and in whose ⟨p. 62⟩Death there is Sorrow and Perplexity: What should we be proud of? Not of Strength, which is inferior to many Beasts: Not of Beauty, many Flowers are decked with a more glorious Paintry. Beauty it is but Skin-deep; it is blasted with every Sickness, it is the laughing-stock of every Disease. And then he that is proud of his Clothes, is but proud of his Rags wherewith his Wounds are bound up. Clothes you know were occasioned by Sin; in Innocency Holiness was a Garment for Man, and Men might have conversed naked without Shame. And so for Birth, we have no reason to be proud of that, Omnis sanguis concolor, all Blood is of a Colour: He hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on all the face of the Earth, Acts 7.26. Not of Estates, they are but as Trappings to a Horse, things without us: We do not value a Horse for his Trappings, but by his Courage, Mettle and Strength. Not of Learning; there is none so learned, but he hath Ignorance enough to humble him: To be proud of Learning, shows our Ignorance. A little River seems deep when it runs between narrow Banks; but when there's a broad Channel, it is very shallow: So Men seem to be profound till their Thoughts run out into the breadth of Learning. Nor should we glory in Preferment, and in being advanced; when Men are put into great Places, they grow proud, but it is their Folly: thy Preferment may be in Judgment; God many times chooseth wicked Men to rule. He gives Kingdoms to the basest of Men, Dan. 4.17. God's Providence is not only seen in preferring wise and godly Governors, but in setting up the Base for a Judgment to the Nation. Nebuchadnezzar is called God's Servant, Jer. 25.9. the Sins of Egypt and Judah did require such a Servant. A devout Man complained of a bloody Prince, Lord! why hast thou made him Emperor? he did seem to hear this Answer, Because I could not find a worse for such a wicked People. So when such a one was chosen Bishop, he grew proud upon it, and there was a Voice heard, Thou art lifted up, not because thou art worthy of the Priesthood, but because the City is worthy of no better a Bishop. Some may be preferred, not because they are worthy, but because the Sins of the Nation deserved no better Governors.
1. Against Pride in the Mind; consider what little Reason we have to be proud Poor Men! in whose Birth there is Sin, in whose Life there is Misery, and in whose ⟨p. 62⟩Death there is Sorrow and Perplexity: What should we be proud of? Not of Strength, which is inferior to many Beasts: Not of Beauty, many Flowers are decked with a more glorious Paintry. Beauty it is but Skin-deep; it is blasted with every Sickness, it is the laughing-stock of every Disease. And then he that is proud of his Clothes, is but proud of his Rags wherewith his Wounds are bound up. Clothes you know were occasioned by Sin; in Innocency Holiness was a Garment for Man, and Men might have conversed naked without Shame. And so for Birth, we have no reason to be proud of that, Omnis sanguis concolor, all Blood is of a Colour: He hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on all the face of the Earth, Acts 7.26. Not of Estates, they are but as Trappings to a Horse, things without us: We do not value a Horse for his Trappings, but by his Courage, Mettle and Strength. Not of Learning; there is none so learned, but he hath Ignorance enough to humble him: To be proud of Learning, shews our Ignorance. A little River seems deep when it runs between narrow Banks; but when there's a broad Channel, it is very shallow: So Men seem to be profound till their Thoughts run out into the breadth of Learning. Nor should we glory in Preferment, and in being advanced; when Men are put into great Places, they grow proud, but it is their Folly: thy Preferment may be in Judgment; God many times chooseth wicked Men to rule. He gives Kingdoms to the basest of Men, Dan. 4.17. God's Providence is not only seen in preferring wise and godly Governours, but in setting up the Base for a Judgment to the Nation. Nebuchadnezzar is called God's Servant, Ier. 25.9. the Sins of Egypt and Iudah did require such a Servant. A devout Man complained of a bloody Prince, Lord! why hast thou made him Emperor? he did seem to hear this Answer, Because I could not find a worse for such a wicked People. So when such a one was chosen Bishop, he grew proud upon it, and there was a Voice heard, Thou art lifted up, not because thou art worthy of the Priesthood, but because the City is worthy of no better a Bishop. Some may be preferred, not because they are worthy, but because the Sins of the Nation deserved no better Governours.
