A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

(5.) The more Estate you have, the more Danger, and the more Trouble. A Pirate doth not set upon empty Vessels; None are so liable to such Snares as those that have Wealth and Greatness. You can hardly discharge what you have already: if you had more, you would have the greater Trust; for to whom much is given, of them much shall be required, Luke 12.48. You must give account for more Time, for more Opportunities to do good, for more Acts of Mercy: A greater Estate is incident to more Cares, and more Duties.

(5.) The more Estate you have, the more Danger, and the more Trouble. A Pirat doth not set upon empty Vessels; None are so liable to such Snares as those that have Wealth and Greatness. You can hardly discharge what you have already: if you had more, you would have the greater Trust; for to whom much is given, of them much shall be required, Luke 12.48. You must give account for more Time, for more Opportunities to do good, for more Acts of Mercy: A greater Estate is incident to more Cares, and more Duties.

3dly. The third Lust is, Pride of Life. The most natural Affection is Self-love, and Pride is nothing else but the Excess of Self-love; we suck it in with our Milk. Our first Parents fell by Pride, they soon catched at that Bait, You shall be as Gods, Gen. 3.5. and we see it takes with us, and surpriseth us upon every small occasion; a fine Garment, a Lock of Hair, a good Horse, or a serviceable Creature. There is nothing so high, and nothing so low, but Pride can make use of it: if we go back any degrees, it is to rise the higher. Yea, rather than not be proud, we can be proud of Sin; the Apostle speaks of some that glory in their Shame, Phil. 3.19. as their Revenge, and glutting themselves with their unchaste Pleasures. It is a Sin that will put us upon much Self-denial. How can Men rack their Spirits to promote their own Praise and Exaltation? How can they pinch themselves of the Conveniences of Life, to feed Pride, and to supply Pomp and State? Nay, a Man may be proud after his Death, in Funeral-Pomp, and in the Glory of the Sepulchre. Now Pride is twofold, in Mind, and in Desire; Pride in the Mind is Self-Conceit, and Pride in the Desire is an inordinate Affection of Glory, or high Place. Pride in Mind is when we ascribe to our selves what we have not, or transfer upon our selves the Praise of what we have. To boast of what we have not, is Folly; to boast of what we have, is Sacrilege, and we rob God; this is like a Man deeply in Debt, who boasts of an Estate he has borrowed. Pride in the Desire is an inordinate Affectation of our own Glory: all that Men do, is to set up themselves.