The Sincere Convert

First, the understandings Arrogance. §1You shall never see a man mean and vile in his own eyes deceived Psal. 25. 9. but a proud man or woman is often cheated; Hence proud Haman thought surely he was the man whom ⟨p. 166⟩the King would honour, ¹when in truth it was intended for poor Mordecai: For, pride having once overspread the mind, it ever hath this property, it makes a penny stand for a pound, a spark is blown up to a flame, it makes a great matter of a little seeming grace, and therefore the proud Pharisee, when he came to reckon with himself, he takes his poor counter, that is, I am not as other men, nor as this Publican, and sets it down for 1000. pound, that is, he esteems of himself, as a very rich man for it: So many a man because he hath some good thing in himself, as, he is pitiful to the poor, he is a true man though a poor man, he was never given to wine, or women. He magnifieth himself for this title, and so deceives and over-reckons himself. There are your Bristow-stones like Diamonds, and many cheaters cozen Country folks with them, that desire to be fine, and know not what Diamonds are. So many men are desirous to be honest ⟨p. 167⟩and to be reputed so, not knowing what true grace means, therefore Bristow-stones are p••rles in their eyes. A little seeming grace shines so bright in their eyes, that they are half bewitched by it, to think highly of themselves, although they be but glittering seeming jewels in a swines snout. A cab of Doves dung was sold in Samaria's time of famine at a great rate; a man living in such a place, where all about him are either ignorant, or profane, or civill, a little moral honesty (dung in respect of true grace) goes a great way, and is esteemed highly of, and he is as honest a man as ever lived. A man that looks through a red glass, all things appear red; a man looking upon himself through some fair spectacles, through some one good thing that he hath in himself, appears fair to him. It is said, Luke 20