The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

May a man be proud of humility, for that is one of the excellent virtues here specified; why not, of the natural humility which is in them? As Sir Philip Sidney observes in his defence of Poetry, that Philosophers write Books against vain-glory, whereunto nevertheless they set their names. So they might write Books in commendation of humility, and thereunto set their names also. Yet I am not truly of such an opinion, as to think, that God should give any of these virtues, to the end they should grow proud of them: for I do not find it any way requisite to a proud man, that he should be virtuous: for in my judgement, pride is a very humble vice, and disdains not to dwell in the hearts of the meanest. Plato could discern it through Antisthenes his patched coat: and when Diogenes trod under foot Plato's hangings, saying, I tread under my foot Plato's pride: it is observed that he did this majori festu, with greater pride: And as one sometimes said, a man may be as proud of a Cloakebagge which he carrieth behind him, as Cardinal Campeius was of his Sumpter-horse, that followed after him; and yet that pride of his, might be of no better then of Brick-bats when all was known, what show soever it made unto the people. And men of generous minds, and parts, and means answerable, are many times found, through the grace of God, more truly humble, than many a base fellow, that hath nothing to be made reckoning of but his own conceit. As the fly sitting upon the Cart wheel in a dry Summer, said, see what a dust I make. Saint Pauls righteousness which he speaks of, Phil. 3. I take to be better than the virtue of any Philosopher, which yet he accounted but dung, that he might win Christ. But by the way I observe how liberal these men are, in acknowledging the gifts of God in gross, which they will be found utterly to deny if they be examined upon them in particular. As for example, Moral virtues (we commonly say) are Habitus acquisiti, acquisite habits, and that by frequentation of consimilar acts, whereupon the habit ariseth naturally: Now do these men maintain that God is the Author of these acts, otherwise than by concourse, working in them, [Greek or Hebrew] veil & facere modò velint? I can show it under the hands of some of them in express terms.

May a man be proud of humility, for that is one of the excellent vertues here specified; why not, of the naturall humility which is in them? As Sir Philip Sidney observes in his defence of Poetry, that Philosophers write Bookes against vaine-glory, whereunto neverthelesse they set their names. So they might write Books in commendation of humility, and thereunto set their names also. Yet I am not truly of such an opinion, as to think, that God should give any of these vertues, to the end they should grow proud of them: for I doe not find it any way requisite to a proud man, that he should be vertuous: for in my judgement, pride is a very humble vice, and disdaines not to dwell in the hearts of the meanest. Plato could discerne it through Antisthenes his patcht coate: and when Diogenes trod under foot Platoes hangings, saying, I tread under my foot Platoes pride: it is observed that he did this majori festu, with greater pride: And as one sometimes said, a man may be as proud of a Cloakebagge which he carrieth behind him, as Cardinall Campeius was of his Sumpter-horse, that followed after him; and yet that pride of his, might be of no better then of Brick-bats when all was known, what shew soever it made unto the people. And men of generous minds, and parts, and meanes answerable, are many times found, through the grace of God, more truly humble, than many a base fellow, that hath nothing to be made reckoning of but his own conceit. As the fly sitting upon the Cart wheele in a dry Summer, said, see what a dust I make. Saint Pauls righteousnesse which he speakes of,