Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgment

14. Come forth all ye proud and ambitious persons; you that have builded your nests on high; that have taken many dirty steps to get into the seat of honour; whose hearts have been lifted up with high touring imaginations, and conceits of your own excellencies, unto the scorning and contempt of others; who have had proud hearts, and proud looks, and proud speeches, and proud carriage towards others, especially towards them that have been of meaner degree; who have looked upon others after off, and have disdained the converse and company of some, of whom the world hath not been worthy: Were you acquainted with no higher honour and dignity, than the world could give unto you? might you not have had seats in Heavenly places if you had looked after them, and less after the other? did you not know that the highest places on the earth were the most slippery places? did you not foresee the turning of the wheel upon you? did you not believe that God would cost down the mighty from their seats? that the higher you were lifted up in dignity, if your hearts were withal lifted up with pride, the lower and greater would be your fall? And was the favour and applause of men so desirable? was it not an empty breath, an inconstant wind? If you had been ambitious, should you not have been ambitious of the favour of the King of glory, which would have been so beneficial and lasting? And are You the persons that once were so proud and scornful? You proud! had you such reason? Proud, ⟨p. 106⟩when creatures! depending creatures! who had nothing, but what was borrowed, and received from God! proud, when such mean creatures! proud, when fallen! fallen into the dirt, and so defiled! proud, when sinners! sinners so vile! so full of sores! when you had such loathsome spirits! when you had such leprous souls! could you lift up the plumes, when you had such black feet? could you be proud, when you had last Gods Image, and were so like unto foul devils? proud, when such beggarly sinners! clothed in such filthy rags! proud, when such slaves, and vassals to the vilest and basest Tyrants! proud in chains and fetters of Satan, and lust!

14. Come forth all ye proud and ambitious persons; you that have builded your nests on high; that have taken many dirty steps to get into the seat of honour; whose hearts have been lifted up with high touring imaginations, and conceits of your own excellencies, unto the scorning and contempt of others; who have had proud hearts, and proud looks, and proud speeches, and proud carriage towards others, especially towards them that have been of meaner degree; who have looked upon others after off, and have disdained the converse and company of some, of whom the world hath not been worthy: Were you acquainted with no higher honour and dignity, than the world could give unto you? might you not have had seats in Heavenly places if you had looked after them, and less after the other? did you not know that the highest places on the earth were the most slippery places? did you not foresee the turning of the wheel upon you? did you not believe that God would cost down the mighty from their seats? that the higher you were lifted up in dignity, if your hearts were withall lifted up with pride, the lower and greater would be your fall? And was the favour and applause of men so desirable? was it not an empty breath, an inconstant wind? If you had been ambitious, should you not have been ambitious of the favour of the King of glory, which would have been so beneficial and lasting? And are You the persons that once were so proud and sornfull? You proud! had you such reason? Proud,