The Godly Man's Picture

3. The Times we live in are humbling: The Lord seems to say to us now, as he did to Israel, Exod. 33. 5. Put off thy Ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do to thee. My displeasure is breaking forth, I have eclipsed the light of the Sanctuary, I have stained the waters with blood, I have shot the arrow of Pestilence, therefore lay down your Pride, put off your Ornaments. Woe to them that lift themselves up, when God is casting them down. When should a people be humble if not under the rod? 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God. When God afflicts his people, and cuts them short in their privileges, 'tis time then to sow sackcloth on their skin, and defile their horn (or honour) in the dust, Job 16. 15.

3. The Times we live in are humbling: The Lord seems to say to us now, as he did to Israel, Exod. 33. 5. Put off thy Ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do to thee. My displeasure is breaking forth, I have eclipsed the light of the Sanctuary, I have stained the waters with blood, I have shot the arrow of Pestilence, therefore lay down your Pride, put off your Ornaments. Woe to them that lift themselves up, when God is casting them down. When should a people be humble if not under the rod? 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God. When God afflicts his people, and cuts them short in their priviledges, 'tis time then to sow sackcloath on their skin, and defile their horn (or honour) in the dust, Job 16. 15.

4. What an horrid sin Pride is! St. Chrysostom calls it the mother of Hell. Pride is a complicated evil: as Aristotle saith, Justice comprehends all virtue in it; so Pride comprehends all vice. 'Tis a spiritual drunkenness; it flies up as Wine into the brain, and intoxicates it. It is