Again, Are there not some, that never to this day, were sensible of their Pride in spiritual things? Now I dare boldly say unto thee from the Lord, Thou hast not yet learned this lesson of Self-Denial in spiritual things, that wert never Humbled for thy Pride in spiritual things. I repeat it again, I say, If thou wert never humbled for thy Pride in spiritual things to this day, the Lord knows, thou hast not learned this great lesson of Self-Denial in spiritual things. I say no more by way of Convincement; Only this: There is nothing that a Professor is more apt to be proud of, than spiritual things. Before a man takes up a Profession; possibly then he is proud of his Clothes; or he is proud of his Friends; or he is proud of his fine House and the like. But after once a man comes to take up a Profession, there is nothing that he is more apt to be proud of than his Gifts, Graces, and Spiritual things. For, look where a mans Excellency lies, there his Pride grows. Now the Excellency of a Professor lies in spiritual things; and therefore there his Pride grows, and there he is most apt to be proud. Yet let me tell ye, It is a more dangerous thing to be proud of a mans Duties, and Spiritual Gifts; then to be proud of Clothes, then to be proud of these outward things; For this pride of Spiritual Gifts, it's directly opposite to a mans Justification. And the more secret & hidden any sin is, the more dangerous it is: and when sin & Pride lies under Duties, and Spiritual things, then it is hidden indeed. The more Bold a sin is, the greater it is; When a sin shall dare to come into the presence of God, then it is bold indeed: Now pride in spiritual things comes ⟨p. 67⟩more into the presence of God, than pride of Clothes and these Outward things do, & therefore it is the bolder, and the greater sin; & therefore, who would not take heed hereof! who would not labour for this Self-Denial? to be humble, and denying of ones self in spiritual things? Truly, the first step to Humility, is, to see ones Pride: and the first step to Self-Denial, is to be convinced of ones Self-Advancing.
Again, Are there not some, that never to this day, were sensible of their Pride in spiritual things? Now I dare boldly say unto thee from the Lord, Thou hast not yet learned this lesson of Self-Denyal in spiritual things, that wert never Humbled for thy Pride in spiritual things. I repeat it again, I say, If thou wert never humbled for thy Pride in spiritual things to this day, the Lord knows, thou hast not learned this great lesson of Self-Denial in spiritual things. I say no more by way of Convincement; Only this: There is nothing that a Professor is more apt to be proud of, than spiritual things. Before a man takes up a Profession; possibly then he is proud of his Cloaths; or he is proud of his Friends; or he is proud of his fine House and the like. But after once a man comes to take up a Profession, there is nothing that he is more apt to be proud of than his Gifts, Graces, and Spiritual things. For, look where a mans Excellency lies, there his Pride grows. Now the Excellency of a Professor lies in spiritual things; and therefore there his Pride grows, and there he is most apt to be proud. Yet let me tell ye, It is a more dangerous thing to be proud of a mans Duties, and Spiritual Gifts; then to be proud of Cloaths, then to be proud of these outward things; For this pride of Spiritual Gifts, it's directly opposite to a mans Justification. And the more secret & hidden any sin is, the more dangerous it is: and when sin & Pride lies under Duties, and Spiritual things, then it is hidden indeed. The more Bold a sin is, the greater it is; When a sin shall dare to come into the presence of God, then it is bold indeed: Now pride in spiritual things comes ⟨p. 67⟩more into the presence of God, than pride of Cloaths and these Outward things do, & therfore it is the bolder, and the greater sin; & therfore, who would not take heed hereof! who would not labor for this Self-Denial? to be humble, and denying of ones self in spiritual things? Truly, the first step to Humility, is, to see ones Pride: and the first step to Self-Denial, is to be convinced of ones Self-Advancing.
