The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…

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