Sermons in One Volume, Sermon 10
A DISSWASION FROM PRIDE, AND AN exhortation to Humilitie.
1. PET. 5. 5.
God reſisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble.
SAint Peter teaching euerie man his dutie, how one ſhould behaue himſelfe to another, exhorteth al mē to bee humble & abſtayne from pride: as though Humilitie were the bond of all duties, like a liſt which holdeth men in a compaſſe, & pride were the makebate ouer all the world: to which Salomon giueth witnes, Prou. 13. 10. ſaying, OnelyOnly by pryde man maketh contention: becauſe pride maketh eueryevery one thinke better of himſelfe then of others, whereby he ſcorneth to giuegive place to the other, and therefore when neither partie wil yeeld as Abraham did to Lot, how ſhould there be any peace?Gen. 13. 9. Thus pride doth breake the peace, and humilitie doth ſet it againe: therefore to toll men from pride to humilitie, as it were from the concubin to the right wife, the Apoſtle ſheweth how God is affected to pride, and what minde he beareth to humilitie: God reſiſteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble: as if he ſhould whiſper men in the eares & ſay, take heed how you companie with pride, or giuegive entertainment to her, for ſhe is not Caeſars friend, the king counteth her his enemie, & all that take her part: ſhe hath been ſuſpected euer ſince the Angels rebelled in heauen,Gen. 3. and Adam ſought to bee equal with God. therfore his maieſtie hath a ſtich againſt her, as Salomon had to Shemei, & would not hauehave her fauorites come in his court,1. Kin. 2. 36 vnleſſe they hold downe their mace, ſtoope when they enter. But if you can get in with humilitie, and weare the colours of lowlines, then you may goe boldly, and ſtand in the Kings ſight, and ſtep to his chamber of preſence, and put vp your petitions, and come to honor. For humilitie is very gracious with him, and ſo neere of his counſell, that as Dauid and Salomon ſay,Pro. 3. 32. he committeth all his ſecrets to her. This is Peters meaning,Pſal. 25. that the humble ſhall finde grace with God and men: as wee read of Dauid and Iohn Baptiſt, according to that in the firſt Pſal. verſ. 4. All things which hee doth ſhall proſper: Pſal. 1. 4.but the proude ſhall bee troubled and croſſed, and when they would doe beſt they ſhall doe worſt, when they would grace themſelues, they ſhall ſhame themſelues: and God will be to them like the ſpirit of Saul which tormented him whereſoeuer hee went. This ſentence is repeated againe,Iames. 1. 6. Iames 4. 6. the like ſentence to this is in Prouerbes 3. 34.Pro. 3▪ 34. where he ſayth, with the Scornefull he ſcorneth: but he giueth grace to the humble: the like ſentence is againe in the 16. of Prouerbs 18. where he ſayth,Pro. 16. 18. Pryde goeth before deſtruction:Pro. 15. 33. and in the 15. of Prou. 33. before honour goeth humilitie.Pro. 29. 23. The like ſentence is againe in the 29. of the Prou. verſ. 23. where he ſaith, the pryde of man ſhall bring him lowe, but the humble in ſpirit ſhall enioy glorie.
The like ſentence is againe in the firſt of Luke. 46 where the Virgin ſings,Luk. 1. 46. He hath put downe the mightie from their ſeate, and hath exalted the humble and meeke; that as it were by two or three witneſſes, pryde might bee condemned, and humilitie acquited. One is to GOD like Iacob,Rom. 4. 13. of whom hee ſayth;Mal. 1. 3. Iacob hauehave I loued: the other is to God like Eſau,Gen. 25. 8. of whom he ſayth, Eſau hauehave I hated. Iacob loued Eſau becauſe hee loued veniſon, but Rebecca loued Iacob becauſe he was loued of God. So the proud are in the Kings Court, becauſe they ſeeke honour, but the humble are in Gods court, becauſe they contemne honour: as he ſayth in the third of the Prouer. ver. 34. with the froward he will ſhew himſelfe froward: So he threatneth here that with the proude, he will ſhewe himſelfe proud; that is, if they chalenge, he wil defend: if they will prouoke him, he will reſiſt them: if they will clime higher then their compaſſe, he will pull them lower then their will.
Peter ſpeaks of the proud, as if they did chalenge God, like champions, & prouoke him like rebels, that vnles he did reſiſt them, they would goe about to depriue him of his rule,Num. 16. 2 as Corah, Dathan, and Abiram vndermined Moſes. For ſo the proud man ſayth, I will be like the higheſt,Eſai. 14. and if he could, aboue the higheſt too. This is the creature which was taken out of the duſt,Gen. 2. 7. and ſo ſoone as he was made, he oppoſeth himſelfe againſt that maieſtie, which the Angels adore, the throanes worſhip, the diuels feare, and the heauens obey. How many ſins are in this ſinfull world, and yet as Salomon ſayth of the good wife, Prou. 31. 29. Many daughters hauehave done vertuouſly,Pro. 31. 29. but thou ſurmounteſt them all. So I may ſay of pryde, many ſinnes hauehave done wickedly, but thou ſurmounteſt them all: for the wrathfull man, the prodigall man, the laciuious man, the ſurfeting man, the ſlothfull man, is rather an enemy to himſelfe then to God. The enuious man, the couetous man, the deceiptful man, the vngrateful man, is rather an enemy to men then to God. but the proud man ſets himſelf againſt God, becauſe he doth againſt his lawes, he maketh himſelfe equall with God, becauſe he doth all without God and craues no helpe of him: he exalteth himſelfe aboue God, becauſe he will hauehave his owne wil, though it be contrary to Gods wil. As the humble man ſaith;Pſal. 115. 1 Not vntounto vsus Lord, not vntounto vsus, but thy name giuegive the glorie. Pſal. 115. 1. ſo the proud man ſaith, not vntounto him, not vntounto him, but vntounto vsus giuegive the glorie: like vntounto Herod, which tooke the name of God, and was honored of all but the wormes, and they ſhewed that he was not a God but a man,Acts 12. 21. Actes 12. 21. Therefore the proud men may be called Gods enemies, becauſe as the couetous pull riches from men, ſo the proud pull honor from God. Beſide the proud man hath no cauſe to be proud, as other ſinners hauehave, the couetous for riches, the ambitious for honor, the voluptuous for pleſure, the enuious for wrong, the ſlothful for eaſe; but the proud man hath no cauſe to be proud, but pride it ſelfe, which ſaith like Pharaoh, I will not obey, Exod. 5. 2. Therefore God is ſpecially ſaid to reſiſt the proud, becauſe the proud reſiſt him. Heere is heauen againſt earth, the creator againſt the creature, the father againſt the ſonne, the Lord againſt the ſeruant, the Prince againſt the ſubiect, who is like to winne the fielde? If the Lord iustifie (ſaith Paul) who ſhall condemne? ſo if the Lord reſiſt, who ſhall defend? If his lawe come with thunder and lightning and tempeſt, with what terrour will hee come himſelfe? It was but a brag, when the king of Iuda proclaimed warre againſt the king of Aram & ſaid,2. Kin. 1. 9. No man ſhall deliuer thē out of my hands; but it is true when God ſaith, no man ſhall deliuer them out of my hands:Heb. 10. therefore the author to the Hebrews ſaith, It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of God, for hee euer ouercommeth. Therefore when the Egyptians perceiued that God fought againſt them,1. Kin. 14. 9 they cryed, Wee will fle, wee will flie, for God ſighteth againſt vsus, Exod. 14. 25. So the proud may cry, I will flie, I will flie, for God fighteth againſt vsus. When the king of Iuda proclaimed warre againſt the king of Iſrael; the king of Iſrael returned anſwere, that the thiſtle rebelled againſt the cedar, 2. King. 14. 9. & yet there was but king againſt king. a man againſt a man; how much rather may the king of heauen anſwer this proud earth, the thiſtle rebelleth againſt the Cedar?1. Sa. 17. 2. The giant durſt chalenge but one of the hoſt of Iſrael, but the Lord chalengeth all the hoſt of pride: euen as hee giueth grace to all that are hūble, ſo he reſiſteth all that are proud. It had been too heauie for them, if he had ſayde, the Lord doth not care for them, for Gods care preſerueth vsus, and our owne care doth but trouble vsus: but to ſay that the Lord doth reſiſt them,Reuel. 12. 7 is as if Michael ſhould denounce warre with the dragon, till he hath caſt him into the pit. This is a marſhall word, and comes with armes and weapons vponupon them: if a man ſhould ſee a Lion come vponupon him, would hee not ſtart? if he ſhould ſee a Giant come agaynſt him, would he not feare? But now the Lorde of hoſts, the Lion of Iuda, which deſtroyed the Giants, is vp in armes to reſiſt the proud, and the proud feare not ſo much as the humble. God reſiſteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble: but the world reſiſteth the humble, and giueth grace to the proud, as Dauid notes.Pſal. 49. 18. Men will praiſe thee, not when thou reformeſt thy ſelfe to God, but whē thou doeſt forme thy ſelfe to thy luſts: that is, they which will be ſtrowters, ſhal not want flatterers, which will praiſe eueryevery thing that they do, and eueryevery thing that they ſpeake, & eueryevery thing that they weare, and ſay it becomes thē well to weare long haire, that it becomes thē well to weare bellied dublets, that it becomes them well to iet in their going, that it becoms thē wel to ſweare in their talking. Now, when they heare men ſooth them in their follies, then think they, we hauehave nothing els to commend vsus, if men will praiſe vsus for our vanities, we will hauehave friends enough: ſo the humour ſwelleth and thinkes with it ſelfe, if they will looke vponupon mee when, I doe ſet but a ſtout face vponupon it, how would they behold mee if I were in apparell? if they doe ſo admire me in ſilkes, how would they cap me and curſie me, and worſhip me, if I were in veluets? if I be ſo braue in plaine veluet, what if my veluet were pinct, or cut, or printed? So they ſtudie for faſhions, as Lawyers do for delayes, & count that part naked which is not as gaudie as the reſt, till all their bodie be couered ouer with pride, as their mind is with folly. Therefore Dauid ſaith,Pſal. 37. 6. that pride is as a chaine vntounto them, that is, it goeth round about them like a chaine, and makes them thinke that all men louelove them, and praiſe them, and admire them, and worſhip them for their brauerie. Therefore as Saul ſayd to Samuel, Honour me before this people: ſo the proude man ſaith to his, chaine and his ruffes, and his pinckes, and his cuts, honour me before this people: all that, he ſpeaketh, or doth, or weareth, is like Nabuchadnezzars pallace,Dan. 4. which he built for his honor. This is their work, ſo ſoone as they riſe, to put a Pedlars ſhop vponupon theyr backes, and colour their faces, and pricke their ruffes, and friſle theyr hayre, and then their daies worke is done, as though their office were to paint a fayre Image eueryevery morning, and at night to blot it out agayn: from that day that pride is borne in the heart of man, as the falſe Prophets were ſchooled to ſpeake as the King would hauehave them,2. Kin. 21. 8. ſo their eyes, and feete, and tongues are bound to ſpeake, and looke, and walke, as the proud heart doth prompt them. If GOD were in louelove with faſhions, hee were neuer better ſerued than in this age, for our world is like a pageant, where eueryevery mans apparell is better then himſelf.Mat. 11. 6. Once Chriſt ſaid, that ſoft clothing is in Kings courts: but now it is crept into euerie houſe: then the rich glutton ietted in purple euerie day,Luk. 16. but now the poore vnthrift iets as braue as the glutton, with ſo many circumſtances about him, that if yee could ſee how pride would walke herſelfe, if ſhe did weare apparell, ſhe would euen goe like manie in the ſtreetes: for ſhe could not goe brauer, nor looke ſtouter, nor mince finer, nor ſet on moe laces, nor make larger cuts, nor carrie more trappings about her, then our ruffians and wantons doe at this day. How far are theſe faſhions altered from thoſe leather coates which God made in Paradiſe?Gen. 3. 21. if their bodies did chaunge formes ſo often as their apparell chaungeth faſhions, they ſhould hauehave more ſnapes then they hauehave fingers and toes.2. Kin. 14. 2. As Ieroboams wife diſguiſed her ſelf that the Prophet might not know her, ſo we may think that they diſguiſe themſelues that God might not knowe them, nay they diſguiſe their bodies ſo, till they knowe not themſelues: for the ſeruant goeth like his maſter, the handmaide like her Miſtreſſe, the ſubiect like the Prince, as though he had forgotten his calling, and miſtooke himſelfe: like a man in the darke, which puts on another mans coate for his owne, that is too wide, or too ſide for his bodie: ſo their attires are ſo vnfit for their bodies, ſo vnmeete for their calling, ſo contrarie to nature, that I cannot call them fitter, then the monſters of apparell.Gen. 6. For the Giants were not ſo monſtrous in nature, as their attires are in faſhion, that if they could ſee their apparell but with the glance of a ſpirituall eye, how monſtrous it makes them like Apes and Puppets, and Vices, they would fling away their attire, as Dauid flung away Sauls armour:1. Sa. 17. 39 and bee as much aſhamed of their clothes,Gen. 3. 9. as Adam was of his nakedneſſe.
Pride hath been the deuiſer of all theſe vanities, which now neither ſhame nor lawes nor preaching can take away: therefore had we not need to ſhew you, how God reſiſteth this vice, that careth not for any elſe? Who can tell how this weede groweth, ſeeing wee hauehave nothing to be proud of, but more cauſe to be aſhamed of our ſelues, and flie from the face of God and man too,Gen. 3. 13. then Adam our father had? we were earth, we are fleſh, and we ſhall bee wormes meate: what cauſe hath earth, or fleſh, or wormes meate to be proud? We are borne in ſinne, we liue in miſerie, we ſhal die in corruption: what cauſe hath ſinne, or miſerie, or corruption to puffe vsus, but to humble vsus? there is nothing good which we are proud of, but a wiſe man is aſhamed of the ſame things whereof we boaſt. It is a wonder to ſee, how a gay coate, or a gold ring, or a wrought handkerchiefe can braue a mans minde, that he thinkes better of himſelfe that day when he weareth them, then any day els, and ſpeakes and walkes, and lookes after another faſhion then he did before?
If ye could ſay as the diſciples ſaid, Luk. 10. 17. Lord the diuels are ſubiect vntounto vsus: Yet (ſaith the Lord) glorie not in this: how manie things doe we glorie in, which we ſhould not, if wee may not glorie in the gift of miracles? Euen as a couetous man is greedie of an halfpenie, and an enuious man is angrie for a word: ſo the proud man is proud of a fether. Therefore ſhall not God reſiſt them which glorie in all things but himſelfe, and ſhould glorie in nothing but in him? as he did emulate the loftie Babel,Gen. 11. ſo he dooth reſiſt theſe loftie minds.
But for Pride the angels which are in hell ſhould be in heauen:Iud. 1. but for pride we which are in earth ſhould bee in paradiſe:Gen. 3. but for pride Nabuchadnezzar which is in the foreſt ſhould be in his pallace:Dan. 4. but for pride Pharaoh which lies with the fiſhes,Exod. 14. ſhould be with his nobles: no ſinne hath pulled ſo many down, as this which promiſed to ſet them vp. Of all the children of pride, the Pope is the father, which ſitteth in the temple of God, and is worſhipped as God.2. Theſ. 2. 4. The Lords miniſters are called ſeruants, and his miniſters are called Lords: but for pride the Phariſies would hauehave receiued Chriſt as gently as his diſciples:Matth. 2. but for Pride Herod would hauehave worſhipped Chriſt as humbly as the ſhepheardes: but for pride our men would goe like Abraham,1. Pet. 1. 6. and our women like Sara, as they would bee called their children: but for pride Noble men would come to Church, as well as the people: but for pride Gentles would abide reproofe, as well as ſeruants: but for pride thou wouldeſt forgiue thy brother, and thy brother would forgiue thee, and the Lawyers ſhould hauehave no worke. But when thou thinkeſt of theſe things, Pride comes in and ſaith, Wilt thou goe like a hagler? wilt thou follow Sermons? wilt thou take the checke? wilt thou put vp wrong? what will men ſay? that thou art a mome, and a cowarde, and a foole, and no man will reuerence thee, but euerie man will contemne & abuſe thee. Thus men are faine to put on the liuerie of pride, as they put on the liueries of Noble men, to ſhrowd and defend them from the contempt of the world. Who hath not felt theſe counſailes in his heart, which would not beleeue that any pride was in him? Yet as Abſolon was a worſe ſonne then Adoniah, becauſe Adoniah rebelled againſt his brother,1. King. 1. 5 but Abſolon rebelled againſt his father: ſo pride hath worſe children, than vanitie of apparell. Tyrannie in Princes, ambition in Nobles, rebellion in Subiects, diſobedience in Children, ſtubbornneſſe in ſeruants: name Pride, and thou haſt named their mother: therfore ſhall not GOD reſiſt pride, which hath ſowed ſo many tares in his grounde, that ſcarſe a man can ſay like Dauid, I am not high minded. Pſal. 131. 1. GiueGive me the mindes of all men humbled, and there is nothing left to raiſe ſtrife in the worlde.Iam. 4. 5. But as Iames ſaith, The heart of man lusteth after enuie: ſo the heart of man luſteth after pride, though he hauehave many hart breakes and pull downes, and many times no countenance to ſhew it: yet if a little ſparke be put to the tow, you ſhal ſee how ſoon this flaxe will flame: therefore Salomon ſaith, Eccleſ. 3. 10. that all the troubles that God layeth vponupon a man, hauehave this purpoſe, to humble him; as though al troubles were little inough to humble pride, and that but for pride there were no need almoſt of our troubles. For the auoiding of this vice, GOD ſuffereth men to fall into other vices, which men abhorre and puniſh, as theft, and fornication, and drunkennes, to make them aſhamed by theſe vices which were not aſhamed of pride: this is an argument, that of all ſinnes pride is the worſt, becauſe God ſuffereth other ſinnes to come and ſhame vsus, leaſt we ſhould bee proude. Agayne, Pride hath this propertie and ſleight that it mixeth it ſelfe with our good workes, and followeth vertue: As from the aſhes of a Phoenix ariſeth another Phoenix, ſo of the aſhes of our good workes ariſeth pride. When the diuell cannot ſtay vsus from a good worke, then he laboureth by all meanes to make vsus proud of it, and ſo he ſtaineth our worke and ſtealeth our reward. For though a man doe neuer ſo much good, yet if he be proude of it hee loſeth his reward, as the Phariſies did: therefore the beſt and the wiſeſt, and the holieſt men had need to watch this vice: for if they take not great heed, it will make them proud of their wiſedome, and of their zeale, and of their goodnes.2. Cor. 12. Paul was almoſt puffed vp with reuelations:Num. 12. Aron and Miriam began to rebell, becauſe they thought themſelues as good as Moſes; and all the fathers of any hereſie, began their hereſie at this, a magnificate opinion of themſelues, and an ouerweening of their owne gifts. So pride ſetteth vponupon the beſt,Math. 4. euen as the temper ſet vponupon Chriſt. Agayne, a man had need to take heede of pride, for ſhe will not keepe counſaile: but if he be proud, ſhe will tell that he is proud, and therefore is called an impudent ſinne, becauſe ſhe deſcrieth her ſelfe in the eye, in the ſpeech, in the ieſture, in the looke, in the ga…e, like the drunkard, ſo that a man cannot bee proud, and ſeeme humble.
Thus God hath tied a iuſt puniſhmēt to this vice, that he which entertaineth the vice that he loueth, ſhould not auoid the name which he abhorreth, but he ſhall be eſteemed proud and called proud of all that know him; and many that know him not, ſhall point at him with their fingers in the ſtreetes, & ſay, there goes a proud fellow: which they pronounce of no vice els, but the drunkard, becauſe theſe two bewray themſelues.
Thus you ſee howe the proud reſiſt God: now you ſhall ſee how GOD reſiſteth the proud. They are ſo heady, that almoſt none dare reſiſt them but God: I will reſist them (ſaith God.) Therefore when hee heard the proud man ſay in the 14 of Eſaiah, I will aſcend vp into heauen: hee anſwereth himſelfe, Thou ſhalt be brought downe to the graue. This is hee which reſiſteth the proud.Heſt. 6. 13. When Hamans wife heard her husband ſay, that Mordecai was againſt him; becauſe he was an Iſraelite, ſhe ſayd that her husband ſhould take the ſoile, and Mordecai ſhoulde preuayle. What if ſhe had heard her husband ſay, that the Lord of Mordecai was agaynſt him? If the ſeruant bee ſo terrible, who dare encounter with his maſter?Rom. 9. God hated Eſau, and how did Eſau proſper? though hee was the elder brother, yet he miſſed the birth-right; and though his father loued him,Gen. 25. 28 yet hee could not bleſſe him, becauſe God hated him. God was wroth with the Angels, and droue them out of heauen;Iud. 1. God was wroth with Adam, and thruſt him out of Paradice;Gen. 3. GOD was wroth with Nabucadnezzar,Dan. 4. and turned him out of his Pallace; God was wroth with Cain,Gen. 4. 12. and though hee were the firſt man that was borne of a woman, yet God made him a vagabond vponupon his owne land; GOD was wroth with Saul,1. Sa. 31. 4. and though he was the firſt king that euer was annoynted, yet God made his owne hand his executioner; GOD was wroth with the olde world,Gen. 6. and though the earth was naked when they were drowned, yet hee regarded nothing, but deſtroyed a world of men together. This is he which reſiſteth the proude, what ſhall wee doe if the world be againſt vsus, and the fleſh againſt vsus, and the diuell againſt vsus, and God againſt vsus too, which ſhould defend vsus? In heauen, in earth, and in the ſea he findes vsus out. And as the diſpleaſure of a king draweth many enemies with it, ſo the diſpleaſure of God ſetteth all his creatures againſt vsus: therefore he is called the Lord of hoaſts,Eſa. 1. 14. as though hee came with an armie againſt vsus. When hee fought with the Aramites,Ioſh. 3. 10. the Sunne tooke his part: when hee fought againſt the Sodomites,Gen. 16. the fire tooke his parte: when hee fought againſt the Egyptians,Exod. 14. the water tooke his parte; when he fought againſt the Murmurers,Numb. 26. the earth tooke his part; when he fought againſt the Idolaters,Dan 3. the Lyons tooke his part; when hee fought againſt the mockers,2. Kin. 2. 24 the Beares tooke his part: this is hee which reſiſteth the proud. What can hee hope, which remembreth that God is ſet againſt him, and that the Lord of heauen and of earth is his enemie? This thought made the Philiſtines flie & ſay, God is come into the hoast. 1. Sa. 4. 7.No enemie is like this enemie, he euer ouercommeth, and when hee hath ouercomen, he can caſt into hell, & make the diuels torment them againe: therefore well might Salomon prophecie, Pro. 29. 23.Mat 4. The pride of man ſhall bring him lowe: for God hath ouercome him who brought pride into the world; & as pride brought him low, ſo Salomon ſaith, it ſhall bring men low too. What a turne is this, that that which he tooke like a chayne (as Dauid ſayth) to adorne him;Pſal. 73. 6. doth hang him? that which he tooke to exalt him, doth debaſe him; that which hee tooke to winne louelove, getteth hatred; that which he tooke to obtaine glory, procureth ſhame: as if God did take the ſworde out of his hand,1. Sa. 17. 51. as Dauid tooke the ſworde of Goliah, and ſlewe him with his owne weapon.
When the Phariſie ſaid he was not like the Publicane, Luk. 19. 11. he ſaid true: for then he was not like the Publican indeede, becauſe the Publican was better than he: So, when a proude man thinkes beſt of himſelfe, then God and men thinke worſt of him; all his glorie is but like a vapour, which clymeth as though it would goe vp to heauen, but when it comes to a little height, it falles downe againe, and neuer aſcends more. So Adam thought that the faire apple ſhuld make him like his maker, Gen. 3. but God reſiſted his pride, and that apple made him like the Serpent that tempted him with it. Abſolom thought that rebellion would make him a king, 2. Sam. 15. 2. but God reſiſted his pride, and his rebellion hanged him on a tree.
Nimrod thought that Babel ſhould get him a name, Gen. 11. but God reſiſted his pride, & the name of his building was called Cōfuſiō euer ſince. Nabuchadnezzar built his pallace for his honor, Dan. 4. but God reſiſted his pride, and his pallace ſpued him out when his ſeruants remayned in it. Shebna builded a ſepulcher for his memoriall, Eſa. 22. but GOD reſiſted his pride, and buried him in another Countrey, where he had no ſepulcher prouided. Herod hoped when the people cryed at his words, It is the voyce of God, that hee ſhould be worſhipped euer after as God, but God reſiſted his pride, and before he deſcended from his throane, the wormes ſo defaced his pompe, that none which called him God would be like vntounto him: ſo whē women take more paines to dreſſe themſelues, then they doe all the day after, and pay deerer to maintaine one vice, than they neede to learne all vertues, they thinke to pleaſe men by it: but God reſiſteth their pride, and al that ſee them though they cap and curtſie to them, yet they iudge worſe of them, and thinke that they would not weare theſe ſignes of lightnes and pride, vnleſſe they were light and proud indeede. Thus if their apparell condemne them before men, how will it condemne them before GOD? If ſinne did not blinde them, would they ſo deceiue themſelues to take the contrary way, and thinke that ſhould honor them which diſgraceth other?Numb. 22. But as Balaam was ſtopped & knew not who ſtopped him: ſo they are reſiſted, and know not who reſiſteth them. Though they doe al to pleaſe, yet they can pleaſe none: they pleaſe not God, for God reſiſteth them; they pleaſe not the humble, for the humble are contrarie to thē; they pleaſe not the proud, for the proud doe enuie them which ſtriue to bee as proude as they: they pleaſe not themſelues, becauſe they cannot bee ſo proud and braue as they would bee: onelyonly they pleaſe the diuell, becauſe their pride doth intitle him to them.
Thus much of Gods battailes againſt the proud. Heere Peter leaueth the proud with this brand in their forehead, This is the man whom God reſisteth: then hee turneth to the lowly, and comforteth them: But he giueth grace to the humble; as if hee ſhould ſay, you are like Iohn the beloued Diſciple, which leaned on Chriſts boſome: Iohn 13. 23. though God reſiſt the proud, yet hee will not frowne vponupon you: but when he reſiſteth them, he wil giuegive grace vntounto you, as if hee ſhould ſay, the proud are without grace, for God giueth not grace vntounto the proud, but to the humble, according to that to Eſay 66. 2. To him will I looke, euen to him that is poore & of a contrite heart, and trembleth at my wordes: therefore Learne of me (ſaith Chriſt) to be hūble & meek: Mat. 11.as though the humble and meeke were his ſchollers. Therefore God muſt needes louelove the humble, becauſe they are like his ſonne: they ſhall hauehave his beſt giftes, of which hee ſayth, 2. Cor. 12. 9. My grace is ſufficient: as if hee ſhould ſay, hee which hath giuen you his grace, can he denie you any thing? as Chriſt ſaith, Hee which hath giuen vsus his Sonne, will he not giuegive vsus all things with him? Therefore grace may be called the gift of gifts, becauſe all gifts come with grace, as the Court goeth with the Queene. Therefore feare not to bee humble, leaſt you be contemned: for all the promiſes of God are made to humilitie, and yet men feare to be humble, leſt they ſhuld be contemned. Humilitie did not make Iohn contemptible, but when he refuſed the name of a Prophet, Chriſt ſaith, that hee was more then a Prophet, Mat. 11. 2. Humilitie did not make Moſes contemptible, but as he was the mildeſt man vponupon earth; ſo he was the greateſt vponupon the earth, Numb. 12. Humilitie did not make Dauid contemptible, but when he humbled himſelfe, hee ſaid vntounto Micol, I will be more humble yet, and lowly in my owne ſight, yet thou and thy maides ſhall honour me, 2. Sam. 6. 22. As Chriſt ceaſed not to be a king becauſe he was like a ſeruant, nor to bee a Lion becauſe he was like a Lamb, nor to be God becauſe he was made man, nor to bee a Iudge, becauſe he was iudged: ſo man dooth not looſe his honour by humilitie: but he ſhal be honored for his humilitie, as the Son was honoured when he was humbled, Luk. 15. 8. Thus humilitie hath found that which pride ſought, like little Dauid, which was leaſt accompted of, and yet gotte the victorie; yea, when no man durſt encounter with the Gyant, 1. Sam. 17. 28. This is the ladder whereby we muſt aſcend, Gen. 28. 12. pride did caſt vsus downe, and humilitie muſt raiſe vsus vp. As the way to heauen is narrowe, Mat. 12. 13. ſo the gate is lowe; and he had neede to ſtoope which entreth in at it: therefore be not proud, leaſt God oppoſe himſelfe againſt you; but be humble, and the grace of God belongeth to you. So long as thou art proude, and readeſt this ſentence, GOD giueth grace to the humble: thou mayſt ſay to thy ſoule: Soule thou haſt no part herein; for grace is the portion of the humble, and the dowrie of the meeke, and the treaſure of the lowlie; but to thee it, is ſaide, The Lord reſisteth the proude: as if he ſhould ſay, Auoide Sathan, Math. 4. or Departe from mee ye wicked, Math 25. 45. Thus you ſee howe you may hauehave GOD your friende or your enemie, Hee reſisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble: if thou diſdaine to learne humilitie of man, learne it of GOD, who humbled himſelfe from heauen to earth, to exalte thee from earth to heauen; to which Kingdome (when the proud ſhall be ſhut out) the Lord Ieſus bring vsus, for his mercies ſake.
FINIS.