The Holy Arbor, Chapter 5 · Section 1 · Commandment 1 · Section 10
§. 10. Of Pride.
THe laſt Vice in oppoſition to this Commandment, which we promiſed to touch, was Pride; a ſin ſo obviouſly condemned, even by Heathen Writers, as we ſhall here onelyonly abſtract it is as it were from that Pride which is ſo generally condemned; and, taking the word in ſomewhat a more ſtrict ſenſe, chiefly as it relates to Inward Spiritual Arrogancy, the inſenſible poiſon even of a ſanctified heart, we ſhall onelyonly glance at it, and proceed to the Second Commandment. Pride is a puffing up of the heart and minde, proceeding from the opinion of ſome good thing in us more then in other men. Pride, truly ſo called, is the moſt peſtilent and incompatible Oppoſite that Grace hath; and therefore he that is moſt ſanctified, moſt fights againſt it: For beſides that impoiſoned tincture our Souls are ſtained with by this ſin in our depraved Nature, the ſubtile Serpent experimentally knows how to manage it with moſt accurate policy, who follows this poiſon with ſuch eagerneſs and activity, ſweetning it with ſuch ſpecious Deluſions, that after it is expelled by the Antidote of Faith, he yet endeavors with all the power and policy of Hell, that ſome ſpice thereof may remain behinde, even in the Soul humbled for ſin, and devoted unto the ſervice of God. For being exactly experienced in all advantages for Spiritual Aſſaults, and tempering the powerful Ingredients of his Temptations, with the Reliques of mans proud Nature, doth cunningly perſwade him to advance above that which is meet within himſelf, in his own opinion, the worth of his own Graces and Vertues; by reaſon of the predominancy and delightſomneſs whereof the undermining Venom and cankering Peſtilency of this ſin corrodes the Soul, and frets out the very heart of Grace undiſcernably.
This Lyon in a Lambs skin, ths Devil in an Angels ſhape, this ſin of Spiritual Pride is the harder to be expelled, becauſe ſo eaſie to be entertained, and ſo difficult to be diſcerned; ſuch is the inſenſibleneſs of thoſe Meanders wherein ſhe walks inviſibly, when ſhe haunts the Saints and children of God; who with the more circumſpection and holy policy are to fortifie themſelves againſt it, becauſe it ſprings from ſo fair and unſuſpected a Fountain, even from Zeal, godly Duties, and good Actions; who are with much Humiliation and fervency of Spirit to pray and ſtrive againſt it, becauſe it ſingles out the Choſen of God, and takes up his ſeat in the ſanctified Soul; who are with wonderful care to countermine the ſly inſinuations wherewith it unavoidably windes it ſelf into their hearts, leſt when they ſeem to diſclaim Pride, they prove proud that they are not proud; who cannot be too ſecure of their Sentinels on the heart-guards, becauſe there is no profoundneſs of Knowledge, no meaſure of Grace, no eminency of Zeal can be exempted from hazard of Surprizal, by this laſt and moſt cunning encounter of Satan by Spiritual Pride. Great reaſon therefore hath the childe of God. ſtrongly to fence his heart with a gracious and unfained humility againſt this ſin, leſt gazing on the dangerous ſpeculations of his own worthineſs, the eye of his Conſcience become blinde to his own Deficiencies, Corruptions and Infirmities; leſt his Self-conceitedneſs, and a vain over-valuing of his own Gifts and Vertues, call the Truth of them into queſtion, and extinguiſh the life of Sincerity; leſt an adulterous ſelf-liking of his own excellency, be juſtly plagued with a ſcandalous fall into ſome groſs ſin; leſt this Viper nouriſhed in the boſom of his Soul, take unſeaſonable heat and warmth from his Zeal, and endanger the whole frame of his New man.
Now the onelyonly Soveraign means to preſerve the life and vigor of Graces in the Soul, and to keep thence this peſtilent canker-worm of Spiritual Pride, is with much earneſtneſs and prayer to labor after and ſettle ſurely in the heart a true and undiſſembled Humility. This kinde of Secret or Privy-Pride, is not ſo properly a breach of this Commandment, as the outward and more open Pride, whoſe concomitant Companions and Branches are, Envy, Anger, Impatience, Indignation, Self-will and Obſtinacy, Preſumption, Hypocriſie, Boaſting, Ingratitude, Contempt, Diſobedience, Ambition and Curioſity; as alſo a fained Modeſty or Humility, which is a double Pride, being to hunt after the praiſe and commendation of Humility by refuſing in ſhew and apparence, and by denying of thoſe things outwardly, which yet a man ſecretly covets, and in his minde attributes unto himſelf, either truly or falſly: This is Pride under a vail; which, if Plenty and Proſperity in outward things anſwer the expectation, doth ſoon appear in its proper Peacockcolours, to be nothing elſe but the very heighth and pinacle of all Pride and Arrogancy, whoſe true Properties follow.
The properties of the proud man, viz.
1. To aſcribe his gifts not to God, but to his own worthineſs and ability, and to refer his gifts and counſels principally to his own glory, and therefore to ſtand in admiration of himſelf and his gifts.
2. Not truly to fear God, neither to acknowledge and bewail his own defects.
3. To be always aſpiring to ſome higher place and calling.
4. To attribute to himſelf thoſe things which he hath not, to attempt things above his power, and not belonging to his calling.
5. To contemn and debaſe others in reſpect of himſelf, to believe none, but to covet to excel, and be eminent above others.
6. To be angry with God and Men, to fret and fume againſt God, when his deſires and counſels are hindred, and alſo to accuſe God of Error and Injuſtice, if Gods counſels agree not with the judgements and affections of men.
Pride is twofold:
1. Inward, in the ſoul, wch conſiſts
Partly in the Minde, which is a corrupt diſpoſition thereof, whereby a man thinks himſelf to be better then indeed he is. This was the proud Phariſees ſin, Luke 18.11, 12.
Partly in the Will, which is an inward affection, whereby a man is not contented with that eſtate wherein God hath placed him, but deſires a better. This befel Adam and Eve, and does moſt of their Poſterity in every Age.
2. Outward, which proceeding from the former, ſhews it ſelf in the effects in her proper colours, by apparel, geſtures, language, actions, and moſt vain phantaſtick ſelf-conceits.
Inward Pride muſt be carefully avoided for theſe Reaſons; viz.
1. Becauſe whatſoever outward good works the childe of God can do by Grace, the ſame may a wicked man do through Pride and Hypocriſie; as conceive a Prayer, Preach the Word, and Practice the outward duties of Repentance, of Love, and ſuch like: for Pride is a ſin that will counterfeit Grace, and man cannot diſcern it truly, but God onelyonly.
2. Many other ſins prevail in the wicked, but Pride is the ſin that troubleth the children of God, and when other ſins dye, then will Pride revive; yea, it will riſe as it were out of Grace it ſelf: for the childe of God may be proud becauſe he is not proud, proud of his Humility; therefore Paul muſt be buffeted by the meſſenger of Satan, leſt he ſhould be puffed up with the abundance of Revelations, 2 Cor. 12.7.
The way to avoid this dangerous ſin of Inward Pride; viz.
1. We muſt be careful to know the Pride of our own hearts: for every man hath it in him more or leſs, and the more we ſee it, the leſs it is, but the leſs we ſee it, the more it is indeed; for he that is moſt humbled, is not altogether free from this Inward Pride.
2. When we ſee our Pride, we muſt labor to ſubdue it, which may thus be done:
1. By conſidering the Judgements of God upon this ſin; it poyſoned Angelical Perfection, and afterward occaſioned our Parents caſting out of Paradice; and remember Herod, who for this ſin was eaten up of worms, Acts 12.
2. We muſt ſearch into our ſelves, and labor to ſee our own wants and corruptions, as our Blindeneſs of Minde, Unbelief, &c. The want of feeling our wants occaſions Pride.
3. We muſt meditate upon the Death and Paſſion of Chriſt, and how can a man think that Chriſt endured that bitter Paſſion for, and yet not be humbled with the ſight of his ſins, which had a part in the cauſe thereof.
Reaſons taken from the ſtate of the Regenerate Soul, why the childe of God ſhould fence his heart againſt Spiritual Pride; viz.
1. The conſideration of our deficiencies even in our moſt religious duties and beſt performances.
2. The conſideration of our own forwardneſs to march under Satans Banners, and our baſe unworthy vaſſallage therein before our Regeneration.
3. The conſideration of the bottomleſs depth of Gods bounty to us, which hath raiſed unto us whatſoever gifts we have.
4. The conſideration of the danger which may happen to the whole man, by giving entertainment to Spiritual Pride; for either it may perſwade us to embrace ſome groundleſs ſingularity of unwarrantable Opinions; or by Gods juſt Judgement draw upon us a deadneſs of heart, a dulneſs of zeal, an intermiſſion of the operations of Grace, or the like inconveniences.
The three Errors which did deceive the Phariſee, & does many other proud perſons:
1. His Error of Compariſon, in comparing himſelf with another perſon, which was to behold his face in a falſe glaſs, Luke 18.11.
2. His freedom from ſome groſs ſins forbidden in the Second Table, which he judged others to be guilty of.
3. His performance of ſome Duties of Religion, doubtleſs with as much Spiritual Pride as he now makes proclamation of it.
Motive-Engines to pull down Pride & Ambition; viz.
1. We muſt conſider the ſtate of our bodies, what it is: Duſt we are, and to it we muſt return, yea how ſpeedily we know not.
2. We are altogether ſet upon ſin, and bring forth the bitter fruits of our Corruption, in regard whereof we are more wretched then other creatures, ſo vile a thing, ſo accurſed is ſin.
3. We are not able of our ſelves to think one good thought; neither are we ſufficiently furniſhed of our ſelves to do the leaſt and ſmalleſt duty that God requireth of us; we have the ſpawn and ſeed of all ſin in our Nature.
4. Whatever gifts are beſtowed upon, we muſt think meanly and humbly of our ſelves and them; for our beſt gifts are ſtained with many blemiſhes.
5. Let us ſet before us the Example of our Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt: we muſt be ready to learn of him the leſſon that he offereth to teach us by Word and Example, Mat. 11.29.
6. Pride is the preparation of us to a fall, and the ready way to deſtruction, Prov. 16.18. Fearful Examples whereof are Nebuchadnezzar, Haman and Herod.
A Bubble in a Storm; a falling Star;
A Cobweb-Helmet in the brunt of War;
A Flaſh of Lightning; or a Spark that ſlies
By night i'th' Air, looks like a Star, and dyes;
Frothy Foam diſgorg'd, ſpit on the proud Rocks
By Neptune, when he combs his curled Locks;
The Lovers Weathercock; a Peacocks Plume;
A Courtiers Cringe; meer Smoke or Chimney-ſume;
A Dream of Treaſure; or a Scorpions kiſs;
A Tower of Glaſs: Pride is nought elſe but this.