Part 15 (1/2)

Atten. This Pride, is a sin that sticks as close to nature I think, as most sins. There is Uncleanness and Pride, I know not of any two gross sins that stick closer to men then they. They have, as I may call it, an interest in Nature; it likes them because they most suit its l.u.s.ts and fancies: and therefore no marvel though Mr. Badman was tainted with pride, since he had so wickedly given up himself to work all iniquity with greediness.

Wise. You say right; Pride, is a sin that sticks close to Nature, {126d} and is one of the first follies wherein it shews it self to be polluted.

For even in Childhood, even in little children, Pride will first of all shew it self; it is a hasty, an early appearance of the sin of the soul.

It, as I may say, is that corruption that strives for predominancy in the heart, and therefore usually comes out first. But though children are so incident to it, yet methinks those of more years, should be ashamed thereof. I might at the first have begun with Mr. Badmans Pride, only I think it is not the Pride in Infancy, that begins to make a difference betwixt one and another, as did, and do those wherewith I began my relation of his life: therefore I pa.s.sed it over, but now, since he had no more consideration of himself, and of his vile and sinful state, but to be proud when come to years; I have taken the occasion in this place to make mention of his pride.

Atten. But pray, if you can remember them, tell me of some places of Scripture that speak against pride. I the rather desire this, because that pride is now a reigning sin, and I happen sometimes to fall into the company of them that in my conscience are proud, very much, and I have a mind also to tell them of their sin; now when I tell them of it, unless I bring G.o.ds word too, I doubt they will laugh me to scorn.

Wise. Laugh you to scorn! the Proud man will laugh you to scorn, bring to him what Text you can, except G.o.d shall smite him in his conscience by the Word: Mr. Badman did use to serve them so that did use to tell him of his: and besides, when you have said what you can, they will tell you they are not proud, and that you are rather the proud man, else you would not judge, nor so malapertly meddle with other mens matters as you do.

Nevertheless, since you desire it, I will mention two or three texts: They are these. Pride and arrogancy do I hate. A mans pride shall bring him low. And he shall bring down their pride. And all the proud, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble, and the day that comes shall burn them up. {127} This last, is a dreadful Text; it is enough to make a proud man shake: G.o.d, saith he, will make the proud ones as stubble; that is, as fuel for the fire, and the day that cometh shall be like a burning oven, and that day shall burn them up, saith the Lord. But Mr.

Badman could never abide to hear pride spoken against, nor that any should say of him, He is a proud man.

Atten. What should be the reason of that?

Wise. He did not tell me the reason; but I suppose it to be that which is common to all vile persons. They love this Vice, but care not to bear its name. {128a} The Drunkard loves the sin, but loves not to be called a drunkard. The Thief loveth to steal, but cannot abide to be called a thief, the wh.o.r.e loveth to commit uncleanness, but loveth not to be called a Wh.o.r.e; And so Mr. Badman loved to be proud, but could not abide to be called a proud man. The sweet of sin, is desirable to polluted and corrupted man, but the name thereof, is a blot in his Scutcheon.

Atten. 'Tis true that you have said: but pray how many sorts of pride are there?

Wise. There are two sorts of Pride; {128b} Pride of Spirit, and Pride of Body. The first of these is thus made mention of in the Scriptures.

Every one that is proud in heart is abomination to the Lord. {128c} A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Bodily pride these Scriptures mention. In that day the Lord shall take away the bravery of their tinckling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the Moon, the chains, and the bracelets, and the m.u.f.flers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings, the rings, and the Nose-jewels: {128d} The changable suits of Apparell, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the gla.s.ses, and the fine linnen, and the hoods and the vails. By these expressions it is evident that there is Pride of Body, as well as Pride of Spirit, and that both are sin, and so abominable to the Lord. But these Texts Mr. Badman could never abide to read, they were to him as Micaiah was to Ahab, they never spake good of him, but evil.

Atten. I suppose that it was not Mr. Badmans case alone even to maligne those Texts that speak against their vices: For I believe, that most unG.o.dly men, (where the Scriptures are) have a secret antipathy against those words of G.o.d that do most plainly and fully rebuke them for their sins. {128e}

Wise. That is out of doubt, and by that antipathy, they shew, that sin and Satan are more welcome to them than are the wholesome instructions of life and G.o.dliness.

Atten. Well, but not to goe off from our discourse of Mr. Badman. You say he was proud: but will you shew me now some symptoms of one that is proud?

Wise. Yes, that I will: And first I will shew you some symptoms of Pride of Heart. {129a} Pride of heart, is seen by outward things, as Pride of Body in general, is a sign of pride of heart; for all proud gestures of the body flow from Pride of heart: therefore Solomon saith; There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes, and their eye-lids are lifted up: {129b} And again; There is that exalteth their gate, their going. {129c} Now these lofty eyes, and this exalting of the gate, is a sign of a Proud heart: for both these actions come from the heart: for out of the heart comes Pride, in all the visible appearances of it. {129d} But more particularly:

1. Heart Pride is discovered {129e} by a stretched out Neck, and by mincing as they go. For the wicked, the Proud, have a proud Neck, a proud Foot, a proud Tongue, by which this their going is exalted. This is that which makes them look scornfully, speak ruggedly, and carry it huffingly among their Neighbours.

2. A proud heart, is a persecuting one: The wicked through his pride doth persecute the poor. {129f}

3. A prayerless man is a proud man. {129g}

4. A contentious man is a proud man. {129h}

5. The disdainful man is a proud man. {129i}

6. The man that oppresses his neighbour is a proud man. {129j}

7. He that hearkeneth not to G.o.ds Word with reverence and fear, is a proud man. {129k}

8. And he that calls the proud happy, is, be sure, a proud man. All these are proud in heart, and this their pride of heart doth thus discover it self. {129l} {129m}

As to bodily {129n} pride, it is discovered, that is, something of it, by all the particulars mentioned before; for though they are said to be symptoms of pride of heart, yet they are symptoms of that pride, by their shewing of themselves in the Body. You know diseases that are within, are seen oft-times by outward and visible Signs, yet by them very signs even the outside is defiled also. So all those visible signs of heart-pride, are signs of bodily pride also. But to come to more outward signs: The putting on of Gold, and Pearls, and costly array; the pleating of the hair, the following of fas.h.i.+ons, the seeking by gestures to imitate the proud, either by speech, looks, dresses, goings, or other fools baubles, (of which at this time the world is full) all these, and many more, are signs, as of a proud heart, so of bodily pride also.

{130b}

But Mr. Badman would not allow, by any means, that this should be called Pride, {130c} but rather neatness, handsomness, comeliness, cleanliness, &c. neither would he allow that following of fas.h.i.+ons was any thing else, but because he would not be proud, singular, and esteemed fantastical by his neighbours.