ever ? Lord, thou knowest I love thee. Truly, Christian, thou hast the better part ; thou little thinkest what a mercy may be wrapped up even in the meanest of thy gifts, or what temptations their gifts expose them to, which, God, for aught I know, may in mercy deny thee. Joseph's coat made him finer than his brethren, but this caused all his trouble ; this set the archers a shooting their arrows into his side : thus great gifts lift a saiijt up a little higher in the eyes of men, but it occasions many temptations which thou meetest not with that art kept low ; what with envy from their brethren, malice from Satan, and pride in their own hearts, I dare say none find so hard a work to go to heaven as sucli ; much ado to bear up against those waves and winds, while thou creepest along the shore under the wind to heaven. It is with such, as with sgme great lord of little estate ; a meaner man oft hath money in his purse, when he hath none, and can lend his lordship some at a time of need. Great gifts and parts are titles of honour among men, but many such may come and borrow grace and comfort of a mean-gifted brother ; possibly the preacher of his poor neighbour. O, poor Christian ! do not mm-mur or envy them, but rather pity and pray for them ; they need it more than others ; his gifts are thine, thy grace is for thyself; thou art like a merchant that hath his factor go to sea, but he hath his adventure without hazard brought home. Thou joinest with him in prayer, hast the help of his gifts, but not the temptation of his pride.
Use 2. Secondly, Doth Satan labour thus to draw to pride of gifts ? This speaks a word to thee to whom God hath given more gifts than ordinary ; be- ware of pride, that is now thy snare. Satan is at work : if possible he will turn thy artillery against thyself; thy safety lies in thy humility ; if this lock be cut, the legions of hell are on thee. Remember whom thou wrestlest with, — spiritual wickedness ; and their play is to lift uj), that they may give the sorer fall. Now the more to stir up thy heart against it, I shall add some soul- humbling considerations.
First, Consider these spiritual gifts are not thy own ; and wilt thou be proud of another's bounty ? Is not God the foundei", and can he not soon be the con- founder of thy gifts ? Thou art proud of thy gourd, what wilt thou be when it is gone ? Surely then thou wilt be peevish and angry ; and truly thou takest the course to be stripped of them. Gifts come on other terms than grace. God gives grace as a freehold ; it hath the promise of this and another world : but gifts come on liking; though a father will not cast oft' his child, yet he may take away his fine coat and ornaments, if proud of them.
Secondly, Gifts are not merely for thyself. As the light of the sun is ministerial, it shines not for itself ; so all thy gifts are for others ; ' gifts for the edifying of the body.' Suppose a man should leave a chest of money in yoiu' hands to be distributed to others ; what folly is it in this man to put this into his own inventory, and applaud himself that he hath so much money ! Poor soul! thou art but God's executor, and by that time thou hast paid all the legacies, thou wilt see little left for thee to brag and boast of.
Thirdly, Know, Christian, thou shalt be accountable for these talents. Now with what face can a proud soul look on God? Suppose one left an executor to pay legacies, and this man should pay them, not as legacies of another, but gifts of his ovv-n. Christ at his ascension gave gifts, that his children should receive; thou hast some in thy hand : now a proud soul gives out all, not as the legacy of Christ, but as his own ; he assumes all to himself. O, how abominable is this, to entitle ourselves to Christ's honours!
Fourthly, Thy gifts commend thee not to God. Man may be taken with thy expression and notion in prayer ; but these are all pared off when thy prayer comes before God. ' O woman,' saith Christ, 'great is thy faith!' not, polite and flourishing thy language. It were good after our duties, to sort the ingre- dients of which they are made up, what grace contributed, and what gifts, and what pride ; and when all the heterogeneal stuft' is severed, you shall see in what a little compass the actings of grace in our duties will lie.
Fifthly, Consider, while thou art priding in thy gifts, thou art dwindling and withering in thy grace. Such are like corn that runs up much into straw, whose ear commonly is but light and thin. Grace is too much i ^iccted, where gifts are too highly prized; we are commanded to be clothed with
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