3. By deeds ; and this comprehendeth our gestures, vestures, and actions.
[1.] Our gestures. This scripture takes notice of haughty eyes, and so do many other. Under ' lofty eyes,' he comprehendeth every out- ward discovery of our pride, in gestures, vestures, speech, and behaviour. As long as we hang out apparently the ensigns of our vanity, we cannot account ourselves humble. But I begin with gestures, a lofty look or gait. Where pride is truly rooted out of the heart, there it will not show itself in the external gestures, in an haughty look and gait. The argument is firm and conclusive : My heart is not haughty, therefore mine eyes are not lofty. It will not hold backward, and have such a necessary truth : Mine eyes are not lofty, therefore my heart is not haughty, non sequitur, for some have the art to conceal their pride. But certain it is humility in the heart will take away pride out of the eyes, because the heart governeth the whole man. But the humble eye and gait doth not always argue an humble heart, as is evident in hypo- crites. In vain do men boast of humility in their hearts who show forth pride in their gait and eyes. At least the show of pride giveth scandal and offence, and we must avoid all appearance of evil, 1 Thes. V. 22. More especially lofty eyes are abominable, David else would not with so much earnestness express his humility by this sign, that his eyes were not lofty. This is also plain by other scriptures : ' These six things are an abomination to the Lord ; lofty eyes,' &c., Prov, vi. 16, 17. This bringeth up a troop of other faults. So Prov. xxi. 4, 'An high look, and a proud heart, and the ploughing of the wicked, is sin.' So Prov. xxx. 13, ' There is a generation, oh, how lofty are their eyes, and their eyelids are lifted up ! ' So it is said, Ps. xviii. 27, ' God will bring down high looks.' Now all these places show how careful we should be that we do not suffer pride to peep out. To nourish it in our hearts is a sin ; to bewray it is a scandal as well as a
VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXXXI. 417
sin. Ezra saith, ' I darst not lift mine eyes to tliee,' Ezra ix. 6. He considered his own sin and the sin of his people. So Luke xviii. 13, * The publican stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast.* It is one law concerning Israel's king, Deut. xvii. 20, 'Not to lift up his heart above his brethren.' They will soon be stripped of all their glory. Much more should meaner people. David would not bear in his own house, Ps. ci. 5, ' One that hath an high look and a proud heart.' If a good man will not bear this, will God bear it ?
[2.] In vestures. This also is a sign of pride ; and it is the more odious because it is a mere external thing, like trappings to a horse. Clothing was the consequent of sin, and having the mark of our shame about it, it is mightily abused when it is made the ensign of our pride. And strange apparel is reproved in king's children : Zeph. i. 8, ' I will punish the princes and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.' How will those painted butterflies answer it to God, that abuse that which was appointed for health, warmth, andcoraeli- ness, into an occasion of pride and ostentation, whilst they affect super- fiuit}'' and pomp in it, and that far above their rank ? Vanity of apparel is a certain effect of vanity in your mind. Wisdom, meekness, and holiness should be your ornaments, 1 Peter iii. 4 ; and you think of no other adorning than vain and light apparel. By this you plainly tell the world what you are, vain and worthless, only lifted up in your own conceit. Usually a neglected inattentive soul dwelleth in the body that must be thus decked and adorned. In other cases men are care- ful to hide their sin ; here they plainly bewray it ; for you carry the badge of your pride abroad with you wherever you come, and proclaim that you are not ashamed of it, how hateful soever it be to God. It is as if you disclaimed Christ, the doctor of humility, and preferred the image of the devil before that of God. When God first made garments for man, he made them of the skins of the beasts, plain and simple. But I forbear.
[3.] In our actions.
(1.) By ambition. When we are continually affecting honour and greatness, and how to exceed others, contemning them in comparison of ourselves, or taking it ill that others should be more esteemed and preferred before us. The fault is first in the mind. Men will say, I am as good a man as such and such ; I deserve as well as they ; 1 see no reason why I should not be respected as well as others ; and then seeking to advance and put forth ourselves before them, 3 John 9, ' Diolrephes loved the pre-eminence,' (fjiXoTrpooTevcov ; he would fain be first. When men affect precedency, and show it, it is an evident sign of pride. Many men mistake ambition ; they think a desire of great places is only unlawful when it is sought by unlawful means, but the bare desire and affectation of greatness is sinful, and contrary to the rules of the gospel. We should refer our advancement to the fair invitation of God's j)rovidence, and tarry till the master of the feast biddeth us to sit higher. In our private choice, we should be contented with a tolerable supply of necessaries. Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, Luke xiv. 11; not, Whosoever is exalted. In the Olympic games, the wrestler did never put on his crown and garland, but it was