Once more : It is a very natural sin, because it is at the bottom of other sins. Oovetousness is pride's purveyor ; though in some sense it be the root of all evil, yet it hath a deeper root, a desire to make our- selves and ours great. It is said, Hab. ii. 5, ' He is a proud man, and therefore enlargeth his desire as hell.' We scrape, and spare, and busy ourselves to advance ourselves and families, and that we may shine alone in the earth.
3. The third reason why he that would root out pride must begin with his heart is, ])ecause it is a close sin, that seeketh to disguise itself in the practice. It is a sin that is ashamed of itself, and there-
420 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXXXI. [SeR, II.
fore it goeth nnder the mask of humilitj', or some other pretence. If pride blow a trumpet, it is to call the poor within hearing, Mat. vi. 2. Now this cheat will not be discovered unless we look to the heart. If people be vain and flaunting in their apparel, it is to keep up their necessary repute in their place. Men dare not hunt after praise but by stealth, and sail by a side-wind to it, not in a straight line. They know it is a prohibited commodity, not lawful to be purchased in the open market ; but it must be gotten underhand and by stealth. Direct pride is odious to the proud person himself, therefore he usetli stratagems and devices, and seemeth to beat back their praise when it cometh to them at the first hop, that they may the better take it at the rebound; apparently will discommend themselves, but their hearts tell them they would not be believed, and take it angrily if you do believe them. If pride hath a mind to censure others, the censure is always prefaced with a commendation ; as an archer draweth back his hand that he may let fly the arrow with the more force. They commend with a ' but,' which is a stab at the heart of another man's credit. If pride hath a mind to affect some higher place, men will pretend a desire of doing more good, and of glorifying God in an higher station ; but this is but pretence, because the serving of God is least in their minds. We desire an higher condition before we have conquered all the temptations to which a lower is exposed. We should be faithful in a little first, trusty, watchful, vigilant in our former station, ere we can look after greater mattei's and greater honour in the world. Plants that thrive well in a valley soon wither and are blasted on the top of a mountain. But such men are eagerly set to soar higher and higher, setting no period to their towering thoughts. Besides, the rankest pride will sometimes appear in an humble garb ; but humility in the gesture and outward behaviour is but counterfeit while the heart is lofty. Some, whose hearts were not broken, yet would hang the head like a bulrush for a day, Isa. iviii. 5, erewhile seemed to be deeply affected with sin and misery; but this is like ice in giving weather, thawed at top, but hard at bottom. Ahab went softly, and was in outward show very humble, 1 Kings xxi. 27, affected for the present, but his heart not subdued to God. Absalom was in show very humble, courting the meanest of the people, 2 Sam. XV. 2-5, but it was for his ambitious ends. So many take on a veil of humility to deceive men and mock God ; but a bladder is not more blown with wind than they are swollen with pride. There are two extremes. Some think pride only consists in outward things, as ves- tures, gestures, modesty of eyes and speech. Thus many of the popish monks and friars place much of their religion in their exterior morti- fication, when their hearts are full of the conceits of self-righteousness. Among us, the quakers cry out upon the pride of others, and by their plain garb pretend to avoid it ; yet how conceited of themselves and obstinate ! Very ignorant, yet scornful of a gospel ministry that should teach them better ! The other extreme is, men will pretend their hearts are humble though their eyes are lofty, their apparel vain, and by all external signs they show their folly, pride, and luxury, in their garb, their entertainments, their household furniture. These miserably deceive themselves ; for if the heart were humble, the eyes would not be lofty, nor would they display the ensigns of their vanity. Well, then, from
VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXXXI. 421
all this you may see what need there is that the heart should be purged of pride.
Use. To persuade us to purge out this leaven of pride. It cannot he purged out at once, but it must be mortified and subdued more and more. Daily labour and diligence is necessary for this end.
The means are these —
First, Frequent examination of ourselves ; for self-acquaintance breedeth humility. No man extoUeth himself but he that knoweth not himself. Therefore the best way to take down pride is to consider often what we have been, what we are, and what we deserve.