5. The danger of seeking after these great things. There is danger in the pursuit, danger in the enjoyment. In the pursuit : If our hearts be set upon these things, it is ten to one but that we will step out of the way to obtain them ; for as he that will be rich falleth into a snare, so doth he that will be great, 1 Tim. vi. 9. Aspiring minds will get their preferment at any cost. What poor things do the ambitious stoop to to attain their ends ! Humour the lusts and uncertain minds of men, writhe themselves into all postures, yea, too often wriggle them- selves out of all good conscience and neglect of God, and trample upon what is sacred ; all must go down that they may rise. But when, with all this ado, they have gotten up, there is danger in the enjoyment. An higher condition is more slippery and obnoxious to ruin. Moun- tain tops are tempestuous habitations, where men still live in the storms of envy and jealousy. Mounting hath cost many dear in this world ; the higher they are, the fall the greater. But we should not be too keenly set on that which may endanger our everlasting welfare. In this state of corruption, it is hard to be high and not lifted up ; and we have no reason to be in love with our temptations. A strong head
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will run round on the pinnacle of a steeple ; it is better and safer t» stand on the ground. When we enjoy great things here in the world, it is hard to please men, and we find them the greatest hindrances of pleasing God ; yea, few find that pleasure which they expected tO' themselves.
Secondly, That this affecting great things argueth pride.
1. Because affecting greater things argueth discontent with our present estate. Now that is clearly the daughter of pride and self-love which maketli us think ourselves worthy of much more than we have. That we are discontented appeareth partly by our unthankfulness to> God for what we have received, undervaluing those blessings we enjoy as far beneath us : Mai. i. 2, ' I have loved you, saith the Lord ; yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us ? ' And partly by our unquietness ia our own hearts when our desires are not satisfied ; as Ahab had not rest in himself when he could not get Naboth's vineyard, 1 Kings xxi. 3, 4. And partly also by our envy and discontent with our neighbours who possess that which we desire to enjoy, and are consequently looked upon by us with an evil eye, as standing in the way of that we aim at : Esther V. 13, ' All this availeth me nothing as long as I see Mordecai ini the king's gate.'
2, The very affectation of great things is that dangerous and baneful sin of pride ; because the scripture commendeth to us a mean con- dition as most safe : Mat. v. 3, ' Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.' The poor in spirit are those who are contented to be poor, if God will have it so ; and those that have an heart suited to or reconcilable with a low condition, though they can- not flaunt it in the world as others do. So Prov. xvi. 19, ' Better it is to suffer with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.' Now our condition is to be valued by the judgment of God in his word rather than by our own carnal affections ; partly because to keep much ado about our own greatness, and glory, and advancement, argueth a base temper of spirit : Prov. xxv. 27, ' For men to search their own glory is not glory.' Seeking, affecting these things, is a mark oi indignity. Let us attract it by our deserving, not affect it by our ambition. It is the violet is found out by its own smell, though it be shrouded and covered by leaves ; so should we be found out by our own worth. Where the matter is combustible, we need not blow s» hard to keep in the fire. Such carking and caring for it argueth little worth. Partly because worldly honour or honour from men should be little valued by a christian, who is -acquainted with a greater honour and glory that cometh fiom God : John v. 44, ' How can ye believe^ which receive honour one from another, and seek not the honour which cometh from God only ? ' A christian should be contented to be approved and respected of God, who hath made him his child and ser- vant, and given him his favour and image. That should be our great ambition : 2 Cor. v. 9, ' We labour that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him,' (piXort/xov/uLeaOa. The faith and belief of this canncJt consist with the dominion of ambition or affectation of worldly glory. To hunt after respect from men, and receive it with lustful delight, or to rest in it as the chief scope of our actions, showeth that our faith is not sound. In being servants, or sons, or friends to God,,