What, therefore, has every one so much to fear and abhor, as self-exaltation, and every _outward_ work that proceeds from it. But at what things shall a man look, to see _that_ which raises pride to its strongest life, and most of all hinders the life of the humble Jesus in his soul? Shall he call the _pomps_ and _vanities_ of the world, the highest works of _self-adoration_? Shall he look at _fops_ and _beaux_, and _painted ladies_, to see the pride that has the _most_ of Antichrist in it? No, by no means. These are, indeed, marks shameful enough, of the vain, foolish heart of man: but yet, comparatively speaking, they are but the skin-deep follies of that pride, which the fall of man hath brought forth in him. Would you see the deepest root, and iron-strength of pride, you must enter into the dark chamber of man’s soul, where the light of God (which alone gives humility) being extinguished by the death which _Adam_ died, _self-exaltation_, became the strong man that kept possession of the house, till a stronger than he should come. In this secret source a swelling kingdom of pomps and vanities is set up in the heart of man, to which all outward pomps and vanities are but childish, transitory play-things. The inward _strong man_ of pride, has his higher works _within_; and has every power of the soul, offering continual incense to him. His _memory_, his _will_, his _understanding_ and _imagination_, are always at work for him.――His _memory_ is the faithful repository of all the fine things he hath done. His _will_, though it has all the world before it, yet goes after nothing but as this sends it. His understanding is ever upon the stretch for new projects to enlarge the dominions of it; and if this fails, _imagination_ comes in, to make him a king, and mighty lord of _castles in the air_.
Now what is it in the human soul, that most of all hinders the death of this old man? What is it, that above all other things makes it the governor of all the powers of the heart and soul? It is the fancied riches of _parts_, the glitter of _genius_, the flight of _imagination_, the glory of _learning_, and the self-conceited strength of _natural reason_: these are the strong holds of fallen nature, the master-builders of pride’s temple in the heart of man. And here let it be well observed, that all these magnified talents of the natural man are started up through his miserable _fall_ from the life of God in his soul. _Wit_, _genius_, _learning_, and _natural reason_, would have had no more a name amongst men, than _blindness_, _ignorance_, and _sickness_, had man continued, as at first, an holy image of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.――――Every thing then that dwelt in him, or came from him, would have only said _so much_ of God, and _nothing_ of himself, have manifested nothing to him, but the _heavenly powers_ of the triune life of God dwelling in him. He would have no more consciousness of his own wit, or natural reason, or goodness, than of his _own creating power_, at beholding the created heavens, and earth. It is his dreadful fall from God, that has furnished him with these high intellectual riches, just as it has furnished him with the substantial riches of his _♦bestial appetites_ and _lusts_. And when the lusts of the flesh have spent their life, when flesh and blood shall be forced to let the soul go loose; all these bright talents will end with that system of fleshly lusts in which they began; and _that_ of man, which remains, will have nothing of its own, nothing that can say, _I do this_, or _I do that_, but all that it hath, or doth, will be either the _glory of God_ manifested in it, or the _power of hell_ in full possession of it.――The time of man’s playing with _parts, wit, and abilities_, and of fancying himself something in the intellectual world, may be much shorter, but can be no longer, than he can eat, and drink with the animals of this world.――When the time cometh, that fine buildings, rich settlements, acquired honours, and Rabbi, Rabbi, must take their leave of him, all the stately structures, which genius, learning, and imagination, have painted inwardly on his brain and outwardly on paper, must bear full witness to _Solomon_’s vanity of vanities.
♦ “beastial” replaced with “bestial”
The intellectual power, which has the best help in it, towards bringing man again into the region of divine light, is that poor, despised thing, called _simplicity_. This is that, which stops the workings of the fallen nature, and leaves room for God to work again in the soul, according to the good pleasure of his will. It stands in such a waiting posture before God, as the plants of the earth wait for the inflowing riches of the light and air. But the _self-assuming_ workings of man’s natural powers, shut him up in himself, closely barred up against the inflowing riches of the light and Spirit of God.