_Sign_ VII. The heart of the proud is not inclined to humbling duties, to penitent confessions, and lamentations for sin, and earnest prayer for grace and pardon; but unto some formal observances and lip-labour, or the Pharisee's self-applause, "I thank thee that I am not as other men, nor as this publican." Not but that the humblest have great cause to bless God for their spiritual mercies and his differencing grace; but the proud thank God for that which they have not; for sanctification, when they are unsanctified; and for justification, when they are unjustified; and for the assured hope of glory, when they are sure to be damned if they be not changed by renewing grace; and for being made the heirs of heaven while they continue the heirs of hell. And therefore the proud are least afraid of coming without right or preparation to the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ: they rush in with confident presumption; when the humble soul is trembling without, as being oft more fearful to enter than it ought.
_Sign_ VIII. Proud persons are of all others the most impatient of church discipline, and uncapable of living under the government of Christ. If they sin, they can scarce endure the gentlest admonition; but if they are reproved sharply (or cuttingly) that they may be sound in the faith, you shall perceive that they smart by their impatience. But if you proceed to more public reproof and admonition, and call them to an open confession of their sin to those whom they have wronged, or before the congregation, and to ask forgiveness, and seriously crave the prayers of the church, you shall then see the power of pride against the ordinance and commands of God. How scornfully will they spurn at these reproofs and exhortations! How obstinately will they refuse to submit to their unquestionable duty! And how hardly are they brought to confess the most notorious sins! or to confess that it is their duty to confess them; though they would easily believe that it is the duty of another, and would exhort another to do that which they themselves refuse! The physic seemeth so loathsome to them which Christ hath prescribed them, that they hate him that bringeth it, and will die and be damned before they will take it; but perhaps will turn again and all to rent you (unless where they are restrained by the secular arm.) But if you proceed to reject them, for their obstinate impenitency in heinous sin, from the visible communion of the church, you shall then see yet more how contrary pride is to the church order and government ordained by Christ. How bitterly will they hate those that put them to such (necessary) disgrace! How will they storm, and rage, and turn their fury against the church; as if Christ's remedy were the greatest injury to them in the world! You may read their character in the second Psalm. Therefore Christ calleth men to come as little children into his school; or else they will be unteachable and incorrigible, Matt. xviii. 3.
_Sign_ IX. A proud man hath an heretical disposition, even when he crieth out against heretics. He is apt to look most after matters of dispute and contention in religion; obscure prophecies, God's decrees, controversies which trouble the church more than edify, circumstances, ceremonies, forms, outwards, orders, and words: and for his opinion in these he must be somebody.