CHAP. VIII. Concerning the DUTY of MAN towards HIMSELF. a. “. I HUMILITY. Say to every Man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: but to think foberly, according as God hath dealt to every Man the measure of Faith. b. Be not proud. Mind not high things. Be not wife in your own Conceits; but, condefcend to Men of low Eftate. c. Stretch not your felves beyond your measure. d. Let us not be defirous of Vain-glory: For, if a Man think himself to be fomething when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. e. Seekeft thou great things for thy felf? feek them not. f. Moft Men will proclaim every Man his own Goodness: But, they that commend them (4) Rom. 12. 3. (c) 2 Cor. 10. 14. (e) Jer. 45.5. (b) Jer. 13. 15. Rom. 12. 16. 2 felves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wife: For, not he that commendeth himfelf, is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. a. Thus faith the Lord; Let not the Wife Man glory in his Wisdom; neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might: Let not the rich Man glory in his Riches: But let him that glorieth, glory in this, That he knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise Lovingkindness, Judgment and Righteousness, in the Earth. b. He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord; ferving the Lord with all Humility of Mind. c. Let another Man praise thee, and not thine own Mouth; a Stranger, and not thine own Lips. d. For Men to search their own Glory, is not Glory. e. Who maketh thee to differ from another? and What haft thou, that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou didst receive it, why doft thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? f. Charity vaunteth not it felf; is not puffed up: Therefore, talk no more fo exceeding (a) Jer. 9. 23, 24. 2 Cor. 10. 12, 18. (c) Prov, 27.2. (e) 1 Cor. 4, 7: proud proudly; let not Arrogancy come out of thy Mouth. a. Let not him that girdeth on his Harness boaft, as he that putteth it off. b. There are certain, which truft in themfelves, that they are Righteous, and defpife others; which fay, Stand by thy felf, come not near to us; for, we are holier than thou: But, he that doth not go about to establish his own Righteoufnefs, but humbleth himself before God, faying, God be merciful to me, a Sinner; this Man shall be justified, rather than the other. c. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, fay, We are un-· profitable Servants; we have done that which was our Duty to do. d. Knowledge puffeth up, but Charity edifieth. e. Let no Man deceive himself: If any Man, among you, feemeth to be wife in this World, let him become a Fool, that he may be wife: For, God hath chofen the foolish things of the World, to confound the Wise; and, God hath chosen the weak things of the World, to confound the things which are mighty; and base 1 Sam. 2.3. (a) 1 Kings 20. II. (b) Luk. 18. 9. If. 65.5. Rom. 10.3. Luk. 18. 14,13,14. (d) 1 Cor. 8. 1. (e) 1 Cor. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 1. 27, 28. things of the World, and things which are despised, hath God chofen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no Flefh fhould glory in his Prefence. a. Go to, ye that fay, to day, or to morrow, we will go into fuch a City, and continue there a Year, and buy, and fell, and get Gain; whereas, ye know not what shall be on the morrow: For, what is your Life? It is even a Vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanifheth away. For that, ye ought to fay, if the Lord will, we fhall live, and do this, or that: But now ye rejoice in your Boaftings; all fuch Rejoicing is evil. b. Charge them that are rich in this World, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain Riches, but in the Living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. c. When thou baft eaten, and art full, and haft built goodly Houses; and when thy Herds, and thy Flocks, multiply; and thy Silver, and thy Gold is multiplied; beware, that thou forget not the Lord thy God; and thy Heart be lifted up, and thou fay, in thine Heart, My Power, and the Might of my Hand, hath gotten me this Wealth. d. Let the Brother of low Degree, rejoice, in that he is exalted; but the Rich, in that he I Cor. 1. 28, 29. (a) Jam. 4. 13, 14, 15, 16. is made low; because, as the Flower of the Grafs, he fhall pass away. a. A certain Rich Man faid to his Soul, Soul, thou haft much Goods laid up for many Years; take thine cafe, eat, drink, and be merry. But, God faid unto him, Thou Fool, this Night thy Soul fhall be required of thee: Then, whose shall those things be, which thou haft provided? So is he that layeth up Treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God. b. Lo, this is the Man that made not God his Strength; but trusted in the abundance of his Riches, and strengthned himself in his Wickedness. c. He faith, I am rich, and increased with Goods, and have need of nothing; and knoweth not, that he is wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked. d. Why boastest thou thy self in Mischief, O mighty Man? The Goodness of God endureth continually. e. The Wicked boasteth of his Heart's Defire: Through the Pride of his Countenance, he will not feek after God. He hath said in his Heart, I fhall not be moved; I shall never be in Adverfity. But, the Lord shall cut off all flattering Lips, and the Tongue that speaketh proud things. Jam. 1. 10. (b) Pf. 52.7. (d) PL. 52. 1. (a) Luk. 12. 16, 19, 20, 21. (e) Pf. 10. 3, 4,6. PL. 12. 3. a. God |