Christian observations and resolutions, or, The daylie practise of the renewed man, turning all occurrents to spirituall uses, and these uses to his vnion with God I. centurie : vvith a resolution for death, &c. / newlie published by Mr William Struther ...

29. Fittes of Insolencie.

THeir is no Spirit so modest, which hath not some fittes of Insolencie: If any odde thing appeare in them, they are puffed vp in a conceat of wrath, and as farre transported from their wonted modestie, as they conceate of that sup∣posed worthinesse: These fits are more marked of other than themselues: their humour blindeth them, so that they can∣not obserue that change, others remem∣bereth their former dejection, and fore∣see it to come againe, & so marketh that startling as insolent indeede.

An Equable cariage proueth an well fraughted Soule: Our true worthinesse is in Gods fauour; our dignitie is his dignation, and the exalting or downe∣cast of our heart, is from the sense of his fauour, or lacke of it: If wee bee sure of his fauour, wee shall then alike euenlie carrie our selues in all other things.

But fits of insolencie bewray a double

weaknesse, one, of little true worth, that seemeth so great to vs: another, of a racked judgement, making vs to passe boundes vpon so small occasion: The wise man is euer like himselfe: And at any odky thing, he is rather dejected, thā puffed vp. If the speeches of other make him ouerweene himselfe, he chasteneth himselfe in secrete for it seuerly: When hee returneth to his wonted thoughts, he abhorreth that insolencie, and guar∣deth himselfe, that they surprysse him not thereafter.