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[ 1238] Self-conceitednesse in matters of Religion, condemned.
IT was in the Leviticall Law so ordered by God,* 1.1 that he which had a blemish of white in his eye,* 1.2 was debarred from the Priest-hood, and compared to the Owl, of whom the Naturalists yield the reason, that she cannot see in the day∣time,* 1.3 because of the exceeding great whitenesse she hath in her eyes,* 1.4 which so scattereth the sight, that the Opticks thereof cannot perfectly discern the objects: And such are all those that are self-conceited of themselves in matters of Religi∣on, that are pure in their own eyes, wise and pru••ent in their own sight, yet are not washed,* 1.5 from their filthinesse, that stink in the nostr••lls of all that come near them; such as the Novatians, of whom St. Cyprian speaketh, qui aurum se pronun∣ciant, that pronounce themselves to be pure gold; But if they be gold (saith he) it is then that gold in quo delicta populi Israelis, &c.* 1.6 in which the sinnes of the Peo∣ple of Israel are denoted; they are but golden Calves, or rather golden Asses; It it better therefore to be at Sea tossed with a tempestuous storm in the ship with those that humbly professe themselves to be Sinners, than on the shoare with the rabble of those that justifie themselves, and are so self-conceited of their own graces, that they think no one, good enough to be their fellow.