Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations : together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

Arguments against Pride by way of Consideration.

1. Our Body is weak and impure, sending out more uncleannesses from its several sinks then could be endured if they were not ne∣cessary and natural: and we are forced to passe that through our mouths, which as soon as we see upon the ground, we loathe like rottenness and vomiting.

2. Our strength is inferiour to that of many Beasts, and our infirmities so many that we are forced to dresse and tend Horses and Asses, that they may help our needs, and re∣lieve our wants.

3. Our beauty is in colour inferiour to ma∣ny flowers, and in proportion of parts it is better then nothing. For even a Dog hath parts as well proportioned and fitted to his purposes, and the designs of his nature, as we have: and when it is most florid and gay, three sits of an ague can change it into yel∣lowness and leanness, and the hollowness and wrinkles of deformity.

4. Our learning is then best when it teaches most humility: but to be proud of Learning is the greatest ignorance in the World. For our learning is so long in getting, and so very imperfect, that the greatest Clerk knows not the thousand part of what he is ignorant;

and knows so uncertainly what he seems to know, and knows no otherwise then a Fool, or a Childe, even what is told him, or what he guesses at, that except those things which concern his duty, and which God hath revea∣led to him, which also every Woman knows so farre as is necessary; the most Learned Man hath nothing to be proud of, unlesse this be a sufficient argument to exalt him, that he uncertainly guesses at some more unneces∣sary things then many others, who yet know all that concerns them, and minde other things more necessary for the needs of life and Common-wealths.

6. He that is proud of riches is a fool. For if he be exalted above his Neighbours be∣cause he hath more gold, how much inferi∣our is he to a Gold Mine? How much is he to give place to a chain of Pearl, or a knot of Diamonds? For certainly that hath the greatest excellence from whence he derives all his gallantry and preheminence over his Neighbours.

5 If a man be exalted by reason of any excellence in his soul, he may please to re∣member, that all souls are equal; and their differing operations are because their instru∣ment is in better tune, their body is more healthful, or better tempered: which is no more praise to him, then it is that he was born in Italy.

7. He that is proud of his birth is proud of the blessings of others, not of himself: for if his parents were more eminent in any cir∣cumstance then their Neighbours, he is to thank God, and to rejoice in them; but still

he may be a Fool or unfortunate, or defor∣med; and when himself was born, it was in∣different to him whether his Father were a King or a Peasant; for he knew not any thing, nor chose any thing: and most com∣monly it is true, that he that bosts of his Ancestors, who were the founders and raisers of a Noble Family, doth confesse that he hath in himself a lesse virtue and a lesse ho∣nour, and therefore that he is degenerated.

8. Whatsoever other difference there is be∣tween thee and thy Neighbour, if it be bad, it is thine own, but thou hast no reason to boast of thy misery and shame: if it be good, thou hast received it from God; and then thou art more obliged to pay duty and tri∣bute, use and principle to him: and it were a strange folly for a man to be proud of be∣ing more in debt then another.

9. Remember what thou wert before thou wert begotten? Nothing. What wert thou in the first regions of thy dwelling, before thy birth? Uncleanness. What wert thou for ma∣ny years after? Weakness. What in all thy life? A great sinner. What in all thy excel∣lencies? A meer debtor to God, to thy pa∣rents to the earth, to all the creatures. * 1.1 But we may if we please use the method of the Platonists, who reduce all the causes and arguments for humility which we can take from our selves, to these seven heads: 1. The spirit of a man is light and troublesome. 2. His body is brutish and sickly. 3. He is constant in his folly and errour, and in∣constant in his manners and good purpo∣ses. 4. His labours are vain, intricate, and

endlesse. 5. His fortune is changeable, but seldome pleasing, never perfect. 6. His wis∣dom comes not till he be ready to die, that is, till he be past using it. 7. His death is cer∣tain, alwaies ready at the door, but never farre off *. Upon these or the like meditati∣ons if we dwell, or frequently retire to them, we shall see nothing more reasonable then to be humble; and nothing more foolish then to be proud.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apulei••is de Daemon. So••∣cratis.