Logoi eukairoi, essayes and observations theologicall & morall. Wherein many of the humours and diseases of the age are discovered, and characteriz'd: divers cautions and directions præscribed for the avoidance of their infection, and the promotion of their cure. Together with some meditations & prayers adjoyn'd, serving to the same purpose. / By a student in theologie.

Concerning the vaine boast∣ing Saint-ship.

TIs to be feared, that many men (and some such as perswade themselves they have an Aposto∣licall spirit beyond all others) do yet in their purposes and indea∣vours quite contradict S^t Pauls temper. That blessed Saint was fearfull that his Corinthians might

thinke over highly of him, and therefore (as he tells them) for∣bore the discovery of many ex∣cellencies and priviledges▪ which he had received of God; and that, least any man should thinke of him, above what they heard of him, or saw in him. I omit those whose whole aime is like Simon Magus, to be thought some great ones; such as take upon them to have cleare knowledge of those misteries the Gospell hath drawne a vaile o∣ver, and not only vent the cabbi∣net secrets of Gods unrevealed will and unsearchable waies be∣fore men, but to God himselfe (all which are so far from a true Gos∣pell spirit (which necessarily must be an humble, a sober, and a cha∣ritable one) as that they seem to be the very 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 prophecyed of by St Peeter, Saint Jude and others.) I feare too much of this

leaven remaineth undiscerned a∣mong those who have the repu∣tation of a more sober fect, should wee otherwise heare so many, if not direct ostentations, yet by cir∣cumlocution and necessary conse∣quence? 'Tis to be fear'd, some men make a vaine glorying of that which is the greatest obligation to humility; namely, the free grace of God. Let no man therefore say, the persons I meane assume no∣thing unto themselves, but as∣cribe all to Gods mercy, and so no danger in it, their boasting being in the Lord. For I here suspect a great depth of Satan▪ God en∣able his to fathom it. Suppose we should heare a Courtier thus spea∣king; It is my Masters pleasure thus highly to honour & confide in me; True it is, there is nothing in me that may lay claime to the least of these priviledges bestowed

upon me; If so had been his plea∣sure he might have made choice of such or such a one of his ser∣vants for these imployments, and dignities he has intrusted me in: and yet all the while the man has no sufficient warrant for such his presumptuous conceit, nay con∣trarily the persons he so much exalts himselfe above, are indeed much more in the Princes favour, he has already made more expe∣rience of their humility diligence and faithfulnesse, and intends them further honour. Would not every man conclude this Cour∣tier diseas'd in his brains? The Pharisee in the Gospell acknow∣ledged God the Author of what he gloried in, and gave him praise for many favours: His fault was that he could not allow the Con∣temn'd Publican a share in this pri∣viledge. There are many men

take upon themselves to be Dani∣els, Persons greatly beloved of God and yet have no better authoritie for their assurance, than that of a presumptuous fancy. Many thinke the Lord doth nothing almost (great or small) but he re∣veales the secret to them: Many perswade themselves that they have heard the words of God and seene the visions of the Allmigh∣tie; and yet some of those they looke upon as strangers to God may without Miriams guilt replie to them in her words; Hath the Lord spoken only to you, hath he not also spoken to us? A vast diffe∣rence there is between a Mans be∣ing a reprobate and a mans vaun∣ting of his being a Saint. 'Tis true I grant we are bound to glo∣ry in the Lord: Yet not beyond the line, of things which God hath not wrought in us, or by us.

Notes

• Obs: 13.