A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. Pride of Life, Young and Old are to be weaned from.

Pride of Life is an inordiate affection of our hearts unto Carnal excellency, i. e. to be great in our selves, and for our selves; a proud man contends with God about the cause and end of his life, he will depend on himself, and makes himself the end.

1 As he depends on himself, makes himself the cause of all, so it is self de∣pendance.

2 As he affects and aims at excellency in himself, so it is called Self-seek∣ings.

When he depends on himself, he throws off the Crown from Gods head, there are four parts of it.

1 Self-conceit, Rom. 12.3. when a man thinks soberly of himself, he is not so blinde as not to see himself, nor so proud, but he is willing not to think above that which is meet.

2 It is exprest in Carnal confidence and presumption, he doth what he doth by his own strength, and wit, and pains, this is call'd Arrogancy; when a man undertakes to carry through businesse by his own strength, Jer. 10.23. Isa. 10.7. to 11. Isa. 37.12, 13. he boasts of his Wisdom and Power to do great matters.

3 Curiosity flows from Self-dependance, when a man will thrust himself in∣to that he ought not; so it was vain curiosity in Eve to affect Knowledge, so Col. 2.18. Paul reproves the Colossians for prying into secrets.

4 It is exprest in Self-fulnesse, he is full of himself, and rests himself in his present condition, Rev. 3.17. and thanks God it is well with him, and he desires to be no better, all these are several lusts of pride.

This sin is against God, as one, from whom, to whom, and in whom are all things.

A Second Branch of this pride of life is Self-seeking, He seeks not God in all his waies, Psal. 10.3, 4. so he seeks not Gods glory, but his own, Prov. 25.27. It is not good to eat much Hony, so for men to seek their own glory, is not glory; as much Honey turns into choller, and bitternesse, so he ••••ks up too much of his own glory, but it turns to his shame and confusion.

This Self-seeking shew it self;

First, In pursuing of his own glory, he looks no further than his own glory, which is shewed.

1 In Ambition, when they aim at their glory, and primary, this St. John re∣proved in Diotrephes, 3 Epist. 9. so Judg. 9. this was ambition in affecting a Government God did not appoint them, the modester sort of Trees did think they should lose their fatnesse, and sweetnesse, as if he should say, for them to be ambitious of an unappointed Government, it would turn to bitternesse, and harshnesse, and losse of fatnesse, and comfort, and this comes all ambition to, it makes the soul lean, and lose all comfort from God and man.

2 Hypocrisie is another lust of pride in Self-seeking, when a man in religious duties seeks his own credit and applause, to be seen of men, Mat. 23.5. this is pride in Hypocrisie, Matth. 6.1, 2. to 16. hence comes self rejoycing, when he rejoyceth in his own praise and glory, as Amos 6.14. so Herod rejoyced in the applause of the people, Acts 2.3.

3 There is another lust of Self-seeking, which is, contemning and de∣spising

others in respect of a mans own excellency, Luke 18.11. and this pro∣ceeds from making himself his own end.

4 There is another lust of pride which is exprest in boasting of himself, either in words, or carriage, Prov. 27.2. that is boasting, when a man magnifies him∣self, boasting in words, in great and false promises, so in gesture in the eyes. Psal. 141. Prov 30.13. so in stretched-out necks, Isa. 3.23. when a man struts, and prides himself in his carriage.

So there is pride in Work••, when men build to make themselves a name, Gen. 11.14. Dan. 4.27. so in strange fashions and apparrel, Isa. 3.18. to 24. be∣cause they took pride in their bravery and gay cloaths, therefore he would send baldnesse instead of beauty, &c. so pride is shewed in Feasting, to shew their own Magnificence and Riches, and they aim only at that, as Nabal, 1 Sam. 25. when he feasted as a King.

There is another pride exprest, when a man is crost in his pride, and this shews it self.

1 In discontent, when a man hath made himself his end, and if he be crost in it, he is discontented, as Achitophel when his counsel was crost, 2 Sam. 15.23. he was so discontented at it that he went and hanged himself: and so some, though they do not grow so desperate, yet they so vex and fret, as that they can neither eat, nor sleep seasonably, whereas if we made God our end, we should be willing to want what God denies.

2 Hee falls into contention, Prov. 10.13. all contention comes from pride.

3 Indignation flows from being crost, when others take away their applause, they disdain and loathe it, Mat. 21.15. as the Pharisees did, when they saw Christ took away their praise.

Ʋse To exhort us all, to wean our selves from this lust of pride.

Motives.

1 The proud man is an abomination to the Lord, Prov. 16.5. as if God had resolved, what wicked man soever escapes, he should not, and shall we live in such an estate, that God cannot look at us but with loathing and indignation? and no wonder, because they contend with God, they depend on their own strength, and seek themselves, and their own glory: and if they be crost they are discontent and envious, let such a man use all the means he can he shall ne∣ver prosper, God resists the proud, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he will crosse him at every turn, march against him and crosse him.

2 Pride of all other sins cuts a sunder the sinews of Grace, whereas the whole duty of Christianity consists in Repentance, Faith, Obedience: Repentance consists in loathing, abhorring, and being ashamed of our selves, Job 42. Dan. 9.7. now a proud man is far off from this: so for faith, Hab. 2.4. as if he should say, a faithful man goes out of himself, and depends on God: and for obedience, we see how it is exprest, Micha 6.8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what the Lord thy God requires of thee, &c. now a man of an high spirit cannot bend to hu∣mility, and self-denial, Luke 9.23.

Means to wean us from Pride.

1 Meditate on what you are, do but know your selves what you are, what you must tend to, Dust you are, and to dust you must return, you have no de∣pendance but on God: shall we then be full of our selves? 1 Cor. 7. God made all for himself, therefore we are not to aime at our selves, especially consider there is nothing but you have despised and perverted, therefore consider your own insufficiency.

2 Exercise your selves in those graces that are most contrary to Pride, if you see your hearts grow ambitious, and vain-glorious, and discontent, why weed out this lust, renew your repentance in dust any ashes, loathe your selves, judge your own unworthinesse, learn to live by faith, know you are nothing of your selves, but depend wholly on Christ, learn to be obedient, to be at Gods Command, we are servants, and therefore not for our selves: it is not

for us to look at our own ends, but to do all for Gods glory, and use all we have for Gods service.