Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. LII.

That a Christian ought to put an end to the affection of ambition, which doth consist in growing, and also to that which doth consist in maintaining.

UNderstanding that Jesus Christ our Lord saith to all us that are Christians, that we should Learn humility of heart from him; And understanding also, that Saint Paul doth admonish us, that we should reduce our minds to that which we know of Jesus Christ our Lord, who being the Son of God humbled him∣self to take a shape of a man, making himself a

man; I come to know, that as humility of mind is the most profitable thing to a Christi∣an, so also the affection of ambition, which is the contrary, is the most pernicious thing, and that which most deprives him of Christ, and most makes him the member of Satan. And I call affection of ambition all that desire, all that thought, and all that diligence, which a man useth with intent to increase his estate, his honour, and his reputation, and to maintain that which he hath got; in such sort, as there are two parts of the ambitious affection; the first to increase, the second to maintain. Hu∣mane wisdome judgeth them free from the affe∣ction of ambition, who set an end to growing; and in very truth they are free from a good part thereof. Yet the other remains, which is so much harder to leave, by how much humane wisdome doth not know it; nay rather judgeth them vile, and of no worth that have it not: But the holy Spirit which knows it, judgeth them ambitious which have it; and will that they whom he governs, should utterly leave it, re∣nounce it and free themselves, in such manner, that they have no intent to grow in the eyes of the world, nor are they studious to keep what they have, although it require not of them, that they should studiously, and for their own phan∣tasies do things, by which they should come to be abased, and diminished from that state of

honour, and reputation, wherein they find themselves; contenting it self, that they should reduce their minds to increase, and decrease, ac∣cording as it shall be Gods will. And the holy Spirit will also, that together herewith they should imploy themselves altogether, and in all things to augment themselves in the eyes of God and to maintain themselves in that, where∣in they shall be augmented. And therefore to the pious Christian, who ought to learn humili∣ty of Christ, and to reduce himself to be like unto Christ in his humility, it appertains to set an end to all ambition, dispoiling himself of all affection, and thoughts, touching his ad∣vancement in the things of this world, or touch∣ing his maintaining himself in them; thinking onely to augment himself in the things of God, trusting, hoping, loving, and procuring to main∣tain himself in that which he shall have obtai∣ned touching confidence, hope, and love, resol∣ving himself, that that which appertains to him, is to please God, and them who are partakers of the Spirit of God, and not the world, nor those who follow the opinions, and counsels of humane wisdome: and doing so they shall be∣come like our Lord Jesus Christ.