tion? And where
shall be your glory? But the most part glory and boast in things that
profit not, and will become their shame, because they glory in them, that
is, those gifts of God, outward or inward, temporal or spiritual, wherein
there is any advancement above others; unto whom I would seriously commend
this sentence to be pondered duly, "Boast not" of thyself. Whatsoever thou
art, or whatsoever thou hast, boast not of thyself for it, think not much
of thyself because of it. Though there be a difference in God's donation,
yet let there be none in thy self estimation. Hast thou more wisdom and
pregnancy of wit, or more learning than another? Think not more of thyself
for that, than thou thinkest of the ignorant and unlearned who want it.
Have that same reflection upon thine own unworthiness, that thou would
think reasonable another that wants these endowments should have. Is there
a greater measure of grace in thee? Boast not, reckon of thyself as
abstracted and denuded of that, and let it not add to thy value or account
of thyself, put not in that to make it down weight, and to make thee
prefer thyself secretly to another. Whether it be some larger fortune in
the world, or some higher place and station among men, or some abilities
and perfections of body or mind, which may entice thee secretly to kiss
thy hand, and bow down to thyself, yet remember that thou boast not, glory
not in any thing but in the Lord. Let nothing of that kind conciliate more
affection to thyself, or more contempt toward others. Let not any thing of
that kind be the rule of thy self judging, but rather entertain the view
of the other side of thyself, that is the worst, and keep that most in thy
eye, that thou may only glory in God. If thou be a gentleman, labour to be
as humble in heart as thou thinkest a countryman or poor tenant should be,
if thou be a scholar, be as low in thy own sight as the unlearned should
be, if rich, count not thyself any whit better than the poor, yea, the
higher God sets thee in place, or parts, the lower thou oughtest to set
thyself. "Boast not" of thyself, nor any thing in thyself, or belonging to
thyself, for the property of all good is taken from us since the fall, and
is fallen into God's hand since we forfeited it, and there is nothing now
properly ours but evil,--that is our self.

Sermon VII.

Prov. xxvii. 1.--"Boast not thyself of to morrow, for thou knowest
not what a day may bring forth."