rings down all superstructures, razes out all vain
confidence to the very foundation, and then begins to build on a solid
ground. But knowledge of other things without, joined with ignorance of
ourselves within, is but a swelling, not a growing, it is a bladder or
skin full of wind, a blast or breath of an airy applause or commendation,
will extend it and fill it full. And what is this else but a monster in
humanity, the skin of a man stuffed or blown up with wind and vanity, to
the shadow and resemblance of a man; but no bones or sinews, nor real
substance within? Pride is an excrescence. It is nature swelled beyond the
intrinsic terms or limits of magnitude, the spirit of a mouse in a
mountain. And now, if any thing be gone without the just bounds of the
magnitude set to it, it is imperfect, disabled in its operations, vain and
unprofitable, yea, prodigious like. If there be not so much real
excellency as may fill up the circle of our self estimation, then surely
it must be full of emptiness and vanity, fancy and imagination must supply
the vacant room, where solid worth cannot extend so far. Now, I believe,
if any man could but impartially and seriously reflect upon himself, he
would see nothing of that kind, no true solid and real dignity to provoke
love, but real baseness and misery to procure loathing. There is a lie in
every sin, but the greatest and grossest lie is committed in pride, and
attribution of that excellency to ourselves which is not. And upon what
erroneous fancy, which is a sandy and vain foundation, is built the tower
of self estimation, vain gloriation, and such like? Pride, which is the
mother of these, says most presumptuously, "By the strength of my hand I
have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent," (Isa. x. 13.) "I am and
none else besides me," Isa. xlvii. 10. It is such a false imagination, as
"I am of perfect beauty," "I am and none else," "I am a god," (Ezek.
xxvii. 3. and xxviii. 2.) which swells and lifts up the heart. Now what a
vain thing is it, an inordinate elevation of the heart upon a false
misapprehension of the mind? The "soul which is lifted up, is not upright
in him," Hab. ii. 4. It must be a tottering building that is founded on
such a gross mistake.

Some cover their pride with the pretence of high spiritedness, and please
themselves in apprehensions of some magnanimity and generosity. But the
truth is, it is not true magnitude, but a swelling out of the
superabundance o