that we do not consider that we
ourselves stand in need of more mercy from God, and cannot endure a
mixture of judgment in it? Therefore we have judgment to others without
mercy, James ii. 13. And is not this self pleasing humour the fountain of
that contentious plea after the pre-eminence, and censorious liberty of
judging others, and usurping authority over them? James iii. 1, "My
brethren, be not ye many masters." Truly this is the root of all
contentions and strifes. It is this which rents all human and Christian
society. This looses all the pins of concord and unity. This sets all by
the ears, and makes all the wheels reel through other. The conceit of some
worth beyond others, and the imagination of some pre-eminence over them,
even in the best creatures--he best, and he best, that is the plea, he
greatest, and he greatest, that is the controversy. As bladders puffed up
with wind, they cannot be kept in little room, but every one presses
another, but if the wind were out, they would compact in less room, and
comply better together. The apostle implies this, when he puts every man
in mind of his own failing, "in many things we offend all," and if this
were considered, it would abate our security, and cool our heat and
fervour, and moderate our rigour towards others. There would not be such
strife about places of power and trust, if we were not swelled in our own
apprehensions to some eminency. And is not this the very fountain which
sends out all these bitter streams of the tongue, these evil speakings one
of another, these sharp and immoderate censures of our neighbours? Truly
this is it, every man accounts himself to be wiser and more religious than
his brother, to have more knowledge, and so he cannot endure any
difference in opinion, to have more holiness, and so he cannot bear any
infirmity in practice. But the way to help this, would be to humble
ourselves before God, James iv. 10. Lowliness and meekness are the ground
stones of these Christian virtues which preserve Christian society, Eph.
iv. 2, 3. And is not this, I pray you, the foundation of wars, strifes,
contentions, and jealousies? "From whence come wars and fightings among
you?" Is it not from these imperious lusts which war in our members? Only
from pride cometh contention, Prov. xiii. 10. The head spring of all envy,
also issues out from pride, and this divides, in many streams and waters,
all our courses and ways, with putrified and pestilent corrup