III. I am to conjirm the doctrine, or the deci-

sion of the text. That the case of the former is bet- ter than that of the latter. It is better to be in a low afflicted condition, with a spirit humbled and brought down to the lot, than to be of a proud and high spirit, getting the lot brought up to it, and matters go to will and wish, according to one*?* mind. This will appear from the following consid- erations.
\st^ Humility is so far preferable to pride, that in no circumstances whatsoever its preferableness can fail. Let all the afflictions in a world attend the humble spirit, and all the prosperity in the world attend pride, humility will still have the bet- ter; as gold in a dunghill is more excellent than so much lead in a cabinet. For,
1. Humility is a piece of the image of God. Pride is the master-piece of the image of the devil. Let us view him who was the express image of the Father's person, and we shall behold him meek and Invly in hearty Matt. xi. 29. None more afflicted,
94 The Crook in the Lot.
yet his spirit perfectly brought down to his lot- Isa. liii. 7. " He was oppressed, and he was afflic- " ted, yet he opened not his mouth." That is a shining piece of the divine image : for though God cannot be low in respect of his state and condition, yet he is of infinite condescension, Isa. Ivii. 15. None bears as he, Kom, ii. 4. nor suffers patiently so much contradiction to his will, which is propo- sed to us for our encouragement in affliction, as it shone in Christ. *' For consider him that endur- " eth so much contradiction of sinners against him- "self, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds," Heb. xii. 3.
Pride, on the other hand, is the very image of the devil, 1 Tim. iii. 6. Will we value ourselves on the height of our spirits ? Satan will vie with the highest of us in that point : for, though he is the most miserable, yet he is the proudest in the whole creation. There is the greatest distance between his spirit and his lot ; the former is as high as the throne of God, the latter as low as hell : and as it is impossible that ever his lot should be brought up to his spirit; so his spirit will never come down to his lot: and therefore he will be eternally ia a state of war with his lot. Hence, even at this time, he has no rest, but goes about, seeks rest indeed, but finds none.
Now, is it not better to be like God than like the devil? Like him who is the fountain of all good, than him who is the spring and sink of all evil ? Can any thing possibly cast the balance here, and turn the preference to the other side ? " Then bet- *' ter it is to be of an humble spirit with the low- *My,''&c.
2. Humility and lowliness of spirit qualifies us for friendlv communion and intercourse with God
The Crcok in tht Lots 95
in Christ. Pride makes God our enemy, 1 Pet.