Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
— Job 29:1-3
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
— Job 23:8-9
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
— Acts 23:1
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;
— Romans 2:15
Of Pride and Envy, by William Ames. The following contains an excerpt from Chapter Eighteen of Book Five of his work, “Conscience With a Power and Cases Thereof, Divided Into Five Books.”
When he gives quietness, who can make trouble? When he hides his face, who can behold him?
— Job 34:29 a-d
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
— Acts 24:16
Q1. In what thing doth pride towards our neighbor consist?
1. A1. Pride in common is that by which one doth inordinately go beyond that which he is. Whence it is commonly defined, an inordinate affectation of one’s proper excellence. From this disposition, it doth immediately follow that the proud man refuses to be subject to others. And in this respect, it chiefly looks towards God, to whom all ought to subject themselves. And it is found at least interpretatively in all sin, because he that sinneth, refuses to be subject to the divine will.
2. But in respect of men, although there be some such similitude of pride towards superiors, to whom proud men will not be subject, yet half it another consideration in respect to inferiors to whom they will not descend as they ought, and in respect to equals to whom they desire to be or at least seem superiors.
3. This pride as it is in the heart, thought, and affection is called the lifting up of the heart. 2 Chronicles 28:19, Ezekiel 28. As it is in the outward gestures, it is called the haughtiness of the eyes, Proverbs 6:17. As it is in words, it is called boasting, Proverbs 12:9, 26.
4. The same pride as it is busied about fame and empty praises is called vainglory. As it is busied about honors and dignities, it is called ambition. As about the ostentation of some great virtue which one have not, it is called presumption.
5. This sin doth then directly hurt one’s neighbor, when a proud man undeservedly prefers himself before him. But chiefly if it be done with any contempt, contumely, or dis-esteeming of his neighbor.
6. But because it is the proper effect of pride to set oneself before his neighbor, it singularly appears in that pertinacy by which one will stick to his own opinion or cause against the judgment of others without any reason. Hence, almost arise all discords and contentions. And therefore, in this consideration, also pride is the cause of many sins against our neighbor, Proverbs 13:10.
7. From pride also, envy properly flows by which a proud man will not or cannot with a willing mind see another’s good because by that his excellency seems to be diminished.
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