Note, 1. Foolish pride is the great make-bate. Would you know whence
come wars and fightings? They come from this root of bitterness.
Whatever hand other lusts may have in contention (passion, envy,
covetousness), pride has the great hand; it is its pride that it will
itself sow discord and needs no help. Pride makes men impatient of
contradiction in either their opinions or their desires, impatient of
competition and rivalship, impatient of contempt, or any thing that
looks like a slight, and impatient of concession, and receding, from a
conceit of certain right and truth on their side; and hence arise
quarrels among relations and neighbours, quarrels in states and
kingdoms, in churches and Christian societies. Men will be revenged,
will not forgive, because they are proud. 2. Those that are humble and
peaceable are wise and well advised. Those that will ask and take
advice, that will consult their own consciences, their Bibles, their
ministers, their friends, and will do nothing rashly, are wise, as in
other things, so in this, that they will humble themselves, will stoop
and yield, to preserve quietness and prevent quarrels.