The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal

despise inferior pleasures, and be almost ready to
grudge the body its necessary attendance for the
common accommodations of life, judging all these
impertinent to their main happiness, those higher
enjoyments they are pursuing. As for the hardships they
may meet with, they rejoice in them, as opportunities to
exercise and testify their affection; and since they are
able to do so little for God, they are glad of the honor to
suffer for him.
The last branch of religion is humility; and however to
vulgar and carnal eyes this may appear an abject, base,
and despicable quality, yet really the soul of man is not
capable of a higher and more noble endowment. It is a
silly ignorance that begets pride. But humility arises
from a nearer acquaintance with excellent things, which
keeps men from doting on trifles, or admiring
themselves because of some petty attainments. Noble
and well-educated souls have no such high opinion of
riches, beauty, strength, and other such like advantages,
as to value themselves for them, or despise those that
want them. And as for inward worth and real goodness,
the sense they have of the divine perfections, makes
them think very meanly of any thing they have hitherto
attained, and be still endeavoring to surmount
themselves, and make nearer approaches to those
infinite excellencies which they admire.
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