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tifications in fome of our acquaintance, and yet after all produce fo little improvement, that we would willingly prevent its neceffity in your cafe, my beloved hearers, by fetting before you the folly and odioufnefs of Pride however difguifed or decorated; as we should be happy to promote your early and lafting acceptance, by effectually recommending to your choice the unembellished, but irrefiftible attractions of her oppofite.

It is a pretty allufion I have fomewhere met with, that Rebeccah's beauty and jewels, though at a distance hidden by the veil with which the covered them, would notwithstanding, when observed on a nearer approach, be much more pleasing for this temporary concealment. The attire of the foul, is, like that of the body, moft becoming and agreeable, when it has leaft glare, and no affectation.

It must be confeffed, indeed, that there is not any period of life at which men

appear much difpofed to put on the fober garment of Humility, however highly. they may approve it in others. Self-love revolts against the practice of this virtue, though in the commerce of fociety fomething like it is hourly pretended, in part no doubt from a fecret perfuafion, that the reputation of it at leaft is defirable. Almost every man calls himself the humble fervant of every man. But how few are there who seriously mean any thing by this phrafe! Muft it not commonly be fet down among thofe empty, though plaufible forms of fpeech, that have, in the progrefs of falfe refinement, been introduced by art and vanity combined, under the mask of courtesy and fubmiffion?

Genuine Humility is, in fact, the most unprofeffing of all virtues. She is the parent of True Simplicity: fhe may be known by a certain mild and filent influence, which she never studies to display: and, except when piety or good manners

make it neceffary, fhe avoids all those. words, geftures, and appearances of the humble kind, that might draw the attention and praife of men. Like her Divine Exemplar, fhe is "meek and lowly in heart;" but in language and deportment. conforms herself to established cuftom, as far as it is innocent. That fhe is feèn and accepted by the Almighty, fatisfies her warmeft wishes.

Thofe who fecm ready on every occafron to speak meanly of themfelves, would be mortified by neglect, and stung by cenfure, from the fillieft creature living. One of the proudest men I have ever known, and who could the leaft endure to be charged with any imperfection, was perpetually exclaiming, in a moft lamentable. tone, against the degeneracy of the world, and the depravity of the heart. Thofe who affect to depreciate themfelves in converfation, inwardly hope not to be taken at their word, and would be woefully dis

appointed if they were.

Such felf-condemnation is one of the numberless traps which are daily laid for applause. There is not indeed any vice, that affumes a greater variety of fhapes than Pride, or that walks the world in more disguises.

The artifices which men employ to acquire importance, and attract admiration, are usually more or lefs refined, according to their different degrees of understanding. But remember, the niceft management of this fort feldom paffes undiscovered; the persons on whom it is attempted, having for the most part, within themselves, too fure a teft by which to examine and detect it in their neighbours. When detected, it meets with no quarter; and thus Pride. is doomed to defeat her own end, to mifs the fame fhe feeks, and to incur the difgrace fhe dreads. Humility, on the other hand, when attended by good fenfe and good conduct, has nothing to fear from the self-love of the by-ftanders, difarms

prejudice in all but the malignant, and conciliates from the candid fingular regard. "Before deftruction," fays Solomon, "the heart of man is haughty; and "before honour is Humility.". But a greater than Solomon is here. "Who "foever exalteth himself," fays the head Mafter of Wifdom's fchool," fhall be

abafed; and he that humbleth himself fhall be exalted:" a declaration which occurs fo often in the Gospel, that we may conclude it to be a favourite maxim with our Saviour. Indeed the Scriptures at large lay fo peculiar a stress upon this point, and it likewife enters fo deep into Nature, Experience, Religion, and the Best Philofophy, that it will deferve all your attention, while we confider it at fome length.

In direct oppofition to fuch doctrine, it has been asked, "Is not diffidence a bar to fame and fuccefs? Does not Humility tend to conceal merit, instead Vol. II.

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