54 HUMILITY REPRESENTED.. limbs, or sharpness of wit, or tallness of stature? Or perhaps thou art vain enough to betray thy pride even in the tokens of thy servitude, because thy livery is finer, or has more lace upon it than the coat of thy neighbour ? Ask thyself again, dost thou never set up for a chief talker in company, and cloth thy heart never presume that thou art wiser than those above thee, without any just reason for it ? Canst thou bear to be commanded by others, and contradicted by others and reproved by others with- out an inward rising ferment of wrath, and without returning a word of rash provocation ? Art thou never inclined to rage and passion when thy ears take in a reproach ? Canst thou bear'an injury with such humble silence, and forgive thy enemy as a chris- tian ought to do ? Art thou not as ready tqgive or to take offence as any of the rich and the great ? And is it thy humility that in- clines thee to take offenceor to give it ? Where there is little for- bearanceand little care to please in our conduct surely there is some pride at heart. Upon the wholeI suspect there are more quarrels and con - tentions amongthe poorestand meanest of the people than among the rich and high-born : And the wise man says Prov. xiii. 10. It is only from pride cometh contention. The polite education of the great teaches them to imitate humility and good humour, and by this means many a quarrel is prevented; whereas the poor who have been unbred anduntaught betray their prideoften, and often rush into clamorous contentions. Let me ask thee yet further, art thou not too fond of some pre-eminence and honour even on a dunghill ? Post thou never despise in thy heart, and disdain those who seem to be inferior to thee in any respect? And yet at other times, art thou not too much ashamed of the rank of life where God has placed thee ?.Post thou never abstain from any duties of religion, or duties of common life, merely because thou canst not make so good a figure among men as others do, and as thou desirest ? Enquire of thyselfagain, is thy behaviour among thy equals modest and meek, and always courteous and oblig- ing? Post thou never refuse any offices of friendly assistance to thy inferiors or thy equals, from a principle of pride work- ing within thee ? Dost thou never disdain to be taught by them, even in some things which then dost not well know ? There is no creature humble who is not teachable, and will- ing to learn what is necessary and proper to be known ? Ask thyself at last, art thou never humoursome and self-willed, never obstinate and unreasonably positive, answering thy su- periors with wrath and rudeness? Art thou never gloomy and sullen after a rebuke ? Is not thy spirit fretful when thy will is crossed, and thy humour thwarted? Post thou never medi- tate revenge k'I
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