258 The Proud and Scornful S E R M. and praifeworthy. He that valueth himfelf X. upon his riches, will defpife another who `r`rr''boafteth of high titles, a noble defcent, or fome fuch diftinguifhing privilege ; and both of them have a very low opinion of the wife and virtuous man, as a fimple, a weak, or a mean - fpirited creature, not ca- pable either through the weaknefs of his underftanding, or a filly fcrupuloufnefs, to make his way in the world fuccefsfully, or to make any figure in life. The man with whom wifdom is in fuch contempt is not likely to find it ; though he fhould ufe fome diligence to acquire the reputable part, or rather the external appearance, yet the reali- ty of wifdom, which is religious virtue, meeknefs, godlinefs, patience, felf - denial, and charity, thefe are defpifed by him : How then pan he find them ? for wifdom loveth only them that love her, and thofe only (hallfind, who feek her early, Prov. viii, 17. But, more particularly, the man who is proud of his wifdom and his religion, is the fartheft off from becoming truly wife and religious. His high conceit of his own fof ficiency, and of his great capacity and ac- quifitions, rendereth him indeed uncapable of, and difinclined to, the only proper means whereby that real excellent quality can
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