470 C}HRIS2`IAN MORALITY, VIZ, (SEAM. XXVIII, Göd ? And how can we otherwise hope to be the sub jects and favourites of the, Prince of peace ? Is humility another part of an amiable character ? Who ( was ever humble as the 'Son of God ? The brightness of.his.father's glory, and the express image of jis ,person, whoemptied himself, and took upon him the form of servant, and was made in the likeness of meni and humbled : hitnself yet low.er," even to the deathof the cross," and to the dust of the grave, Phil. ii. 6 -9, t['herefore, the,Father,, loved him,. and the Father exalted him. This is the man,. ;he God man, who calls us to the practice of this virtue; " Learn .of me, says he, for I am peek and lowly, :and ye shall find rest for your souls." Nat. xi. 29. Whät_folly and. madness is it for dust and ashes to be proud, when God's own Son was humble ? 1:nd,liq - gives' us anobleinstance to assure us that humi- lity is a lovely quality : When the rich young man in the :gospel ;came, .and, kneeled before him to ask his advice, Jesus lookd upon. him, and loved him ; and would have left it upon _ record in his word, that there was something lovely in a modest and humble carriage, even where the saving grace of God was wanting. Mark x 21. Meekness and patience are the next things I menti- pned, that go to make up the character of a lovely per- hon. Bat who was meek as the Son of God is ? What 4Tronts did: he endure even while he was inviting sinners 14:tthe 'niost affecting, language to their own eternal hap- piness ? What shameful mockery did he sustain ? What leads.of maliciou.s:arrd infamous blasphemy? .But "when be was reviled, he reviled not again: 1 Peter ii. 23. as A sleep before her shearer is dumb, so opened he not his roqutb," Isa, liii..7. 0 when shall we learn to imitate p!.trblessed. Lord, and forbear and forgive as he did.? 19w was his patience tried to the utmost ! And that pat only in the fruitless and thankless labours of his life among a cruel and insolent race of men, but in the ap. proacles :of his bloody: death. When the blessed Re. ieet er, lay agonizing in the garden, or hung bleeding on the :cross,.-to 'see him oppressed with the weight of the wrath ofGod due to our sins, conflicting with the rage of devils, forsalie,ri: by his friends, and surrounded with the profane insults of barbarous men : What amournful and moving,spectacle ! And .yet there is something divinely amiable in it, to behold him all over calm and patient,
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