THE PREFACE. I HOPE there will he something found in these papers, which is suit- ed to rectify the vicious disorders of the mind, £o subdue the foolish vanityof human nature, and promote a meek and humble spirit: But I am sure, they can have no such influence, while they continue to sleep in a desk where they have lain many years already. If the di- vine grace shall so far attend the publication of them now, as to make them attain these happy ends,-my duty will be thankfulness and praise. While 1 have endeavoured to trace out the pride of the heart, in the various and general appearances of it, both in higher and lower life, I have carefully avoided the particular description of any person living. By this means my representation of true humility in the moral and re- ligious springs and advantages of it, together with some views of the opposite vice, may have a more kindly and powerful effect upon every reader.' Conviction and reproof are much better received when such hints only are given, as may lead conscience in secret to searchout the criminals, and may teach them to set their own follyand guilt and dan- ger before themselves. We all like to do this work best in retirement and silence. And I hope my readers will be so kind and so just, both to themselvesand tome, as to be more diligent in thediscovery and curt, of any weakness of their own, than in pointing out censure for their neighbours ; though it must he confessed, there is sufficient matter for it in every corner of the world. Surély, ifwe could but lookdown upon mankind with an all-survey- ing eye, as the great God doth, we should see a dreadful and universal spread of this vice of pride over all the race of mail, and an infinite number of mischiefs derived from it, and diffused through .kingdoms and churches, through all human societies and personal affairs. Had we such a view as this, one would think every son and daughter of Adam should labour night and day to root out this cursed and poison- ous plant, till not a branch or fibre of it remained to infect the earth. Pride was the ruin of angels : Pride was the fall of man : as Ye shall be as Gods," was the great temptation, and the event is, we are be- come like devils : Nor doth the array of flesh and blood which we wear, cover our shame or excuse our iniquity. God has sent his Son Jesus into the world in the likeness of man, and in all the forms of humiliation, that he might teach us by bis word and his example to be meek and lowly, and shew us how to regain the divine favour and image, by laying the foundationof his gospel and of our recovery in humility of soul : " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven ;" Mat. v. 3. And next to his own Son, God has set his servant Paul for our pattern, who calls himself, " less than the least of all the saints," and persuades us " to be fol- lowers of him as he is of Christ." I have not drawn out at.large here the particular rules and direc- tions for acquiring these lovely virtues of christian humility and meek- ness, having written so many chapters of advice how to subdue pride and wrath and other vices' in my little Treatise of the Passions, and to these I refer my readers under the divine blessing. Newington, March 25, 1737.
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