HUMILILY REPRESEN'rED IN ST. PAUL. 46.ri nothing that is grand and exalted, but the least of all the saints, and less than the least of them." When, O my soul, when wilt thou learn to copy after so illustrious art example, so divine a pattern of humility ? But not to paraphrase any longer on this matter here at large let us enter into particulars. Perhaps some persons may expect that Ishould spend time here to distinguish and determine exactly what sort of opinion and esteem we ought to have of ourselves. Surely a man of letters and education is not bound to think himself as illiterate as a peasant, nor a youth of ingenuity to fancy himself a fool : Aperson of figure and quality must not suppose himself in all respects upon a level with the lower ranks of mankind, nor can it be but that a man of sense and virtue, of religion and goodness must know himself to be of superior worth and merit to the rude and the wicked 'multitude. Do not nature and reason direct us to judge of persons as well as things ac- cording to truth ? Nor does the best Of religions forbid us to pass a true and right judgmentconcerning ourselves or concerningour fellow-creatures. Besides, it is proper and necessary that a man should have in some measure ajust idea of himself, that he may every where in his conduct and behaviour maintain his own character, and answer the demands of his own sta- tion with justice andhonourboth in the world and in the church. What is it then we are to understand by this diminishing idea of self, which was so honourable in the great apostle, and which is so worthy of our imitation. To this enquiry I shall give but a short answer, for , I allow all that is hereproposed by way of query or objec- tion to be just and true. I grant it is our duty to know ourselves for many valuable purposes both in life and religion, and to form a just sentiment, as near as we can, of our own qualifications, and our place and rank amongst our fellow -creatures. But as the honourable example of St. Paul directs us, so the design of my pre- sent advice lies here, viz. that in passing a judgment con- cerningourselves, we should always set a strong guard on the side of self-love and flattery : We should watch against the pride of our hearts, which is every moment ready to over -rate all appearances of what is valuable in -us, and forgets to bring our defects into the balance of VOL. III. 2
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