SECT. I.] THE SPRINGS OF ST. PAUL'S HUMILITY. 467 The bulk of mankind are so generally given to err on thishand, that is, to overvalue themselves and depreciate their neighbours ; and the number of those who make a mistake on the other side is so exceeding small, that in proposing general directions for our conduct there is scarce any need of a caution 'or guard against the humble and self denying kinds of mistake. Then is our opinion concerning ourselves and our neighbours agreeable to the rule and temper of christianity, and generally nearer the truth, when we sink our idea of self rather below what seems to us to be our due, and when we raise the idea of our neighbours a little above what appears to be- long to them, for they doubtless have some virtues and good qualities unknown to us, and it is certain we have some secret failings which do not usually come within our own notice. But I shall touch upon this subject perhaps once again, and therefore I proceed to the gene- ral heads of my discourse. Here I shall enquire, First, Whence comes it to pass that St. Paul forms so diminutive an idea of himself, and calls himself less than the least of all the saints : And Secondly, What blessed advantages may we obtain by this lessening view of ourselves in imitation of such an example. SECTION I. The Springs ofSt. Paul's Humility. The first thing to be inquired is, whence comes it to pass that St. Paul forms such diminutive ideas of him- self ? I answer, I. From a constant sense of his own former iniquities, and an ever-present consciousness of sin that dwells in hirn. You may read this account of himself in many of his epistles ; 1 Cor. xv. 9. " I am the least of the apos- tles, and am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." 1 Tim. i. 13, 15. " I was before a blasphemer and apersecutor and injurious; and in this view I am the chief of sinners." Rom. vii. 14, 18, 24. " I am c-arnal, sold under sin. In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: Owretched man that I am !" Each of us are best acquainted with our- 2
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