4S2 THE ADVANTAGES OF HUMILITY [SECT. III, spread his gay feathers, or the seas and the winds un- taught to swell and roar, as a man full'of self to put off his insolence, to stand upon a level with his fellows,. and to treat those about him with affability and candour, who are in any respect inferior to him. Watch, O my soul, against the first secret motions of vanity: when thy inward thoughts begin to swell and thy heart to exalt itself, watch against every haughty air, .against.the high look and the scornful tone ; watch and subdue the earliest workings of pride ; for if they gain but a little indulgence and strength, all the powers of thy reason. will not be able to subdue them, and they will create thee long and heavy toil to gain the victory after many sore vexations.of spirit, nor wilt thou ever become a humble creature without the abundant aids of divine grace. . H. If we have. low thoughts of ourselves we shall be thankful for every design of kindness which our neigh- bours express towards us, nor shall we scorn the good offices of the meanest, though perhaps we can receive little or no advantage by them. God the glorious and the sublime, who inhabits eternity and dwells above the praises of his highest angels, looks down.upon the heart ofevery humble-worshipper here on earth; and receives our little worthless services with a smile of approbation: .If there be a willing mint. the gift is accepted accord- ing to what the giver is able to offer ;" Q Còr. viii. 12. por are the two mites of a widow neglected or disdained in the treasury of our God ;" Luke xxi. 2. Remember, O my heart, the divine example, and be an imitator of the blessed God in this respect, who made thee to wear his own image. But mark how the haughty man who is full of self receives the offers of kindness from his inferior. He scarcevöudhs.6.fes to cast an eye upon them, unless it be in scorn : Thus he upbraids his neighbour with his po- verty : He treats his humble civilities with. contempt, and despises all his good-will : Merit and modesty blush ,arid sink down before him, and die under his frowns, O vile idea of a haughty scorner, who puts modesty to the blush and lets 'merit III. The humble man who, has low thoughts of him- self is- beloved of men as well as of God, and gains the
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