498 ?HIT ADVANTAGESOF HUMILITY [SECT. M. Oh ! ifwe could but keep this dear self from reigning, we should not be so narrow-spirited and begin and end our .projects in the little circle of self : We should not fret and storm at every thing that interrupts our pleasures or that interferes with our present designs : We should not rise up in fury nor be lavish of our loud reproachesagains every thing that disturbs our ease or our indolence. We shall not, then think ourselves worthy of such honour and reverence, as though every thing about us must be made to submit to our purposes, and yield to our humours. We shall be content to permit others to have some incli- rations, some desires, some conveniences, as well as our- selves ; and not imagine that the world was made only for our pleasure, nor even the inferior parts of it merely to obey us. It is only the good and the humble man who tastes satisfaction in the welfare of his inferiors, who relishes the pleasures of his fellow-creatures, and he feels a ,real and sincere delight to see every one around him made chearful and easy, though sometimes it may be at the expence of his own ease and convenience. These are joys which pride has never tasted. The man of haughty thoughts and airs has very little acquaintance with the golden rule of equity that our Sa- viour has 'given us, " to deal with others as we desire them to deal with us." He scarce ever concerns himself to reflect how tenderly he would wish to be treated, if he were in the place of those whom he treats so rudely. His pride will not suffer him so much as to suppose him- self there. He does not ask himself, How would this disdain, this overbearing insolence, this disturbance and disappointment sit uponmyheart if my neighbour treated me in this manner ?" Surely no mortal would resent,it more painfully than himself; and yet he is utterly regard- less what pain he gives to his fellow-creatures by this his scornful behaviour. He may call himself a Christian, but I know not who will believe him, while he makes it ap- pear to all men that he has nothing to do with that divine rule of love which our blessed Saviour borrowed from Moses and gave it to all his followers ; " Love thy neighbour as thyself." When I feel myself impatient of the least disappoint- ment, when I take no thought to make my neighbour easy, but grow furiously zealúus to maintain my own 3
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