SECT. TV.] IN REGARD TO OURSELVES. 4$9 humour at the expence of the ease or the conveniency of all about me, how unlike am I to the blessed Jesus, who had a nobler self than any mere creature ; and yet he denied it, even in the tenderest instances of reputation and of life itself for the good ofhis people ? Rom. xv. 3. Whence St. Paul derives this holy inference, verses 1, 2: " We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. But let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edifica- tion : For even Christ pleased not himself." And the blessed apostle has added his own character to confirm and enforce this practice of virtue and goodness ; I Cor. ix. 1g-23. " I have made myself a servant to all that I might gain the more : To the weak I became as weak that I might win, their souls: I ammade all things to all men, that I might by all means save some : and this I do; that Imay be partaker of the blessings of thegospel toge- ther with you." O happy souls, in whom this humble and holy temper prevails ! Happy souls indeed, who are so dear to God, so much a-kin to Christ and so zealous of the peace and happiness of men ! SECTION IV. The Advantages ofHumility with Regard to Ourselves. Thus I have finished the second rank of advantages derived from a low esteem of ourselves, viz. Those which relate to our fellow-creatures. I come now to consider, in the Last place, What are the advantages of this virtue with regard to ourselves, to our own improvement and happi- ness. I. We shall not be so positive and rooted in all our own opinions nor so uncapable of discerning or rectify- ing our mistakes. It is of considerable importance to a fallible creature to know that he is liable to a mistake as well as his fellows, that he may search out and correct his errors : But the man who is full of self is never mis- taken : He has no opinion to be dropped or altered, no retraction to make : Rash as he is, yet he has no errors to be corrected in his own esteem, and therefore he lives and dies in full possession ofmany falsehoods and in the daily practice of many' follies. Pride is one vice, but it supports a hundred. -
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