1 THE ADVANTAGESOF HV1% SLITY. tSEC?. 1V. tion and the mischief. Even the old idol at Rome with all his infallibility and thunder could scarcely demand more sovereignty over our belief than the positive menof our age even in the land of liberty. But to proceed. . What is it but our pride that breaks in upon the discourse of many a wiser person than our- selves ? We are impatient to set forth our own talent of talking, and at the same time to publish our arrogance and shame, and perhaps our nonsense too. Truth and merit are often modest, while ignorance and folly sound their trumpet, and the brass will make itself heard while gold and jewels shine in silence. Again, What is it but this fulness of self that makes persons so unable to bear the least contradiction, even in the common affairs of life ? They grow pale with anger, or kindle into rage when any of their sentiments are op- posed ; they feel the inward ferment working and boiling up when their neighbour dares to be of another mind : And it is seldom that they have power or inclination to conceal their resentment : It generally boils over at their lips and betrays the secret fire. Some passionate speech, some wrathful word or other breaks from their tongue and gives notice of their impatience and high displea- sure. What is all this but the fruit of pride and self- sufficiency. If men had a lower esteem of themselves, they would not always maintain such a full assurance that truth and justice are ever on their side. By this assuming behavi- our they forbid all instruction, they stop all the avenues of reason and knowledge, by which further light might enter into their souls and rectify any mistaken sentiment, There is no man lies so far out of the road of illumine- tio;:i and true wisdom, as he that is already very sure his opinions are all sun-beams ; Prov. xxvi. 1 Z. " Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of hirn." It is with secret pleasure and /inward esteem that I have often read those four lines which that excellent man doctor John Owen wrote under his own effigies. ' Umbra refert fragiles dederint quas cura dolorgire Reliquias, studiis assiduusque labor, Meutem hu1nilem sacri servantem limina veri N'otis supplicibus qui dedit, ille videz."
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