506 THE PRETENCES OF THE POOR, tsECT. V. servitude, because thy livery is finer, or has more lace upon it than the coat of thy neighbour ? Ask thyself again, dost thou never set up for a chief talker in company, and doth thy heart never presume that thou art wiser than those above thee, without any just reason for it? Canst thou bear to be commanded by others, and contradicted by others, and reproved by others, without an inward rising ferment of wrath, and without returning a word of rash provocation ? Art thou never inclined to rage and passion when thy ears take in a reproach ? Canst thou bear an injury with such hum- ble silence, and forgive thy enemy as a christian ought to do ? Art thou not as ready to give or to take offence as any of the rich and great? And is it thy humility that inclines thee to take offence or to give it ? Where there is little forbearance and little care to please in our con- duct surely there is some pride at heart. Upon the whole I suspect there are more quarrels and contentions among the poorest and meanest of the people than among the rich and high -born : And the wise man says; "l'rov. xiii. 10. It is only from pride cometh con- tention." The polite education of the great teaches them to imitate humility and good humour, and by this means many a quarrel is prevented ; whereas the poor who have been unbred and untaught betray their pride often, and often rush into clamorous contentions. Let me ask thee yet further, art thou not too fond of some pre-eminence and honour even on a dunghill ? Dost thou never despise in thy heart, and disdain those who seem to be inferior to thee in any respect ? And yet at other times, art thou not too much ashamed of the rank of life where God bath placed thee ? Dost thou never abstain from any duties of religion, or duties of common life, merely because thou canst not make so good a fi- gure among men as others do, and as thou desirest ? Enquire of thyself again, is thy behaviour among thy equals modest and meek, and always courteous and obliging? Dost thou never refuse any offices of friendly assistance to thy inferiors or thy equals, from a principle of pride working within thee ? Dost thou never disdain to be taught by them, even in some things which thou dost not well know ? There is no creature humble who 5
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