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SECT.
I.]
THE SPRINGS
OF
ST. PAUL'S
HUMILITY.
467
The
bulk
of
mankind are
so
generally
given to
err
on
this
hand,
that
is,
to
overvalue
themselves
and
depreciate
their neighbours
;
and the number
of
those
who
make
a
mistake on the
other
side
is
so
exceeding
small,
that
in
proposing general directions
for
our conduct there
is
scarce any need
of
a
caution
'or
guard against the humble
and self denying kinds
of
mistake.
Then
is
our
opinion
concerning
ourselves and
our
neighbours agreeable
to
the rule and
temper of
christianity, and generally
nearer
the
truth,
when
we
sink our
idea
of
self
rather
below
what
seems to
us
to be
our
due, and when
we
raise the
idea
of our
neighbours a little above what
appears
to
be-
long
to
them, for they
doubtless
have some virtues
and
good
qualities unknown
to
us,
and
it
is
certain
we
have
some
secret
failings which do
not
usually
come within
our
own notice.
But
I
shall
touch upon
this
subject
perhaps
once again,
and therefore
I
proceed to the
gene-
ral
heads of
my
discourse.
Here I
shall
enquire,
First, Whence
comes
it to pass
that
St.
Paul
forms so
diminutive
an
idea
of
himself,
and
calls
himself
less
than
the
least
of
all
the saints
:
And
Secondly,
What
blessed
advantages
may
we
obtain by
this lessening
view
of
ourselves in
imitation
of
such
an
example.
SECTION
I.
The
Springs
of
St.
Paul's
Humility.
The
first
thing
to be
inquired
is,
whence
comes
it to
pass
that
St.
Paul
forms such
diminutive ideas
of
him-
self
?
I
answer,
I. From
a constant
sense
of
his own
former iniquities,
and
an
ever
-
present
consciousness
of
sin
that
dwells
in
hirn.
You
may
read
this
account
of
himself
in
many
of
his
epistles
;
1
Cor.
xv. 9.
"
I
am the
least
of
the
apos-
tles,
and
am
not
meet
to be
called an apostle, because
I
persecuted
the
church of
God."
1
Tim.
i.
13, 15.
"
I
was
before a
blasphemer and
a
persecutor and
injurious;
and
in this view
I
am
the
chief
of
sinners."
Rom.
vii.
14, 18,
24.
"
I
am
c-arnal,
sold
under
sin.
In
me,
that
is
in
my flesh,
dwelleth no good
thing:
O
wretched man
that
I
am
!"
Each
of
us
are best
acquainted
with
our-
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