494 / 652
+A
THE
AO
AHTAGES
OF
HttMtL1TY
{SECT.
M.
scorner
is
an
abomination
to men
:
He that
takes
this
toad
to
grandeur
widely mistakes
his
way,
for he often
ruins
his
interest instead
of
advancing
it.
And
if
he
Should
happen to arrive
at
greatness
he leaves
behind
him
the
more
virtuous and
tasteful pleasures
of
friendship
and love:
If
he
could
but hear
with
what
contempt and
hatred
he
is
treated
behind
his
backs
he would
endure
much anguish
of
soul
with
inward shame and lasting
vexation
:
And
it
is
pity
but
he
should hear
it
some-
times, to
punish
at
least,
if
not
to
cure
his
insolence.
Has divine providence raised
me
to any
accidental
degrees
of
elevation above
my
neighbours,
let
my
heart
Seek
their
love
rather
than their fear
:
Let
me find
pro-
per
seasons to place myself as
it
were
upo*
a level
with
them
with
all
due and condescending decency,
and
thus
let
nie
seek and obtain the esteem and hearty benevolence
of
mankind, and
particularly of
those
whom
providence
has placed
beneath
me.
There
is
an
art
of bearing,up
One's
highest
character
and
dignity amongst men
without
the haughty
airs,
the exalted
eye
-brow
and
the insolent
tone
tf
voice.
IV.
Low and humble thoughts
of
ourselves
will
teach
tis to
bear
the
admonition
of our
friends
with
a
gentler
temper,
and
receive the
blessing with a
return
of thank-
fulness
:
We shall sustain the
reproaches
of our
enemies
also with a
greater
calm
of
soul,
and stand the rudest
Shock
óf
calumny
with
a
more steady patience.
What
is
it but
the pride
of
our
hearts, and the great
An
sacred
image which
we
frame
of
ourselves, that
makes
us
so
hasty
to
resent
the softest admonition
of
a
friend
?
Our
hearts and
lips
stand
always
ready
pressed
to
vindicate
our
whole
conduct, and
sometimes
we
let
loose
our
fire.
and
thunder
on
a sudden
upon
those
who
give
us
the most friendly rebuke.
Self
is
our
shining
idol,
and
no man must
dare
to
suppose there
is
any
ble-
mish
or
spot
Upon it.
Therefore
we
repay
the kindest
advice
with railing,
and revile
men
for the greatest bene-
fit they can
bestow
upon
us.
We
forni so
innocent
and
.so
venerable an idea
of
ourselves,
we
fancy
our
beloved
selves
to be wise, so
unblameable and
perfect,
that
we
cannot endure
to
hear or
suspect
there
are
any failings
belonging to
us,
and
we
resent
it
as
an
high
offence when
they
are pointed
out
to
us by
the
gentlest
hand.
We are