558 CHRISTIAN MORALITY. sin, and felt it in her' punishment, when she has cockeyed up her young offspring in pride, and thereby taught them to break the rules of justice, to slight all her authority, and make a scoff of that pre-eminence whichGod andnaturehavegiven her. The proud man is ready to say in his heart, f° All that are around me ought to payme respect, and do me justice," while he is regardless of the respect due to others. " Let them carry it it towards me as they ought, and I will carry it toward them as I please." It is pridethat inclines us to throw a blot hereand thereupon the good name of our neighbour, and to blemishhis reputation, lest he should outshine us. When some honourable mention is made of auotherperson inour company, especiallyifit beoneof our own sex, our own rank or degree in the world, do we not feel something rising within to lessen their honour, and to stain their character ? It is through this vanity and ambition of mind, that we are tempted to defame and reproach our neighbour, and to rob him of his just honour among men, and we endeavour to buildour ownfameand credituponthe ruinofhis. But it is a sandy, orrather an impious foundation ; and the fame that is builtupon such ground will never stand. Pride inclines us to assume more respect than is due to ourselves, and to take it away fromour neighbour, even as covetousness tempts us to take more money to ourselves than is due, and to 'deprive our neighbour of it. Thus both of them areopposite to thesacred rule of justice; one to that justice which we owe to our neighbour's estate, and the other tohis good name. But the evil influence of pride spreads farther also ; for it teaches us to practise unrighteousness in matters of property: It instructs us in the methods of oppression, and inspires us with a wicked courage to practise it; Ps. lxxiii. 6, 7, 8. When pride compasses men as a chain, and they wear it is a golden ornament, thenviolence covers them as a garment; and though their eyes stand out withfatness, and they have morethan heart could wish, yet they are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They gripe those that are poor, because they themselves are mighty. 'riley refuse to pay the just demands of .their neighbours, they speak loftily, and stand it out with them against all right and justice, because they are great in the world. It is the rule of justice to change places with our humble neighbour, and ask ourselves, what we should think due to us, if we were in his place. Or at least we should set ourselves and our neighbour upon the level, and consider what is just and right on both sides. But the heart of pride cannotbear such a rule, it exalts itself far above the level of mankind, and practises toward those that are around it with a superior insolence andinjustice. Cursed pride, 't4
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