SSO' ÇnRISTIAN MORALITY. does not insist-upon the utmost of his own right with a stiffand unyieldingobstinacy, but abates ofhis just-pretensions forthe sake of peace ; and what he practises himself, he persuades others to practise in the like contests. This is that moderation and gen- tleness, which the great apostle recommends a few verses before . ,my text. Phil. iv. 5. Let yaer moderation be known unto all men. And our blessed Lordhimself gives the moderate plan this illustrious encomium, blessed are the meek, who submit rather than quarrel, for, they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called thechildren of God; Mat. v. 5-9.. Happy souls whom the God of truth, and the God of peace, acknowledges for hischildren, and to whom he promises q large inheritance ! And let it be observed also, that whatsoever hard usage the sons of peace may meet with, while the ferment of parties is hottest, and the storm is high, yet when the clamour and rage are sunk and calm, when the party-fury bath spent itself, and is grown cool enough to suffer men to bethink themselves, and to see all things in their true colours, then the man of mo- deration stands approved of men as well as of God ; the divine virtue appears in its own lovely form, and receives a becoming share of honour. III. Humility is a lovely virtue. It is beautiful and becoming for a man to divest himself of all affected grandeur, and not to exalt his head above his neighbour. O that we were all clothed with humility ! Itis an ornament that becomes sinners well. Let us put it on with our daily raiment, and strive to vie with each other which shad practise this grace in the greatestperfection. How unlovely a carriage is it to boast ourselves of any superior quality we possess, or to assume lofty airs, because we have more money than our neighbours ! To aggrandize our selves in our own esteem, in our own language, in our behaviour; because we fancy ourselves to be better dressed, or better fed than 'our fellow-creatures ! And if we have a little honour put upon us by the providence of God, it is a criminal vanity for us to grow haughty and insolent upon that account. I am in pain whensoeverIhear aman treat his servant ashedoes his dogs as though apoor man were not made of the sameclay, nor born of the same ancient race as his master: As though Adam, whose name is dust, was not our common father, or a lord had not the Same originalas other men. Nay, thenobler possessionsof themind, ingenuity and learn- ing, and even grace itself, are no sufficient ground for pride. It is acomely thing to see a man exalted by many divine 'gifts, and yet abasing himself. It is a lovely sight to behold aperson
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