SERMON XXVIII. 887 Well adorned with virtue and merit, and glorified in the mouths of all men, and yet concealing himself: TO see a man of shining worth drawing, as it were, ä curtain before himself, that the ~World might not see him, while the world do what they can to do him justice, and draw aside the veil to make his meritvisible. Not that a man of worth is always bound to practise conceal- ment; this would be to rob mankind of the blessingGod hasde- signed 'for them, and to wrap up his talents, in theunprofitable napkin: But there are occasions wherein a worthy and illustrious personmay be equally useful to the world, andyet withdraw him- self from public applause: This is the hour to make his humility appear. How graceful and engaging is it in persons of title and quality to stoop to those that are of a mean degree, to converse freely at proper seasons with those that are poor and despicable in theworld, to give them leave to offer their humble requests, or sometimes to debate a point of importance with them.: Not all the dignity of their raiment can render them half so honourable as this condescension does; for nothing makes them so much like God. The High andholy One, who inhabits eternity, stoops down from heaven to visit the afflicted, and to dwell with the poor. And surely,when we set ourselves before the divine Majesty, we are meaner and more contemptible in his eyes, than it is possible for any fellow-creature to be in ours ; he humbleshimself to be- hold princes. It must be allowed indeed, that where God and the world have placed any person in a superior station, and givenhim a sensible advancement above his fellow-creatures, he is not bound to renounce the honour that are his due, nor to actbeneath the dignity of his character and state. This would be to confound all the beautiful order of things in the natural, civil, and religious life. But there are cases and seasons that often occur, when great degrees of humility may be practised without danger of sinking one's own character, or doing a dishonour to our station in the world. There is an art of maintaining state with an air of modesty, nor is there any need to put on haughty and scornful airs, in order to secure the honours of a tribunal, or the highest offices of magistracy. I have known a man who acted in an exalted station with so much condescensionand candour, that all menagreed to love and honour him so far, that it was hard to say, Whether he was most honoured, or most beloved. How amiable a behaviour is it in younger persons, when respect is paid to age, and the honour is given to the hoary head that natureand scripture join to require Lev. xix. 32. " Thou Shalt rise up before the hoary head, andhonour the face ofthe old, cc3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=