n{IMTITY RELRESENTED If the poor and the ignorant ask him a question, though it be an impertinent one, hedoes not turn short upon them with a smart and surly speech, nor turn away with a disdainful sirenfe : He makes the child and the servant love him by the soft and friendlyanswers hegives even to their needless queries. His be- haviour to his inferiors has something in it so engaging, that there is not the meanest figure of mankind goes from his presence without a pleasing image of his goodness left upon their minds. Whenhe comes into company with his equals, he does not seize the dictator's chair, nor affect to spew himself in any superior forms. He comes to learn rather than to instruct, and net only gives others leave to speak in their turn,, but he hears their opinion with patience and pleasure, and pays due deference to all the appearancesofreason in their discourse,though he may some- times happen to prefer his own sentiment. I-le is not fond of in- grossing the talk to himself, nor of filling up the hour of conver- sation withhearing his own discourse, or speaking his own prai- ses : He limits the motions of his tongue, he pays to every . one the rightsof society, and he enjoys the esteem and love of all. Humility carries in it all the sincere arts of complaisance, and is the shortest way to form and accomplish the man of breeding. But a swelling haughty creature is .a hateful thing. Irmo,- lence of .heart and tongue are forbidding qualities. A proud look is an abomination to the Lord, and an abhorred thing amongst men ; Prov. xvii. 6. Such persons may be feared but they are never loved : They may have many cringes and compliments paid to them by their neighbours, but they have no room in their esteem, no place in their heart ; Prov. xxiv. 9. A scorner is an abomination to men: He that takes this road 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 couldbut hear with what contempt and hatred he is treated behind his back, he would endure much, anguish of soul with inward shame And lasting vexation : it is a pity but he should hear it sometimes, to punish at least, if not to cure his insolence: Has divine providente raised me to any accidental degrees of elevation above my neighbours, let my heart seek their love rather than their fear : Let me findproper seasons to place myself as it were upon a level with them with all dúe and condescending decency, and thus let me seek and obtain the esteem and hearty benevolence of mankind, and particularly of those whom provi- dence has placed beneath me. There is anart of bearing up one's highest character and dignity amongst men without the haughty airs, the exalted eye-brow and the insolent tone of voice.
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