4 40 HUMILITY REPRESENTED. shallbe content to permit others to have some inclinations, some desires, some conveniences, as well as ourselves and not ima- gine that the world was made only for our.pleasure, nor even the inferior parts of it merely to obeyus. It is only the good and the humble man who tastes satisfaction in the welfare of his inferiors, who relishes the pleasures of his fellow creatures, and he feels a real and sincere delight to see every one around him made chearful and easy, though sometimes it may be at the cx- pence of his own ease and convenience. These are joys which pride has never tasted. The man of haughty thoughts and airs hasvery littleacquaintance with the golden rule ofequity that our Saviour has given us, to deal with others as we desire them todeal with us. He scarce ever concerns 'himselfto reflect how tenderly he would wish to be treated, if he were in the place of those whom he treats,so rudely. His pride will not suffer him so. much as to suppose himself there. He does notask himself, " How would this disdain, this overbearing insolence, this disturbance and disappointment sit Upon my heart if my neighbour treated me in this manner ?" Surely no mortal would resent it more painfully than himself ; and yet he is utterly regardless what pain he give's to his fellow-creatures ,by 'this his scornful beha- viour. He may call himself a christian, but I knew'not who will believe him, while lie makes it appear to all men that he' has nothing to do with that divine rule of love which our blessed Saviour borrowed from Moses and gave it to all his followers : Love thy neighbour as thyself When I feel myself impatient of the least disappointment, when I take no thought to make my neighbour easy, but grow furiously zealous to maintain my own humour at the expence of the ease or the conveniency of all about me, how unlike am I to the blessed Jesus, who had a nobler self than any mere crea- ture; and yet he denied it, even in the tenderest instances of reputation and of life itself for the good of his people ? Rom. xv. 3. Whence St. Paul derives this holy inference, verse 1, 2. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. But let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification Iór even Christ pleased not himself. And the blessed apostle has added his own character to confirm and enforce this practice of virtue and good- ness; 1 Cor. ix. 19-23. I have made myself a servant to all that I might gain the more : To the weak I became as weak that I might win their souls : I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some; and this I do, that I may be partaker of the blessings of the gospel together with you." O happy souls, in whom this humble and holy temper prevails ! Happy souls indeed, who are so dear to God, so, much a-kin to Christ'andso iealous of the peace and happiness of men ! -
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