Ij 5 teUMtLITY REPRESENTEa. from this disquieting and uneasy consciousness of my own merit : I shall be free from this troublesome and tormenting right of taking offence at every thing : shall no more resent the little supposed neglects of my inferiors, nor teaze my own heart with those shadows of an affront which a vain and busy fancy can create hourly. Grant, O my God, thou Father of my spirit, that there maybe no dark còrner in my heart to keep such hellish tinder in it, lest I should be kindled and fired with every flying spark." V. The, man who is not wont to raise a great and high idea of himself can much more easily content himself iu a middle station of life, without a fond and anxious pursuit of wealth and grandeur either for himself, or for his household. He can rest satisfied in a mean estate, if the providence of God so appoint it; for what is there in me, saith he, to deserve or expect riches or greatness among men? But he that carries about him an ex- alted image of his own worth is pushed on by ambition to climb up to pinnacles, and to venture upon methods dangerous to his soul and conscience, in order to acquire wealth as the support of equipage and grandeur. It is hardly possible for a mortal to be full of self, but he must be worldi. -minded : Whereas if we are christians and the sons of heaven in thisvain and perishingworld, God speaks to us for the most part as he did to Baruch ; 'Jer. xlv. 5. Seekest thou great things for thyself, seek them not. " Stand thou, 'O my soul, among the ranks of humble Chris- tians; look on thyself as a pilgrim and stranger here.; travel as a foreigner through this dangerous wilderness, and having food and raiment to supply thy wants and Support thy journey, becon- tent. It is not of much importance whether thou acquire large treasures of that sort of coin which will not pass in the city to which thou art travelling, nor can ever be remitted to- thee by any forms of exchange. It is not of great moment whether thou re -- ceive titles and honours among foreigners in this strange coun- try : These honours and titles, are the contempt of angels, and are of no account in thy native land, for thou art born from above. Live upon the views andhopes of thy fair inheritance onhigh, of 'honours prepared for thee at home in thy Father's house, among the sons and daughters of God, among the angels, of heaven, and spirits ofjust men made perfect. Alas ! How contrary is the spirit of a christian to the spirit of this world ! The one is all for self and shew and grandeur ; the other abases self, lies at the foot of God, and is content without honour from men. This fulness of self is opposite to the very temper of the gospel, which requites us to be poor in spirit ; and yet how ready are we to in- dulge it ? how few are there among those who take up the name of Christian that watch against this vice and labour to subdue it ? Which of us can lay his hand upon his heart and say, " there is no pride dwells here ?"
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