He com X. n him, for the Benefit of thofe who are SER M. placed under his Inspection. mands, without infulting; he reproves, with meekness ; he punishes unwil lingly, and never without giving evidence of Pity and Compaffion. With regard to Inferiors in natural Abilities or Accidental Advantages in the World, fuch as Learning and Knowledge, Riches, Plenty, and the like; Humility confifts; in not defpifing and contemning those, upon whom God has been pleased to beftow fewer Talents; but on the contrary in confidering, that poffibly they have fome other Gifts, which may be wanting in us; and in being willing to communicate to them, the Advantages we injoy; that They may be the better, for the Things wherewith God has bleffed Us. The true Humility of a rich man confifts, not in levelling himself with the Poor, but in being willing to affift them by relieving their Neceffities : not in confounding the Distinctions of Men's Condition, which God and Nature has established; but in indeavouring to make the condition of the Meaneft eafy, and fupportable to themselves. SER M. themselves. And in like manner, the true X. Humility of Perfons endued with more Learning and Knowledge than others, does not confift in making a Show of being ignorant, (which may be a conceited Vanity or foolish Affectation;) but it confifts in being willing to communicate what they know, and in fincerely defiring that all Others might attain the fame Knowledge with themselves: After the example of Mofes, who, instead of becoming haughty and infolent through the multitude of the Revelations wherewith God had been pleased to honour him; and instead of difcouraging others, from feeking after the like Knowledge; on the contrary declared publickly, Numb. xi. 29. Would God that All the Lord's people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them. Laftly, Towards our Inferiors in refpect of Religious Improvements, true Humility confifts, in being rightly fenfible of our own many Infirmities, even those of Us who may be apt to imagine ourselves to have made the greateft Improvements; and in being fincerely follicitous, for the welfare, and the Salva→ tion tion of All men; Let nothing be done SER M. through Strife or Vain-glory, but in Low- X. linefs of Mind let each one efteem other better than themselves; Look not every man on his own things, but every man alfo on the things of Others, Phil. ii. 3. It confifts, in indeavouring to influence Men towards Religion, by Meeknefs rather than by Power; Jefus called his Difciples unto him, and faid; Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles, exercife Dominion over them; and they that are great, exercife Authority upon them: But it shall not be fo among you; but whofoever will be great among you, let him be your Minifter; And whofoever will be chief among you, let him be your Servant; Even as the Son of Man came not to be miniftred unto, but to minifter, and to give his life a ransom for many, St Matt. xx. 25. It confifts, in not affecting to gain the empty Applause of Men, by an outward oftentation of greater Piety than others : All their Works, They do, (fays our Saviour, fpeaking of the proud Pharifees,) they do for to be seen of men; They make broad their Philacteries, and inlarge the borders of their garments; And SERM. And love the uppermost rooms at feafts, and X. the chief Seats in the Synagogues; And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi; But be not ye called, Rabbi; for One is your Mafter, even Ckrift; and all ye are brethren; And call no man your Father upon Earth; For One is your Father, which is in Heaven; Neither be ye called, Mafters; For One is your Mafter even Chrift; But he that is greateft among you, fhall be your Servant; And whofoever shall exalt himself, fhall be abafed, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted, St Mat. xxiii. 4. It confifts, in condefcending to thofe beneath us, and not difdaining even to yield to them in things indifferent; Be of the fame mind one towards another; Mind not high things, but condefcend to men of low eftate: Be not wife in your own Conceits, Rom. xii. 16. It confifts, in bearing your infirmities patiently and without frowardness ; We then that are frong, ought to bear the infirmities of the Weak, and not to please ourfelves; Let every one of us please his neighbour, for his Good to Edification; For even Christ pleafed not himself, Rom. xv. 1. It It confifts, in forbearing to judge or defpife SER M. those that differ from us in opinion; Let X. not him that eateth, defpife him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth, Rom. xiv. 3. It confifts, in taking care not to offend, by haughty and prefumptuous behaviour, fuch perfons as by Meekness might be prevailed upon to believe in Chrift, or fuch as by kind treatment might be kept from departing into Divifions; Take heed, that ye defpife not one of thefe little ones; For whofo fhall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a milftone were hanged about his Neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea, St Mat. xviii. 10, 6. It confists in taking heed not to impofe needlefs Difficulties upon those under our Power; For fo our Saviour defcribes the Pride of the Pharifees; They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born, and lay them on men's fhoulders but they themselves will not move them with one of their Fingers, St Matt. xxiii. and 1 Pet. v. 3. 4, Neither as being Lords over God's heritage, but being Examples to the Flock: Laftly, it con |