SER M. fifts in ufing great gentleness, even to thofe X. that have offended; Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a Fault, ye, which are fpiritual, reflore fuch a one in the Spirit of Meekness, confidering thyself, left Thou alfo be tempted, Gal. yi. 1. And 2 Tim. ii. 25. In Meekness inftructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure would give them Repentance to the acknowledgment of the Truth. These are the Characters and the Inftances of True Humility, with regard to our Inferiors in Religious Improvements; which was the last of thofe Cafes, or Circumftances, wherein for Distinctness fake, I propofed to confider This excellent Virtue. And indeed there are No cafes, wherein the Practice of Humility is more difficult or more intricate, than when men are tempted to Spiritual Pride, or to defpife thofe who are fuppofed to be their Inferiors in religious improvements. Which Vice infinuating itself into men upon different occafions, and branching forth itself into many Instances; a brief mentioning some of the principal of them, may affift us ftill further in understanding the Nature of the contra ry X. ry Virtue. And ift, there is a spiritualS 1 M. Pride in prefuming to fin, upon the Sense of the Virtues we are in other respects indued with. This was the Cafe of Uzziah King of Judah; of whom the Scripture relates, 2 Chr. xxvi. 4, 16. that he did that which was right in the Sight of the Lord, according to all that his Father had done, And he fought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the Vifions of God; and God made him to prof per: But when he was ftrong, his heart was lifted up to his deftruction; for be tranfgreffed against the Lord his God. The fame was in fome degree the cafe of Hezekiah, who having ferved the Lord diligently, beyond all that his Fathers had done; and having been accordingly bleffed with great Profperity; yet at length he rendred not again according to the Benefits done unto him; For his Heart was lifted up; Therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Ferufalem, 2 Chr. xxxii 25. And This is a Fault fo incident even to otherwife good men, that St Paul declares even concerning himself, 2 Cor. xii. 7. Left I should be exalted a X. ger; SER M.bove measure through the Abundance of the Revelations, there was given to me a Thorn in the Flesh, an Affliction, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, left I should be exalted above measure. The Duty of Humility in This cafe, confifts, in being always fenfible of our Fallibility and our Danin working out our own Salvation with Fear and Trembling; even when we think we ftand fureft, yet taking beed left we fall; being (as the Prophet expreffes it, f. lxvi. 2.) of a poor and contrite Spirit, and trembling at God's Word. 2dly, There is a fpiritual Pride of Vainglory, in affecting a publick Appearance of fuch Actions, as in themselves are good and commendable. This was the great Fault of the Pharifees; who loved to go in long-cloathing, and loved falutations in the market-places, and the chief Seats in the Synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feafts; who when they gave their Alms, Mat. vi. 2. founded a trumpet before them in the fynagogues and in the streets, that they might have glory of men, and when they prayed, did it flanding in the fynagogues, and in the corners of the fireets, that they might be Mar. xii. $8. vi. 5. vi. 16. Jeen X. feen of Men; and, when they fafted, put SER M. on a fad countenance, and disfigured their Faces, that they might appear unto men to faft. In oppofition to This, true Humility confifts, in being contented to let the World be ignorant of the particular good Works we do; in fo difpofing our Alms, as not to let our left hand know what our right hand does; and in avoiding all Affectation, and publick Boafting, of our private Virtues. All which nevertheless, is so far from being inconfiftent with that other Precept of our Saviour, of letting our Light so shine before men, that they may see our good Works, and glorify our Father which is in Heaven; that, on the contrary, there is no greater and more effectual recommendation of Virtue, to the imitation of reasonable and well-difpofed Perfons; than when they find it fincerely unaffected, and which vaunteth not itself. 3dly, There is a Spiritual Pride, of men confidently justifying themfelves, and being wholly infenfible of their own Failings, while they are very cenforious in judging and defpifing others. Of This, our Saviour gives us an excellent inftance, St VOL. III. Luke SERM. Luke xviii. 9. And he spake this Parable X. unto certain which trufted in themselves w that they were righteous, and defpifed o thers; Two men went up into the Temple ; God |