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SER M. eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in X. great matters, or in things too high for me: And the Wife Son of Sirach, Eccluf. iii. 21. Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither fearch the things that are above thy Strength: But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence; for it is not needful for thee to fee with thine eyes the things that are in fecret: Be not curious in unnecessary matters, for more things, are fhewed unto thee, than men underftand: For many are deceived by their own vain opinion, and an evil fufpicion has overthrown their judgment. The only caution here neceffary to be given, is that this entire humble Submiffion of our own judgment, is due to God only, in the Words of his own immediate and express Revelation ; the paying the like deference to any bumane doctrine or kuman explication of doctrine whatfoever, without thoroughly examining it and understanding it perfectly; is not Humility, but Ignorance and Sloth. And may fuffice upon the it particular,

This

what True Humility is, and wherein it confifts.

SERMON

SERMON XI.

Of HUMILITY.

LUK. xiv. II.

For whofoever exalteth himself, shall be abafed; and he that humbleth himself, fhall be exalted.

I

Na former Difcourfe upon SER M. thefe Words, I have endea- XI.

voured to show distinctly

What the Virtue of true Hu

mility is, and wherein it con

fifts. It remains that I proceed at this Time, to propofe fome Arguments to perfwade men to the Practise of it.

And

SERM. And It, The Scripture frequently lays XI. before us, the natural ill confequences of Pride; and the Advantages arifing from true Humility, even in the natural Course and Order of Things.

;

PRIDE makes men foolish, and void of caution and This puts them upon doings things that bring them to Dishonour: When Pride cometh, then cometh Shame; but with the lowly is Wisdom, Prov. xi. 2.

IT makes men negligent, and improvident of the future; and this often throws them into fudden calamities; The Turning away of the Simple, (in the original it is, the Eafe, the Negligence, of the Simple,) fhall flay them; and the Profperity of Fools fhall deftroy them, Prov. i. 32.

IT makes men rafh and peevish, obftinate and infolent; and This feldom fails to bring down ruin upon them: Pride goeth before deftruction, and an haughty Spirit before a Fall; Better it is to be of an bumble Spirit with the lowly, than to divide the Spoil with the Proud, Prov. xvi. 18.

IT

IT involves men perpetually in Strifes SER M. and Contentions; and Thefe always mul- XI. tiply Sin, and are inconfiftent with true Happiness; He loveth tranfgreffion, that loveth ftrife; and he that exalteth his Gate, feeketh Deftruction, Prov. xvii, 19.

IT difobliges mens beft Friends, and gives their Enemies perpetual Advantages against them; and This often draws great inconveniencies upon them: Before deftruction the Heart of Man is haughty, and before Honour is Humility, Prov. xviii.

12.

IT makes men vain and lovers of Flattery, rejecting those about them who would do them most Kindness, and liking thofe best who do them the greatest injury; And This caufes them to be infenfible of their own Disease, till they fuddenly fall under Contempt: A man's Pride fhall bring him low, but Honour Shall uphold the humble in Spirit, Prov. xxix. 23.

IT makes men impatient men impatient of good Advice and Inftruction, and That renders them incorrigible in their Vices; Seeft thou a man wife in his own Conceit?

there

SERM.there is more Hope of a Fool, than of him: XI. The fluggard is wifer in his own conceit,

than feven men that can render a reason, Prov. xxvi. 12, 16; and xxviii. 26, He that trufteth in his own Heart, is a Fool; but whofo walketh wifely, he shall be delivered.

Laftly, IT fills men full of vain-glorious Defigns, imploying all their Thoughts in felf-confident Imaginations; and This makes them incapable of Religious improvements, and to have no relish of true Wisdom: The full Soul loatheth the

7;

boney-comb, Prov. xxvii. and xxv. 27, It is not good to eat much honey; fo for men to fearch their own glory, is not glo

ry.

THESE are the elegant Obfervations of wife Solomon, upon the natural inconveniencies and disadvantages of Pride. In the other parts of Scripture we find likewife, feveral Remarks of the fame kind, That Pride hinders men from examining impartially, into the Truth of Religion; How can ye believe, fays our Saviour, which receive honour one of another, and feek not the honour which cometh from God

only ?

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