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3dly, THE third and laft motive the SER M. Scripture lays before us, to recommend XI. the Practice of Humility, is the Example of God himself, and of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Properly and strictly fpeaking, Humility is not a Perfection that can be afcribed to God: Becaufe where there is no room for Pride, there can never be properly any Exercife of Humility; and He whofe Nature is of infinite and unlimited Excellency, can neither poffibly affume to himself, nor have afcribed to him by Others, any thing beyond what is abfolutely and neceffarily due to him, Neither can he poffibly debafe himself, in the literal Senfe, or in any wife diminish from his own fuperlative and unchangeable Excellency. Nevertheless, in a figurative manner of speaking, the Scripture does fometimes afcribe Humility to God, and recommends his Condefcenfion as a Pattern. for us to imitate. The Lord, who dwelleth on high, humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven, and in the Earth, Pf. cxiii. 6. Though the Lord be

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SER M.fpect unto the lowly. And the fame manXI. ner of fpeaking is ufed by God himself,

I. lvii. 15, Thus faith the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth Eternity;--I dwell in the High and Holy Place; with Him alfo, that is of a contrite and humble Spirit: And ch. Ixvi. 1, Thus faith the Lord, The Heaven is my Throne, and the Earth is my Footstool;- -yet to This man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my Word. But the Example more accommodate to our Infirmities, and more generally alleged in Scripture, is that of our Saviour Who, though he was Lord of all, yet was content not to have Head, St Mat. viii. 20. Before whom it was proclaimed; Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and fitting upon an Afs, St Mat, xxi. 5. Who, though he was greater than All, yet declared concerning himself. If I honour myself, my bonour is nothing; It is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye fay that he is your God, St. Joh. viii, 54, Who, though he was rich, yet for our fakes be became poor, that we through his Po

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verty might be rich, 2 Cor. viii. 9. Who, SERM. XI. glorified not Himself, to be made an High Prieft; but he that faid unto him, Thou art my Son, Heb. v. 5. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he Juffered, he threatned not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Pet. ii. 23. Which Example of univerfal Humility in all Circumftances, he himfelf proposes to us for our Imitation: Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in Heart, St Mat. xi. 29. If I, your Lord and Mafler, have washed your Feet, then I have given you an example, that je fhould do as I have done to you, St fcb. xiii. 15. Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your Servant; Even as the Son of Man came not to be miniftred unto, but to mi nifter, and to give his Life a ransom for many, St Mat. xx. 28. And the fame is urged by the Apostle, Rom. xv. 2, Let every one of us please his Neighbour for his good to edification; For even Chrift pleafed not himself. And Phil. ii. 5, Let this mind be in you, which was alfo in Chrift Jefus; Who, though he was in the Form of God, yet was not greedy to appear as

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SER M.God (fo the Words fignify in the origiXI, nal;) but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the Form of a Servant, and was made in the Likeness of Men, And bumbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Grofs: Wherefore God also has highly exalted him.

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THESE are the Principal Arguments the Scripture makes ufe of, to perfwade men to the Practice of Humility in general. There are moreover in particular, as many peculiar diftinct motives to practice this Duty, as there are different Circumftances and Varieties of Cafes wherein it is to be exercifed. Without practifing it towards, Superiors, there can be no Government; without exercifing it towards Equals, there can be no Friendship and mutual Charity. Then, with regard to Inferiors; befides the general Example of Chrift's fingular and unfpeakable Condefcenfion towards us All, there are proper Arguments to deter us from Pride upon account of every particular Advantage we may feem to have over Others, whether in refpect of our

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Civil Stations in the World, or of our SER M. Natural Abilities, or of our Religious Improvements. If the Advantages of our Civil Stations in the World, tempt us to proud and haughty Behaviour we may do well to confider that Argument of Job, ch. xxxi. 13, If I did defpife the caufe of my Man-fervant, or of my Maid fervant when they contended with me What then fhall I do, when God rifeth up? and when he vifiteth, what shall I answer bim? Did not he that made Me in the Womb, make Him? and did not One, fa fion us in the Womb? And ch. xxxiv. 19. He accepteth not the Perfons of Princes, nor regardeth the Rich more than the Poor; for they are All the Work of tis Hands. Which fame: Argument is urged alfo by the Wifeman, Prev. xiv. 3.1, He that oppreffeth the Four, reproacheth his Maker: And ch. xxii. 2, The Rich and Poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them All. It will become us alfo, to think upon the Vanity and Uncertainty of thefe things, which are fo apt to puff us up: For all Flef is as Grass; and all the glory of Man,

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