is nothing to cloud the Understanding, or pervert the Judgment, or prompt to wrong Action. Man in this State is like himself, a Being of diftinguish'd Worth; he has formed and improved himself according to his Abilities, and must have a fecret Efteem for his own Improvements. He will rejoice in this Labour, his Judgment will for ever approve his Conduct, and the Judgments of all wife Men will approve him, and rejoice with him. This is an Exercise worthy of himself, this is Virtue, this Victory. Let the World be ever fo degenerate, it will estéem this Character; they who cannot bring themfelves to imitate it, will at least admire and praise it both in the Dead and the Living. This, as it is the most worthy, the only folid Ground of SelfEfteem, has this peculiar Advantage, that it will not urge us to Self-Prefe rence; and principally for this Reafon.

The

The Mind thus engaged, will be at least conscious to itself of so many Frailties and Corruptions, which it cannot obferve in others; it will have fo intimate and painful a Feeling of them, which it cannot have of other Men's, that it will be naturally inclined in Lowlinefs of Mind, to esteem others better than it self. And in Cafes where the inward Corruption is dif covered by the outward Actions, and the over-bearing Paffion will no longer be concealed; it will make all proper Allowances, admit every reafonable Excufe, and always be a compaffionate Obferver, never a fevere Judge. When the two Sons of Zebedee defired to fit, the one at our Lord's right Hand, and the other at his left in his Kingdom, He call'd his Difciples to him and faid, Te know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion over them, and they that are great exercife Authority upon them.

But

But it shall not be so among you but whofoever will be great among you, let him be your Minifter; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your Servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be minifter'd unto, but to minifter.

This Exercife of the Mind will naturally throw us into this Temper, and form that humble Difpofition which is necessary to conftitute us the Difciples of Chrift: To fuch Men it will be more agreeable to serve and oblige others, than to be ferved and obliged by them; it will be their Ambition to be the Servants of all, upon all Occafions.

This is the truly amiable and glorious Character; what perfects our Being, and promotes in all Inftances and Degrees the common Happiness and Perfection of Mankind. What

Matth. xx. 25-28.

more

more excellent Scene can we paint in Imagination, than a Society of Men each fubmitting himself to other, each delighting in the Praife, the Good, and Happiness of others, more than his own? If we would defcribe the Perfection and Happiness of Heaven, what other Ideas could we have of it? Ordinary Complaifance, which is only an Affectation of this Character, is a very engaging thing; and if the bare Shew of Humility and mutual Submission, if an artful and felf-interested Tender of Services be fo delightful, what must the real Cha

racter be?

On the other hand, Pride, which is full of Self-Preference, and demands always the Obfervance and Submiffion of others, is as natural and large a Source of Mifery. Where every one overvalues himself, and confequently defpifes others, nothing can follow, but Abuse and Scandal,

Debate

Debate and Discord, Strife and Envying, a Difpofition to all forts of ill Offices. The Character of the Devil is founded in Pride, and his Actions are the Refult of it: Hence he is a Lyar, and a Murderer, and the Accufer of his Brethren, and no Place for Happiness is found any more with him.

The maintaining this Balance of the Mind; this Power of directing and over-ruling its own Actions, according to what appears fit and right to be done, is within every Man's Reach, and for that, among other Reasons offered, must be the Perfection of every Man. I leave it to its own Worth, and Excellence, and Amiableness, to recommend it.. There is one Thing further, which this Subject fuggefts, worthy of the Confideration of every good Man. Let every one confider, what it is he values himself for; the least Thought will bring it to light;