about their own Qualifications do we fee People fall!

The Inftances are numberlefs, were no others to be mentioned, of Perfons deluding themselves in the most important of all Points, the State of their Souls: mistaking uncharitable Zeal, or lifeless Formality, or enthusiastic Transports, for true Religion; or bad-tempered Rigidness, or prudential Regularity, or conftitutional Good-nature, for true Virtue: saying inwardly, as the Revelation of St. John expreffes it, I am rich, and increafed with Goods, and have Need of nothing; and not knowing, that they are wretched and poor and blind and naked. But in fuch Matters alfo, as others are apt to value themselves upon, how established an Obfervation is it, that, from Things of the greatest Importance down to the veriest Trifles, almost all the World are continually judging wrong of their own Title to Esteem; and vain of imagined Excellencies, where at moft they do but equal those about them, or perhaps are peculiarly deficient. We can eafily remark this in our Neighbours: but we strangely overlook it in ourselves; and forget, that their Failings are only thofe of Human Nature;

to which with the fame Nature, we are just as liable, and it may be full as guilty of

them.

Some few indeed, through Excefs of Modefty, or Weakness of Spirits, or Strength of Temptation, fall into the opposite Extreme, of Diffidence or even Defpondency. And these, were they to think foberly and justly, would think better of themselves; to which they ought to be excited with the most compaffionate Earneftnefs. But the general Caution, to the rest of us, muft ever be, not to think too well: to make sure of abating fufficiently from what they who pay Court to us, would fuggeft; and attend to the lefs favourable Judgements concerning us, that others pass: not to bear them the leaft Ill-will on that Account; but folely to learn that Knowledge of ourselves, which we are happy, if we learn any Way. The beft of outward Monitors indeed is a faithful and prudent Friend; if we have fuch a one, and will permit him to act as fuch. But the main Article is, that each take Care to be his own Friend; by studying his own Qualifications impartially, and as one bound in Confcience to be an upright Judge, For if a Man think himself to be fomething, when

be

be is nothing, be deceiveth himself. But let every Man prove his own Work".

2. Having examined, what our Qualifications are, the next Point is to fettle the true Value of them. For one Perfon is proud of what another despises: and therefore we have done nothing, till we have fixed, what Things deserve Efteem, and in what Degree.

Now indifputably the strongest Claim is that of a pious and benevolent and reasonable Difpofition, expreffed in a fuitable Behaviour. This, however difregarded by a thoughtless World, is the one thing needful": the Groundwork of private and public, of present and future Happiness. The human Heart, notwithstanding its Degeneracy, loves and reverences it, even though unwillingly, wherever feen fuperior Orders of Beings look down upon it with Complacency, and God himself approves it, as his own Refemblance. To this Character then let every one afpire, who feeks true Honour, and place nothing in Competition with it. Thus faith the Lord, Let not the wife Man glory in his Wisdom; neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might; let not the rich Man glory in his Riches. But let him,

h Luke x. 43.

* Gal. vi. 3, 4°

that

1

that glorieth, glory in this; that he understandeth and knoweth me; that I am the Lord, which exercife Loving-kindness, Judgement and Righteousness in the Earth: for in thefe Thing's I delight, faith the Lord.

But then we may value ourselves, even on this acknowledged Excellency, much too highly. For indeed a Temper and Conduct of unmixed Obedience would be no more, than plain Reason and common Senfe dictates. And therefore our Saviour's Precept is abfolutely right: When ye shall have done all thofe Things, which are commanded you, fay, We are unprofitable Servants, that is, we have merited nothing: we have done that, which was our Duty to do. Right Behaviour is only what ought to be expected: wrong Behaviour is the Thing to be wondered at. And therefore when any one admires and is aftonished at his own Goodnefs, in all Likelihood he is but lately and imperfectly become good; and holds himself in fuch Account for what he doth, either because he doth it with Difficulty, or because he underftands but in Part what he ought to do. For they who act from confirmed Habits, act with Eafe; and imagine, that others would of

Jer. ix. 23. 24.

* Luke xvii. 10.

Courfe

Course do as well and better, being very fenfible of their own Failings. Or however perfect the Self-Applauder may be in the Eyes of Men, his Heart is not right, but far from it, in the Sight of God': nor will he have taken one fingle effectual Step towards the Kingdom of Heaven, till he is filled with a deep Sense of his own Sinfulness, and Unworthinefs to be accepted, otherwise than through Him, who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord".

If then we may think too favourably of ourfelves even for our Piety and Virtue: how much more for other Qualities, which are good or bad only as they are employed!

Some infift greatly on their high Birth, or distinguished Rank. And unquestionably Honour is due to all Superiors; and especially to thofe, whofe Ancestors alfo have been of remarkable Note and Worth: which their Defcendants may be fuccefsfully excited to imitate, by feeing it thus refpected. The Education of fuch too fhould be of the best Kind. And therefore we readily prefume on these Accounts,

A&s viii. 21.

m I Cor. i. 30, 31.

that