lance, we find we are wanting, we have cause to tremble for the state of our souls; we are very far from that perfection of Christian forgiveness, that can allow us ground to hope for our own; and there is yet lurking in our depraved hearts, some fatal impediment to the performance of those duties, which the doctrines and example of CHRIST have enjoined.

F

CHAPTER VII.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY IN FORMING THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

To strike at the root of corruption in the human heart, is the most important work of the zealous Christian and on a diligent examination of the source of our sins, it will be found, that pride is the greatest enemy of our virtue and peace; pride steals imperceptibly on our best virtues, and we can scarcely have a good thought, or perform a good action, without being exposed to the assaults of this enemy of our Salvation; no vice is so deeply rooted in human nature, or receives such constant and daily nourish

ment, from every thing we do and say; it can only be resisted by ardent prayer, and long and laborious attention to the thoughts of our mind, and the motions of our hearts, and the utmost we can do will never entirely eradicate it from our

natures.

Opposed to this vice is the virtue of humility, the least understood, and the most difficult to attain, of all the virtues required of a Christian; yet it is strongly and repeatedly enforced by our SAVIOUR and his Apostles, and almost all Christian perfection rests upon it. But here again, self-deceit misleads us, and we place to the account of virtue, what is in itself a vice. Many people fancy they possess humility, when nothing is further from their hearts; nay, the very pride of being humble, is one of their sensations.

I once heard a female say, "I am of such an humble temper I cannot bear reproof; I want praise and encouragement, I require to think better of myself than I do; the good opinion of others is necessary to me, I can do nothing right without it."-It may however be truly ́asserted, that the virtue of humility formed no part of her character; on the contrary, the most absurd and overweening pride and vanity were her predominant qualities.

Genuine humble Christians know, that their lives and conduct are little else than imperfection; that they are constantly requiring reproof and admonition; that it is always good for them; they will be thankful for it, in whatever shape, or from whatever source it comes; and they will shrink from praise and admiration, as from their greatest enemies.

And, should some reproofs reach them, which they may think are unjust; they will always remember, as a balance, how much, that is wrong in themselves, escapes the notice of others.

On an humble sense of our own imperfections, is founded that tenderness and forbearance towards the imperfections of others, which is the source of peace and good-will. A censorious and proud spirit sows dissensions in society; and "who art thou that judgest another?"* a miserable sinful creature, hourly rebelling against a good and merciful GOD, and disobeying the precepts of thy Holy Religion; and, though possibly free from the sin thou condemnest in another, daily committing sins of a different nature, as

*Romans xiv. 4, 10, 13.-See also the second chapter of Romans.