which must be observed for mutual good and happinefs; a conduct which stands at the utmost distance from pride, high-mindedness, self-love, and love of dominion; and which confifts in bumility, charity, condefcenfion, and good will. With this man, it will not be, who shall be the greatest, the most exalted, and honored; but who fhall be the most kind, loving, and useful. In all his conduct you will fee a spirit of humility, charity, and meeknefs. The honor he afpires after is to do good, to be useful, to benefit and make happy his neighbour to the utmost of his power. And under the influence of this disposition, he will do juftice, love mercy, and walk humbly with his God. But to proceed. Our divine Lord fays, " he "that fhall humble himfelf, fhall be exalted." This exaltation implies much more than can be noticed now. Suffice it to obferve, that this exaltation is interior, fpiritual, beavenly, and eternal. The humble, lowly mind, enjoys an exaltation of foul infinitely fuperior to all the greatnefs, honor, and dignity this world can boaft, or give: for he rifes above that fordid, evil, and infernal life, in which pride, ignorance, and folly had funk him. His affections are no longer placed upon objects mean, vile, and degrading; his understanding, no longer the dupe of ignorance, folly, and vanity; nor the noble faculties of his mind devoted to fenfuality, diffipation, and vice. His will is exalted to goodnefs, his undertanding to truth, his affections to God, his conduct to piety, religion, and virtue; and the whole man to a heavenly state of peace, tranquility, and blifs. The good, the bumble mind, is no longer a natural, fenfual, earthly man; he is become spiritual, pure, and heavenly. He is elevated into a spiritual and divine sphere of love, charity, and goodness; has communion with angels, and conjunction with his God. His humility requested to be only a fervant in the Lord's houfe; but mercy and love divine have made him a fon. As he funk in his own eftimation, he rose in the divine favor; and by dying to pride, felf-love, and love of dominion, he arose to the life of heaven, the love of God, true charity, and celestial honor. The exaltation of which our Lord here fpeaks is internal, fpiritual, and divine. It is no less than raising the man from the lowest and most awful state of fhame, fin, death, and infernal wretchedness, to glory, purity, life, and heaven. It is elevating the whole mind into the image and likeness of God; to make him angelic in all his powers; a pure spotless form of love and wifdom; an inhabitant of the celeftial world; where Jehovah himself refides, and where glory, honor, immortality, and joy for ever reign. But we will conclude with a few inferences. First, then we may infer from what has been faid, that felf-exaltation is the high road to fhame, contempt, and woe. Let us avoid this dangerous evil; by seriously reflecting on its consequences; by confidering fidering we are in ourselves nothing but evil; and that whatever is good, true, amiable, and useful, is from the Lord alone. But, Secondly, Let us confider, that true humility arifes from a knowledge of ourfelves, our dependence upon God, and our connexion with each other; therefore, be it our care to obtain that knowledge. When we know ourselves aright, we shall see nothing to feed our pride; when we know our dependence upon the Lord for life, well-being, redemption, and happiness, we fhall fink at his feet in profound humility and reverence; and when we understand our connexion with others, that we are, as it were, one family; that each one has his particular place in the fcale of exiftence; and that much of our happiness depends upon our acting in that place for the good of the whole; we shall then see that self-love, felf-exaltation, and pride, belong not to man: but that love to God, charity to man, and true humility, are effential to our happiness, honor, and glory, both in this world and that which is to come. Let us then all walk in love, humility, meekness, and charity; cultivate thefe divine virtues; and endeavour to make each other as happy as we wish to be ourselves; and then leave our own honor, exaltation, and happiness, to our kind and faithful God, who faith," he that humbleth himself, shall be "exalted." His word is true; and thus living, we fhall foon arife to that state of honor, glory, and happiness, in the the eternal world, which our eyes have not yet feen, our ears heard, or our hearts conceived. But which will affuredly be given to all the humble followers, the faithful difciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. To whom be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. SERMON SERMON III. SELF-LOVE RELINQUISHED; OR, EVIL PRINCIPLES RENOUNCED FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN'S SAKE. LUKE Xviii. 22, 23. Now when Jefus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackeft thou one thing; fell all that thou haft, and distribute unto the poor, and thou fhalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very forrowful-for he was very rich. HAD we a true knowledge of the facred fcriptures in their internal spiritual fenfe, it would obviate many disagreeable ideas, which profeffing christians have conceived; it would fet religion in its true heavenly light; and captivate the minds of men to goodness, piety, and virtue. But mankind having, for many ages, confidered the holy word in a literal point of view only, they have formed the most extravagant opinions, and represented re-. ligion |