Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Notion of Pride stated, and the ROMANS XII. 3. Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to thing, but to think soberly. I T is a common Obfervation, that how- SERM. I. ever forward Men may be to repine at the unequal Portion which God has allotted them of worldly Bleffings; yet they are generally well fatisfied with their Share of inward Endowments: it being as hard to meet with a Perfon, who humbly thinks he has too little Senfe and Merit, as it is to find one, who fanfies he has too great Riches and Honours. What makes men uneafy in their Circumstances, is that they are continually fetting to View the bright Side of themselves; and the dark Side of their Condition in Life; VOL. II. SERM. I. the first to find out their own Grievances, and the last to discern their own Faults and Follies. Whereas if they took a contrary Method, they would perceive, that God had been kinder to the Worft of Men, than the very Beft of Men could deferve. Self-Love is a Paffion interwoven in our Frame and Conftitution; and if it be not kept under due Regulations, Self-Conceit will be the neceffary Effect of it. For fince we are apt to believe, what we wish to be true; Is it a Wonder, if we over-rate those Perfections, which we have, and imagine ourselves poffeft of thofe, which we have no Title to? In our Youth, Pleasure has often the Afcendant; in the Middle of our Age Ambition; and Avarice brings up the Rear at the Close of Life. But this Vice, of which I am speaking, attends too many of us from the Cradle to the Grave: we being equally vain, whether we pursue Pleasure, Honour, or Wealth: The Mafter Paffion of the Soul is the fame, though its Servants are often changed according to the different Stages of Life. For this Reason the Apostle ushers in the Words of my Text with a peculiar Em phafis and Force. For I fay, according to SERM. 1. In which Words St. Paul adviseth us, that and instead of viewing ourselves in that engaging Light, which the fervile Flattery of others, or our own affuming Vanity (our greatest Flatterer of all) might place us in, we should endeavour to form a true Eftimate of our Worth, or in the Words of the Text, think foberly. Among the many Imputations, which of the Mind, I doubt we should often find, that have a B 2 take SERM. I. take too much upon you, said Corah and his Accomplices, when they themselves were taking too much upon them, and invading the Province of Aaron. Hence it is, that their Character feldom escapes the Brand of Vanity, who have the Fortune to be poffeft of those Accomplishments, which would make their Detractors vain. But before we afperfe others with this Cenfure, let us confider what Pride is, and correct our Mistakes about the Nature of it. In the following Difcourfe I fhall therefore It state the Notion of Pride. IIdly, Confider the Unreasonableness of this Vice. It then, I am to state the Notion of Pride. Our Happiness, as well as Knowledge, arifes from Senfation and Reflection; and may be reduced to these two Articles, viz. that of pleafing Senfations, and that of agreeable Thoughts. Now as to a Defire of indulging the former without Check or Control, are owing Luft, Drunkenness and Intemperance; fo from a Defire of indulging the latter beyond Measure, Pride' takes it's Original. And it is very remarkable, 4 |