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'E who discourses to Young Men on ambition and enterprife, on valour in the field, or fortitude out of it, and other points connected with a Manly Spirit, may expect in general to be heard with attention and favour: but he who undertakes to inculcate on the fame perfons that precept of our holy religion, "Be cloathed with Humility," must not be furprised, if they should liften with some reluctance, and afterwards remark, that however fuch a garb may fuit well enough particular profeffions, fituations, and ages, it is too grave for youth, of too dark a hue,

and too homely a texture, for those who are entering on the public theatre, and naturally defirous of striking the spectators by the vivacity and luftre of their first appearance; in plain terms, that there is danger left they should be disheartened and degraded by learning to be humble. Nevertheless they may difcover, in process of time, that they were under a miftake; that the difpofition here recommended is not only the most decent, but in truth the most engaging, of all others; that it is no way incompatible with an elevated character; that, on the contrary, the noblest minds have been moft eminently adorned with it. Sooner or later, too, they may be convinced by experience, that Pride, whatever show she may make, or whatever deception fhe may practise, for a while, is fecretly conscious of as much imbecillity as infolence, and feldom fails at laft to incur a mixturé of contempt, diflike, and indignation. But this kind of conviction we have seen attended with fo many mortifications in some

of our acquaintance, and yet after all produce fo little improvement, that we would willingly prevent its neceffity in your cafe, my beloved hearers, by setting before you the folly and odioufnefs of Pride however difguifed or decorated; as we should be happy to promote your early and lasting acceptance, by effectually recommending to your choice the unembellished, but irrefiftable attractions of her oppofite.

It is a pretty allufion I have fomewhere met with, that Rebeccah's beauty and jewels, though at a distance hidden by the veil with which he covered them, would notwithstanding, when observed on a nearer approach, be much more pleasing for this temporary concealment. The attire of the foul, is, like that of the body, most becoming and agreeable, when it has least glare, and no affectation.

It must be confeffed, indeed, that there is not any period of life at which men ap

pear much difpofed to put on the fober garment of Humility, however highly they may approve it in others. Self-love revolts against the practice of this virtue, though in the commerce of fociety fomething like it is hourly pretended, in part no doubt from a fecret perfuafion, that the reputation of it at leaft is defirable. Almost every man calls himself the humble fervant of every man. But how few are there who seriously mean any thing by this phrafe Muft it not commonly be fet down among thofe empty, though plau fible forms of speech, that have, in the progress of false refinement, been introduced by art and vanity combined, under the mask of courtesy and submission ?

: Genuine Humility is, in fact, the most unprofeffing of all virtues. She is the parent of True Simplicity: fhe may be known by a certain mild and filent influence, which fhe never ftudies to difplay: and, except when piety or good manners make it:

necessary, she avoids all those words, geftures, and appearances of the humble kind, that might draw the attention and praise of men. Like her Divine Exemplar, fhe

is "meek and lowly in heart;" but in language and deportment conforms herfelf to established cuftom, as far as it is innocent. That fhe is feen and accepted by the Almighty, fatisfies her warmest wishes,

Those who seem ready on every occa fion to speak meanly of themselves, would be mortified by neglect, and ftung by cenfure, from the fillieft creature living. One of the proudeft men I have ever known, and who could the leaft endure to be charged with any imperfection, was perpetually exclaiming, in a most lan⚫ntable tone, against the degeneracy of the world, and the depravity of the heart. Those who affect to depreciate themselves in conversation, inwardly hope not to be taken at their word, and would be woefully dis