1 Pet. V. 5. Be clothed with humility : for God resisteth the pro7id, and giveth grace to the humble.
AS words are nothing more than sounds whereby to convey ideas, it may seem of little importance what words are used, provided that the ideas an- nexed to them are suflftciently distinct. But I con- ceive, that the adopting of a word which was in use among the unenlightened Heathen, and continuing to
use
use it as they did, when from the superior light of Christianity we know that all the sentiments and feelings originally annexed to it were bad, has a direct tendency to counteract the Gospel, and to per- petuate the darkness of Heathenism in the land. I refer here to the word pride; which is frequently used in common conversation, and at the bar, and in the Senate, yea and even in the pulpit too, in a good sense; as " a just pride," and " an honest pride." But I know no passage of Scripture that sanctions the feelings which are associated with that term : or, if the term be so explained as to convey nothing but what is consistent with Christianity, still 1 conceive that such an use of it is highly inexpedient, because it tends to foster in the mind an approbation of sen- timents which are in direct opposition to the mo- rality of the Gospel. Humiliti/ is the grace which alone becomes the Christian moralist ; and the che- rishing of any feeling contrary to humility, will, as the Apostle informs us, in my text, expose us to God's heaviest displeasure.
In confirmation of this, I will endeavour to unfold,
I. The duty here enjoined —
Humility is not a mere insulated grace, if I may so speak, like patience, or meekness, or any other virtue, but a feeling which pervades the whole man, and is called forth into exercise w^ith every grace. Humility is that to the Christian which holiness is to the Deity. Holiness is not a distinct attribute of the Deity, like justice, or mercy, or power, but a per- fection that is blended with all the other attributes, and is the crown and glory of them all. So humility is the warp in the Christian's loom : and all other graces, whether of a lively or sombre hue, are the woof, by which the piece is diversified : but from beginning to end, humility pervades it all. On this account, I must speak of humility in a large and extended view, and notice it in all its actings, whether towards God or man.
But there is another reason why this grace must
be