and self-complacency, when, if they formed a proper estimate of their conduct, they would rather be filled with shame and self-abasement.]
2. From their judging of them by an erroneous standard —
[Though men are not nice and scrupulous in weighing their actions, they involuntarily and imperceptibly judge of them by some standard. Now the standard by which they try them, is that of popular opinion, and general practice : and whatever stands this test, they conclude to be deserving of praise. They never think of weighing themselves in the balance of the sanctuary: the popular scale is more suited to their minds: that is not turned by small matters : it is so favourably con- structed that a small weight of virtue will over-balance a heavy load of iniquity; and the many grains of allowance thrown into it are almost sure to make it preponderate in their favour. No wonder then tliat they applaud themselves, when, if they took the word of God as their standard, they would find cause for nothing but humiliation and contrition.]
3. From their ascribing them to a wrong cause —
[Because they are free agents in all that they do, they suppose that the merit of every good action must belong to them. But they forget that " God is the sole author of every good and perfect gift ;" that it is " he who of his own good pleasure gives us both to will and to do :" and that conse- quently all the honour is due to him alone. Granting then that their actions were really as excellent as their overweening conceit would paint them, yet they would have no ground for self-commendation. The more they did for God, the more they would be indebted to God ; by whose agency alone they were either inclined, or empowered, to do any thing that was good. But when they leave God out of their thoughts, and ascribe their virtues to their own will and power, they must of necessity contract habits of self-preference and self-esteem.]
4. From their overlooking their defects —
[The proud and vain-glorious reflect only on what they do ; and never think at all of what they leave undone, or of the deficiencies which are found in their very best actions. They perform one duty perhaps, and neglect many. They attend to some injunction of the second table, but forget entirely the precepts contained in the first. They mark their observance of the letter of a command, but quite overlook their inattention to its spirit. They will have no more gods than one : but they will not " love that God with all their heart, and mind, and soul, and strength." They will " draw