highest degree reasonable that we should " prefer them in honour before ourselves3."]
3. Advantages —
[We have been conscious of the strivings of God's Spirit within our own souls ; whilst respecting the experience of others we know nothing. The inward fears that have been excited in us, and the hopes we have cherished, and the conso- lations that have been imparted to us; the assistances, too, that we have received from Almighty God for the subjugation of our lusts, and the renovation of our souls ; the discoveries, also, which have been given us of Christ, and of the great mystery of redemption ; these, and a thousand other blessings which have been vouchsafed to us for the furthering of our spiritual welfare, should have been productive of a suitable and correspondent advancement in the divine life. But how little have we availed ourselves of them, and profited by them ! The knowledge of this may well humble us in the dust. But, respecting other persons, we are altogether in the dark, as to their advantages, or their improvement of them : and there- fore we should take the lowest place, as that which properly belongs to us, on account of our great unprofitableness.]
4. Defects —
[What know we respecting the corruptions of others, in comparison of our own ? Who does not blush at the recollec- tion of much which has passed within him, which, if known to man as it is known to God, would render him an object of pity or contempt ? Who does not see, in his own temper, and spirit, and conduct, there has been abundant occasion for shame and contrition before God ? But we know but little of these things in relation to others, and therefore in reason are bound to esteem them better than ourselves.]
Not to dwell any longer on the reasonableness of this injunction, I will pass on to mark,
III. Its excellency —
Suppose it to be obeyed; and then behold its influence,
1. On societies —
[It cannot have escaped our notice, how much evil arises, in the world, and in the Church, from a proud, envious, self- exalting spirit. " Whence come wars between nations, and strife and contentions between neighbours, but from the lusts that war in our members," even from a desire to advance our-
a Rom. xii. 10.