sentiments which arc in direct opposition to the mo- rality of the Gospel. Humility 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 with 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 perfec- tion 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, whe- ther towards God or man.
But there is another reason why this grace must be thus extensively considered ; namely, that the Apostle himself here speaks of it in this compre- hensive view. If we look at the words which precede my text, we shall find that humility is spoken of as exercised towards men : but in the words imme- diately following my text, it is connected with our duty to God : " All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility : for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."
Let us then notice this grace,
1. As exercised towards God —
[Here it must begin. We cannot have one spark of real humility till we are abased before God, as guilty, helpless, and