Ver. 2.-'I'he slianie of pride and the wi-sdom of humility. I. THE BRAME OF PRIDE. Pride claims honour, and thinks itself secure of obtaining it. It would dread disgrace above all things, would rather starve and perish to.an suffer from contempt. Yet a true insight into life shows that pride is the direct precursor of shame, of t.he very thing it would most wish to keep off. Thus, like ambition, pride "ci'erleaps itself." l. Pride claims too high a plare. The proud man, thinking highly of himself, thrusts himself into positions where he is unable to meet what is required of hirn. If he took the lower place, no one would think ill of him; he might then be respected. But he makes himself ridiculous by aiming too high. The greatest of men have found out the folly of this ambition or pride. Others besides Shakespeare's Wolsey can say- " I have ventured, Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, This many swnmers in a sea of glory ; Bnt far beyond my depth : my high-blown pride At length broke under me; and now has left me, Weary, and old with seITicc, to the mercy Of a rude stream, that must for ever bide me." 2. Pride ,·ejuses to receive correction. It will not stoop to confess itself in error, Satisfied with its own condition, it will not listen to advice, nor try for any improve- ment. Thus it remains stationary. The flecks and flaws of character which a humble man would allow his neighbour to point out and help him to remove become stereotyped in the proud man. 'l'bus faults which would be forgiven and forgotten if they were only transitory in the growth of character bring disgrace by becoming permanent and characteristic. 3. Pride provolces criticism. No man is wise in being proud until he knows he is without reproach. For the very attitude of pride challenges attacks. It ofl'ends the pride of others, and in sheer self-defence they will set to work to discover the faults which charity or a happy indifference would otherwise leave undisturbed. II. THE WISDOM OF HUMILITY. Humility is not only right and beautiful; it is also wise. Both the Ohl and the New Testaments insist upon this truth. It was the mistake of Stoicism-the highest effort of secular morality-that it failed to see this. Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius-in other respects so near to the Christian iileal-are here severed from it bv an impassable chasm. They were both Pharisees. 'l'he shame which pride brings, d course, _suggests th? _wisdom o_f its opposite. But this wisdo~ has its positive recommendations. Hum1hty, choosmg Jowly places, finds refuge Ill safe ones; admitting imperfection, confessi~g sin, it is ~eady to _rcp_cnt, and therefore capable of bec,inning a better life and of rismg to perfection. Wmnmg tho hearts of men by its ~assuming character, it escapes jealons c~iticism, and fin_ds that fau!ts are covered by luvP. Humility need not be the confession of unworthmess. Christ the Sinless One, Christ the Son of God, was the humblest and meekest of men. The Oil, XI, 1-31.] THE PROVERBS. 221
ChristiRn is called to walk in the steps of bis Master, and to seek his joy in renouncing himself. Ultimately he will find his honour in the same course. ".l<'or every one that humbletb himself shall be exalted,"