Vers. 6, 1.-Modesty and self-assertion. Some amount of self-assertion is no doubt necessary for honourable success and fruitful achievement. But nothing is more common than for this quality to go beyond its true limit and become distastefol and even offensive both to God and man. What Solomon here deprecates, our Lord also condemns; what be honours, the Divine Teacher also prefers (see Luke xiv. 9). I. THE DANGER OF SELF-ASSERTION. Its tempt.ation is to assume such proportions that (1) it becomes immodesty, aud this is a positive evil, a blemish in character, and a blot upon the life; and (2) it defeats its own ends, for it provokes antagonism and is discomfited and dishonoured. Every one is pleased when the presumptuous man is humiliated. II. THE PREFERE~CE OF MODESTY. 1. It iB frequently successful. Modesty com- mends us to the good; we secure their good will; they a.re inclined to help us and to further our desires; they promote our prosperity. Every one is gratified when the man who "does not think more highly of himself than he ought to think" is the object of esteem, and takes the place of honour. 2. It is always beautiful·. It is quite possible that, as a matter of worldly policy, modesty may not "answer." It may be, it will often happen, that a strong complacency and vigorous self-assertion will pass it in the race of life. Yet is it the fitting, the becoming, the beautiful thing. It is e.n adorn- ment of the soul (see 1 Pet. iii. o). It makes the other virtues and graces which are possessed to shine with peculiar lustre. It gives attractiveness to Christian character and lends a sweetness and influence which nothing else could confer. To be lowly minded is a far better portion than to have the gaims and honours which an ugly assertiveness may command (see homily on Luke xiv. 7-11).-C.
VerR. 8, 9.-The wise way of .~ettlement. We look at- I. THE INEVITABLENESS OF DISPUTES. It is quite impossible that, with our present complication of interests-individual, domestic, social, civic, national-differences and difficulties should not arise amongst us. There must be a conflict of opinion, a clash of wishes and purposes, the divergence which may issue in dissension. What reason would teach us to anticipate experience shows us to exist. II. THE TEMPTATION OF THE HASTY. This is to enter at once upon strife; to "carry it to the court," to "enter a~ actio_n," to make a seri_ou~ charge; or (in !he case of a community) to take such hostile act10n as threatens, 1f 1t does not end rn, war. The folly of this procedure is s~en in the considerations: 1. That it interposes an insurmountable barrier between ourselves and our neighbours; we shall never again live in perfect amity with the man with whom we have thus striven; we are sowing seeds of bitterness and discord which will bear fruit all our days. 2. 'l'hat we are likely enouoh to be discomfited and ashamed. (1) Those who judge "hastily" are usually in the wrong. (2) No man is a wis<l and good judge in his own cause; to CII. XXV. 1-28.J THE PROVERBS. 495