valued themselves upon their philofophy SERM. and their eloquence, their science fo called, X. which was then in great reputation, fuch a fimple inftitution as that of christianity, so plain, accommodated to the weakest сараcities, without any fhew of learning, taught by illiterate men who fought not their own honour, nor at all attributed the contrivance or the fuccefs of their doctrine to any skill and wisdom of theirs, but wholly to God: To these proud conceited Greeks, I fay, fuch an artless inftitution as that of the gospel, appeared very contemptible. And, in general, that it must be fo, that the pride of men, a high conceit of their own wifdom muft hinder them to become truly wife, is evident, because it marreth diligence and impartiality, without which no man can be successful in his enquiries, nor attain to understanding in any thing. The fcorner will not admit a fufpicion of any error; the opinion and the schemes of religion he hath embraced, however wrong and faulty in' themselves, have a great advantage to recommend them to his efteem, because they are his own, and they are now no more to be fubjected to a new examination: To difcover an error would be an affront to him, and he standeth too fair with himself to fub

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SERM. mit to it; and what need is there of any more diligence in fearching? he hath formed his judgment of things, and the measures of his conduct, with a fufficiency of knowledge and prudence. Farther, as this difpofition naturally groweth upon men when they do not fet themselves in oppofition to it, and take proper methods to fubdue it, it must at laft effectually defeat all means of inftruction and amendment, because it maketh the fcorner impatient of admonitions and rebukes. So Solomon often telleth us, that the fcorner heareth not reproof, that he hateth it, and the perfon who in the friendlieft manner offereth it to him; and it is concerning perfons of this temper, that our Saviour warneth his difciples, that they should prudently avoid laying the wife admonitions of the gofpel before them, left they should not only be defeated by their incorrigible obftinacy, but be the occafion of brutish violence and contempt, which he expreffeth thus, Matt. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft your pearls before fwine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. The man who is fo far engaged in the intereft of his vices; and fo wholly under their power, that even his understanding is cap

tivated, and he denieth and defpifeth the SER M first principles of religion and virtue, feem- X. eth to be altogether incurable; all the avenues of his foul fhut up, that wisdom cannot enter; and the proud impious imaginations he hath fet up in its place, are an impregnable defence against it.

Befides, this perverse disposition rendereth men obnoxious to the displeasure of God, and entirely disqualified for receiving favour from him, especially that great favour of inftruction, fuch a perfect gift as wisdom, which cometh down from the father of lights, Prov. iii. 34. Surely he fcorneth the fcorners, but giveth grace unto the lowly; he will deal with the infolent despisers of his glorious perfections and fovereign dominion according to their wickedness. Other finners difobey, but they defy him; they are represented elsewhere in fcripture, as faying, Who is Lord over us? and, we are lords, we will come no more unto thee. The proud are in a very peculiar manner, and above all others, the enemies of God, therefore he refifteth them, as the apostle James iv. 6. interpreteth the words of Solomon just now mentioned, Seeing then the fcorner rendereth himself fo utterly uncapable by wicked prejudices, unfitting his own rational powers S 4

for

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SERM. for their proper exercife in a fair enquiry; and feeing by his wickedness he fo provoketh God, grieving his fpirit who teacheth men, and giveth them understanding, how is it poffible he fhould find wisdom?

tue;

All the application I fhall make, is only to exhort you to humility, as a most neceffary qualification for your increase in useful knowledge, and in every christian virGod giveth grace to the humble. There is no difpofition more becoming our religious profeffion and character as difciples of Chrift, who hath commanded his followers to imitate him, and learn of him, for that he is meek and lowly in heart, and declared that one of the best preparations for entering into his kingdom is humility, which he reprefenteth by the emblem of the harmless innocence and unambitious fimplicity of a child, Matt. xviii. 3. having called a little child, and fet him in the midft, he faid, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye fhall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whofoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the fame is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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There may be mistaken notions concerning this as well as other chriftian virtues, It is far from confifting in any fuch fenti

ments

ments as difparage the human nature, or SERM. any fuch temper and behaviour as are un- X. worthy its dignity; we must not degrade ourselves into a lower fpecies that we may be humble men; that is rather to unman ourselves: nay, we ought to contend for the privileges of our being, for the freedom which belongeth to us as men, in the use of our reason for directing our conduct, and all other common rights; to betray and give them up to any invader, is abject bafenefs, and no virtue at all: And as the apoftle, Rom. xii. 3. exhorteth every man not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but foberly, humility doth not require any man to think more meanly than the truth. But with refpect to God, it confifteth in a juft fenfe of our own fubjection and dependance, of our own weakness and guilt, that we may be ready to yield him that obedience and refignation he claimeth, and to comply with those methods for our inftruction and falvation he prefcribeth; and with refpect to men, it confifteth in a due regard of their common rights, and to those which belong to every one in particular, according to their feveral relations, and their valuable and useful abilities, qualities, and accomplishments of any kind, without encroaching