He ftitutional, and want the Govern- Laftly, As I obferved in the Beginning of this Difcourfe, that the Articles of Examination at the Great Day will turn chiefly, if not wholly, upon our Acts of Mercy and Charity; fo, however vulgar it may be thought, I fhall again remind you, that pure and undefiled Religion before God and the Father is this, to vifit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction, and keep ourfelves unspotted from the World. Put 1 on therefore, as the Elect of God, holy, and beloved, Bowels of Mercy, Kindnefs, Humbleness of Mind, Meekness, Long-fuffering; and learn what this meaneth, I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice. DISCOURSE VII. The Grounds and Regulation of Self-Efteem. ROM. xii. 3. For I fay, through the Grace given unto me, to every Man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think foberly, according as God hath dealt to every Man the Measure of Faith. T HIS Advice was immediately addressed to the Chri ftians of that Age: many of whom had received the extraordinary Graces of the Spirit of God, God, and yet were very prone to over-value themselves upon that Account. These Gifts, tho' fo highly useful, and so justly and earnestly defired, were not to be conferred without this Danger. Even St. Paul tells us of himself, that a Meffenger of Satan was fent to buffet him, left he should be exalted above measure through the Abundance of his Revelations". This is indeed a Cafe, in which we are no ways concerned; but however the Precept in the Text is by no means to be limited to the particular Occafion, upon which it was delivered; to the extraordinary Graces of the Spirit; but plainly extends it felf to all Kinds and Degrees of undue Self-esteem, whether the Matter of it be natural or fupernatural. It is evident enough that our ordinary Endowments are a frequent Temptation to this Vice. Some Degree of Self-Esteem feems 2 Cor. xii. 7. to to be a neceffary Refult of our Compofition. We cannot perceive our feveral Powers and Capacities, without fetting a Value upon them. They are excellent, and will be valued; They are more excellent, and more our own, than any thing without us, and will be more valued. They are our firft and inner most Source of Complacency in our felves, and of Gratitude to our Maker: All are required to be thankful; which supposes that all have received fuch Gifts, as deferve that Return. As from the Enjoyments, which our Being yields us, we naturally defire the Preservation, or Continuance of it, which we call Self-Love; So from a Perception of the Excellence of our Talents, naturally arises an Esteem of them, or Selfliking; which is not the fame with the other, tho' it be near a-kin to it. As the manner in which we know ourfelves, our internal Nature, is very different from that in which we know other |