rk, we only press forward towards it. We begin with shame to
take the lowest place, we learn to consider others better than
ourselves, and to say to our Lord, "I am not worthy that Thou shouldest
come under my roof." As the laden fruit tree bends its branches
nearest to the earth, and the fullest ears of corn hang lowest, so the
holiest man is ever the humblest. In a certain city abroad every child
found begging in the streets is taken to a charitable asylum. Before
he is washed, and dressed anew, his portrait is taken as he stands in
his beggar's rags. When his education is finished, this picture is
given to the child, and he is made to promise that he will keep it all
his life, that he may be reminded what he was, and what great things
have been done for him. It is good for us to remember, my brothers,
what we were: helpless wanderers in this world, clothed in filthy rags
of sin; and we must remember, too, what God has done for us. How He
has redeemed us from our slavery, making us His own children by
adoption, washing us in the Blood of Christ which cleanseth from all
sin, and giving us the white robe of holiness. Who is there who,
thinking upon these things, can be other than humble? Let us examine
ourselves, and see whether we are bringing forth that fruit. We preach
humility to others, we expect to see it in others' lives, are we humble
ourselves? Have we learnt to walk _humbly_ with our God?

Another fruit which God expects in the lives of His people is
_forgetfulness of self_. Have you stayed to calculate how much of your
time is occupied in thinking and talking of yourselves? In some houses
they line the rooms with looking glasses, so that wherever you turn you
see a reflection of yourself. My brethren, some of us pass all our
lives in such a room; we are for ever contemplating our own selves. We
spend our time in looking into a mirror that we may see our beauty, our
cleverness, our fine clothing. One glass reflects our pleasures and
amusements, another our sorrows and misfortunes. But every inch of
space is so filled with self that there is no room for another's joys
or sorrows, and, above all, there is no room for Jesus. Let us strive
by God's grace to get away from self, and the eternal thinking and
talking of our own concerns. Even Jesus Christ pleased not Himself,
and believe me, we are no Christians unless we are trying to forget
ourselves, and to deny ourselves. We must be crucified wi