rest, to compare with the rule of perfection, and find himself
further short of the rule than the lowest is below him. If our comparisons
did thus ascend, we would descend in humility, and all the different
degrees of persons would meet in one centre of lowliness of mind. But
while our rule descends, our pride ascends. The scripture holds out pride
and self estimation as the root of many evils, and humility as the root of
many good fruits among men. "Only through pride comes contention," Prov.
xiii. 10. There is pride at least in one of the parties, and often in
both. It makes one man careless of another, and out of contempt not to
study equity and righteousness towards him, and it makes another man
impatient of receiving and bearing an injury or disrespect. While every
man seeks to please himself, the contention arises. Pride in both parties
makes both stiff and inflexible to peace and equity, and in this there is
a great deal of folly. For, by this means, both procure more real
displeasure and dissatisfaction to their own spirits. "But with the well
advised is wisdom." They who have discretion and judgment will not be so
wedded to their own conceits, but that in humility they can forbear and
forgive for peace' sake. And though this seem harsh and bitter at first,
to a passionate and distempered mind, yet O how sweet is it after! There
is a greater sweetness and refreshment in the peaceable condescendence of
a man's spirit, and in the quiet passing by any injury, than the highest
satisfaction that ever revenge or contention gave to any man. "When pride
comes, then comes shame, but with the lowly is wisdom," Prov. xi. 2. Pride
groweth to maturity and ripeness. Shame is near hand it, almost as near as
the harvest. If pride come up, shame is in the next rank behind it. But
there is a great wisdom in lowliness. That is, the honourable society that
it walks in. There may be a secret connection between this and the former
verse, "divers and false balances are abomination to the Lord, but a just
balance is his delight." Now, if it be so in such low things as
merchandise, how much more abominable is a false spiritual balance in the
weighing of ourselves! Pride hath a false balance in its hand, the weight
of self love carries down the one scale by far.

Lowliness of mind is the strongest bond of peace and charity. It banishes
away strife and vain glory, and makes each man to esteem another better
than himself, (Philip. ii. 3) bec