PHILOSOPHY, MORAL. 
it with too great pleasure. Still however 
the frequent mortifications it meets with 
tends to lower it in its own estimation, un- 
less by degrees it learns to set a value upon 
its own requisition, independently of the cap- 
tious applause of others ; and then it deviates 
into the opposite extreme ot self-sufficiency 
and pride. Here a strong mind, not under 
religious culture, will rest; a weak one will 
probably be again driven to that support on 
which it originally rested its selfapproba- 
tion. If it do not return to its former state, 
the attentions which vanity received as a 
favour, pride claims as its right : and in both 
cases endless inquietude, envy, and resent- 
ment, are the almost necessary attendants. 
51. The workings of vanity ought not to 
be viewed with too suspicions an eye in the 
early stages of intellectual and moral cul- 
ture. Self-diffidence is almost necessary 
for that culture, and vanity we have seen is 
frequently the offspring of self diffidence. 
Care however should be taken to prevent 
the love of praise from becoming a neces- 
sary stimulus to exertion. The stimulus 
should be lessened by degrees : and if done 
gradually, the habit which it was intended 
to generate will be formed, and the exercise 
of it continued, without this stimulus. — 
Praise is probably employed in education 
more than is desirable, because more than is 
necessaiy; perhaps the simple expressions of 
sympathy in successful exertions would 
answer every purpose. The employment 
of them may however be varied by circum- 
stances ; but it should always be kept in 
View, that praise should be little employed 
in the culture of moral worth ; to that, ap- 
probation should be given indirectly, and 
when bestowed upon intellectual acquire- 
ments, it should be distinctly seen tJiat 
these are not held in the same rank with 
the performance of duty. The young should 
requentlybe led, if self diffidence do not 
make this a bar to exertion, to contemplate 
thosd who have made greater attainments 
than themselves, and seldom to refer to 
those who are below them ; in this, how- 
ever, such cases should be adduced as will 
prevent, or rather avoid, the excitement of 
envy ; and where emulation gives birth to 
envy this should be carefully avoided. But 
above all, they should be taught to be dis- 
criminate in their desire of approbation, 
and be led by degrees to seek for that ap- 
probation, which alone is certain, and which 
alone is independently valuable. The eager 
desire of the praise of men debases the mo- 
tives, weakens the mental powers, and pro- 
duces corroding inquietude; the ardent 
pursuit of the former will supply motives 
to action continually increasing in purity, 
will strengthen the mind for valuable exer- 
tion, and prepare it for permanent happi- 
ness. 
Cultivation of Humility. 
52. In order to cultivate the tender plant 
of humility, we must clear away the high 
ideas we have of our own excellencies. All 
thoughts which please are apt to recur fre- 
quently, and their contraries to be kept out 
of sight; hence by dw’elling upon these 
excellencies, they will be magnified, by 
keeping our imperfections out of view they 
are diminished; and the same causes too 
frequently lead to keep in view the defects 
of others, and neglect the consideration of 
their excellencies ; and thus pride, that is 
too high an opinion of ourselves, and too 
low an opinion of others, must be gene- 
rated. Now the only way to obtain a just 
opinion of ourselves is to reverse this ope- 
ration, and by express acts of volition dwell 
upon the excellencies of others and our 
own defects, and to pass by with little no- 
tice the defects of others and our own ex- 
cellencies. — To cultivate humility we must 
learn not to seek the applause of the world, 
but to acquiesce in the respect it pays us, 
however disproportioned this may be to the 
merit of the action under consideration. We 
should remember, that however beautiful 
the productions of nature and art which 
pass under our notice, it would be absurd to 
stay till long experience and accurate exa- 
mination justified it, that they are unequalled 
in their kind : much less should we suppose 
this of those sources of honour which happen 
to be our lot, which are certainly magnified 
beyond the truth in our own eyes from the 
interest we take in ourselves. — Humility 
will further be cultivated by receiving with 
readiness the censures and shame which we 
have deserved ; by acquiescing, render 
them where we think we have not deserved 
them ; and in this last case always to sus- 
pect our own judgment. — ^The frequent re- 
collection that all our valued qualities pro- 
ceed from God ; that we have nothing 
which we did not receive from him ; and 
that there could be no reason in ourselves 
why he should select us to perform the par- 
ticular part he hath assigned us ; and the ap- 
plication of this important truth to the real 
occurrences of our lives must greatly acce- 
lerate our progress to humility and self an- 
uibilation. 
