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Pride and humility are two opposite habits or dispositions of the mind. There are two extremes, and between these the virtue of humility is placed. The two extremes are in the excess, which is pride, and in the defect, baseness of mind. Pride ariseth from an over-valuation of a man's self, or a want of a due sense of his dependency upon Almighty God.

1. It is a foolish thing for a man to be proud of the endowments of his mind.

2. Of bodily endowments.

3. Of things adventitious and foreign.The other extreme is baseness or sordidness of mind, which, though it carries the shadow of humility, is quite another thing. True humility is a lowly frame and habit of spirit arising from the due sense of the glorious excellency of the Almighty God and of our own frailties and infirmities. It is in itself the effect of a mind truly and soundly principled. It is evidenced by —

1. A most awful and sincere reverence of the great and glorious God.

2. A most high and constant gratitude and thankfulness of heart and soul to Him.

3. The employment of all that God has given us to His glory and service.

4. A constant vigilance and attention of mind upon all our thoughts, words, and actions.

5. A sober opinion concerning ourselves, and all we do and say.

6. A diligent, and impartial, and frequent consideration, and examination, and animadversion of, and upon, our defects and failings.

7. Charitable opinions of the persons of others, as far as possibly may be.

I. THE FRUITS AND ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF TRUE HUMILITY IN RELATION TO ALMIGHTY GOD. Two great advantages —

1. He receives grace, favour, or honour from God.

2. He receives direction, guidance, and counsel from God.

II. THE ADVANTAGES OF TRUE HUMILITY IN RELATION TO THE HUMBLE MAN HIMSELF.

1. Humility keeps the soul in great evenness and tranquillity.

2. Gives contentment in any condition or station.

3. Gives patience under all adversity.

4. Gives great moderation and sobriety and vigilancy in the fullest enjoyment of temporal felicity.

5. Humility is an excellent remedy against the passion of fear.

III. THE ADVANTAGES OF HUMILITY IN RELATION TO OTHERS. These are of two kinds —

1. The advantage the humble man doth to others.

2. The advantage which the humble man receives from others upon the account of his humility. Christ is the example of humility —

(1) Because the instance and example of His humility was the most signal and wonderful of all His admirable virtues.

(2) Because without humility to prepare and mellow the hearts of men it could not be morally possible for them to receive the faith of Christ.

(3) Because without humility all the rest of those excellent virtues that were taught in the doctrine, and exhibited in the example of Christ, had been but unacceptable. Humility and lowliness of mind is the substratum and ground-work, the necessary ingredients into all acceptable duties toward God and man.

(Sir M. Hale.)

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KJV: Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

WEB: Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.