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SERMON X.

CHRISTIAN HUMILITY.

LUKE Xviii., 13.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his cyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

THE supporters of what we conscientiously believe to be a corrupted Christianity, not unfrequently charge those who teach the religion of Jesus, as we think, in a form much more nearly approaching, at least, to its primitive purity and simplicity, with being deficient in humility. We are said to be so thoroughly infected with a presumptuous confidence in our own reason, as to close our mental vision against the brightest effulgence of gospel light, and so dangerously disposed to rely upon our own righteousness, as to incapacitate us altogether for sharing in that salvation which, through Christ Jesus, has been offered to penitent sinners. Now, my brethren, were these charges, serious as they are, directed merely against ourselves personally, we might feel dis

posed to pass them by unnoticed, and to endeavour to profit as much as possible by the hints which they might suggest. But the case is far different. They are advanced, and that, too, with great confidence, and no inconsiderable plausibility, as forming a strong, nay, an irresistible argument against those views of religion which form the source of our consolation, the nourishment of our zeal, the rule of our conduct and the basis of our hopes,-against that system of doctrines which we believe to be the truth of God. That humility formed a leading subject of our Saviour's preaching, as well as a leading feature of his character, there can be no doubt. The parable from which the text is taken, presents us with one, amongst a hundred illustrations of it. It is equally certain, that this important duty is frequently and strongly inculcated by his apostles. If, then, my brethren, it be indeed true, as is often so confidently stated, that the spirit of Unitarianism is a proud spirit, directly at variance with those feelings of humility which we find recommended in Scripture, it will become our duty to relinquish it altogether. Should it ever appear, upon a candid examination, that some of the doctrines which we reject have a powerful tendency to produce and foster true humility, it

must be admitted that this circumstance will form a strong presumption in favour of the truth of those doctrines, and will make it imperative upon us to re-consider carefully the grounds upon which we have rejected them, lest, in our anxiety to root out the tares, we may be plucking up the wheat also. Besides all this, however, humility is a frame of mind, the attainment of which is of such unspeakable importance to us all, and so essential to the character of a true Christian, that we cannot employ our time better than in directing our attention to it. The kind of humility, you will observe, which we are accused of wanting, and to the consideration of which the text naturally leads us, is humility towards God. Upon the subject of humility in our feelings and deportment towards our fellow-creatures, interesting and important as it is, we are not now called upon to enter. We shall endeavour, in the following remarks, to show that Christianity, as we believe it to be contained in Scripture, is far from being deficient in motives to a true and rational humility, and, at the same time, to impress our own hearts with that deep and genuine humility, which our blessed Lord has so finely and impressively delineated in the words of the text," and the publican, standing afar

off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

You are aware, my brethren, that the doctrine of original sin is that, by the rejection of which we are considered as displaying the most unpardonable pride. This doctrine is regarded by its supporters as one of the most important contained in revelation, but, at the same time, as one of the most offensive to the pride of man. Strange as it may seem, however, this very doctrine, offensive as it is, forms one of the most frequent and favourite themes upon which orthodox eloquence delights to expatiate; and I will venture to affirm that, at the very moment in which I am now speaking, it is ringing in the ears of thousands of our countrymen. The preachers of this doctrine actually seem to exult in being permitted to enjoy the exclusive contemplation of the disgusting picture which they have themselves painted; and when they have succeeded, as far as possible, in converting the whole of God's terrestrial creation into one vast charnel house, they appear to revel in its rottenness. These expressions, my brethren, may seem strong, but they are not stronger than the subject merits. I have myself listened to a Christian minister

while he proclaimed to his audience, that the main object of the Gospel, for he did not scruple to defile even that blessed word, by introducing it on such an occasion, was to fling every descendant of Adam grovelling in the dust before the throne of his Creator, a convicted and polluted sinner. This, then, is the doctrine rejected by Unitarians, the belief of which is commonly considered as essential to the attainment of Christian humility. How far it is so in reality, I shall proceed briefly to inquire. The doctrine in question declares that every human being is by nature altogether indisposed to everything good, and inclined to everything evil. He must continue in this miserable condition so long as he remains in an unregenerate state, that is, so long as a supernatural power has not been exerted by the Almighty to rescue him from it. Hence, then, it would appear that, whatever may have been the extent of depravity exhibited during an unregenerate man's past life, since it is the necessary result of his nature, he cannot fairly be considered as in the least degree responsible for it. Hence, too, it will appear that he has less reason to be grateful to his Creator than he before thought, since the nature which he has given him, seems to be so much worse than he had supposed; and, finally, it would seem, like

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