the servant as his Lord." And again, he tells us (John xiii. 13-16), that his own example of humility was intended for our imitation; and still again declares to his disciples (Matthew xx. 25-28), "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great, exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so among you. But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Thirdly, The gospel leads us to love Christ as a crucified Saviour. As our Saviour and Lord, he suffered the greatest ignominy, and was put to the most ignominious death, though he was the Lord of glory. This may well kindle the humility of his followers, and lead them to an humble love to him. For by God sending his Son into the world to suffer such an ignominious death, he did, as it were, pour contempt on all the earthly glory that men are wont to be proud of, in that he gave him, as the Saviour and head of all his elect people, to appear in circumstances so far from

earthly glory, and in circumstances of the greatest earthly ignominy and shame. And Christ, by being willing thus to be abased, and thus to suffer, not only cast contempt on all worldly glory and greatness, but he showed If we, his humility in the clearest manner. then, consider ourselves as the followers of the meek, and lowly, and crucified Jesus, we shall walk humbly before God and man, all the days of our life on earth.

Fourthly, The gospel still further tends to lead us to humble exercises of love, because it leads us to love Christ as one that was crucified for our sakes. The mere fact that Christ was crucified, is a great argument for the humility of us who are his followers. But his being crucified for our sakes, is a much greater argument for it. For Christ's being crucified for our sakes, is the greatest testimony of God against our sins that ever was given. It shows more of God's abhorrence of our sins, than any other act or event that God has ever directed or permitted. The measure of God's abhorrence of our sins, is shown by his having them so terribly punished, and his wrath so executed against them, even when imputed to his own Son. So that this is the greatest induce

ment to our humility that can be presented, and this on two accounts; because it is the greatest manifestation of the vileness of that for which we should be humble, and also the greatest argument for our loving the humble spirit, which the gospel holds forth. The excellency of Christ, and the love of Christ, more appear in his yielding himself to be crucified. for us, than in any other of his acts, so that these things, considered together, above all things tend to draw forth on our part, the exercises of humble love. In the application of this subject we may see,

1. The excellency of a Christian spirit."The righteous," it is said (Proverbs xii. 26), "is more excellent than his neighbor." And much of this excellence in the true Christian, consists in his meek and lowly spirit which makes him so like his Saviour. This spirit the Apostle speaks of (1 Peter iii. 4) as the richest of all ornaments, "even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." The subject should lead us,

2. To examine ourselves, and see if we are indeed of an humble spirit." His soul," says the prophet (Habakkuk ii. 4), " which is lifted

up, is not upright in him;" and the fact that "God resisteth the proud" (James iv. 6), or, as in the original, "sets himself in battle array against him," shows how he abhors a proud spirit. And it is not every show and appearance of humility that will stand the test of the gospel. There are various imitations of it that fall short of the reality. Some put on an affected humility; others have a natural lowspiritedness, and are wanting in manliness of character; others are melancholy or despondent; others under the convictions of conscience by which, for the time, they are depressed, seem broken in spirit; others seem greatly abased while in adversity and affliction, or have a natural melting of the heart under the common illuminations of the truth; to others there is a counterfeit kind of humility, wrought by the delusions of Satan: and all of these may be mistaken for true humility. Examine yourself, then, and see what is the nature of your humility, whether it be of these superficial kinds, or whether it be indeed wrought by the Holy Spirit in your hearts; and do not rest satisfied, till you find that the spirit and behavior of those whom the gospel accounts humble, are yours.

3. The subject exhorts those who are strangers to the grace of God, to seek that grace, that they may thus attain to this spirit of humility. -If such be your character, you are now destitute of a Christian spirit, which is a spirit of grace; and so, wholly destitute of humility. Your spirit is a proud spirit; and though you may not seem to carry yourself very proudly amongst men, yet you are lifting yourself up against God, in refusing to submit your heart and life to him. And in doing this, you are disregarding or defying God's sovereignty, and daring to contend with your maker, though he dreadfully threatens those who do this. You are proudly casting contempt on God's authority, in refusing to obey it, and continuing to live in disobedience; in refusing to be conformed to his will, and to comply with the humbling conditions and way of salvation by Christ, and in trusting to your own strength and righteousness, instead of that which Christ so freely offers. Now as to such a spirit, consider that this is, in an especial sense, the sin of devils. "Not a novice," says the Apostle (1 Timothy iii. 6), "lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into condemnation of the devil." And consider, too,