objection," that mild and passive virtues are suited only to peaceful times and civil life: that, in the present state of the world, we require daring and adventurous spirits, men fitted either to support their country's cause, or to extend her Commerce." This character, we reply, of courage and enterprise, the humble Christian will assume whenever it shall be adapted to the existing circumstances. That qualities so distinct, or apparently opposite, may with perfect consistency belong to the same person, our great poet indicates:

"In peace, there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:

But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tyger," &c. &c.
HENRY V. Act 3.

Intrepidity, and contempt of danger, will easily become habitual to such men as we are describing, who, in fact and in their heart, fear nothing but their Maker.

On the same principle, they will not complain of toil and hardships, or of the various privations which a military or mari

time life demands; and having done all that can be expected from brave men and good citizens, whatever be the result of their services, will look to him for their compensation, who, though invisible, is always present to their waking thoughts.

As humility of heart must be the foundation of Christian virtue, so must it grow up with every stage of the fabric; for in proportion as the man thus affected advances in his progress, he will more strongly feel what he owes to the divine assistance; and whilst he expresses gratitude for strength received, will more submissively acknowledge his own original weakness.

The heavenly gift of charity, which St. Paul describes in 1 Cor. 13. if we attend to its effects, will be found to spring, in every branch, from this humble temper. As derived from this root, it is peculiar to Christianity, which alone has made humility of heart an essential quality in its true professors *.

* It is worthy of remark, that neither in the Greek or Latin languages is there a word expressive of this virtue.

Every other religion and philosophic sect communicated a degree of conscious merit, to those who observed the rites and ordinances prescribed by their respective systems. Even the Jews had perverted their spiritual blessings to the purposes of pride and a conceit of their own superiority over other nations. It is the Gospel only which trains us to an habitual recollection of our own weakness and unworthiness, inspiring at the same time a confidence in our Omnipotent Protector, sufficient to carry us through every danger, difficulty, and distress.

If then we would make religion a source of present happiness, Humility must be inculcated in the first place, and must attend on every step in the Christian progress. Far from interfering with the active virtues, it gives to them new energy and firmness, and consequently is not more essential to the man in private life, than to the statesman and the

Humilitas and ταπεινοφροσυνη both imply what is mean and degrading.

Humility, as inculcated by the Gospel, imports a full sense of the relation we bear to the Supreme Being; but of Him the Greeks and Romans had no proper idea.

warrior, whom it induces to act as under the immediate inspection of their Omniscient Judge; a principle peculiarly tending to elevate and strengthen the mind of man; and whom it also prepares to meet with calmness and composure the various trials to which their situation exposes them.

CHAPTER II.

Duelling, and the Point of Honour, considered in reference to these Views.

UNHAPPILY for the world, our men of higher rank, and in particular our military characters, are under the influence of a law directly opposite to this evangelic principle, which we have been endeavouring to develop; and as from hence arises a formidable impediment to the progress of our most important fellowcitizens in the Christian character, we may be allowed, perhaps, to enter into a fuller consideration of the subject, and to view the principle which opposes humility at a period nearer to its origin.

In the times of our ancestors, under what is called the feudal system, Christian humility would have been preached in vain to haughty barons, whose extravagant ideas of their own importance, prepared them to take offence at every shadow of insult, and required that any supposed diminution of their