1HUmility is a Virtue, that, at the first blush, seems so distant from Greatness of Mind, that some would think it improper to refer the Former to the Later, under any other Notion, than that of an Opposite. But, whatever may be thought of Humility, solitarily consider’d, yet, when we find it in Conjunction with those other Qualities, that contribute to make up Greatness of Mind, it adds to their Number; and· tho· it does not perhaps shine as bright as some of them, is as amiable as any; and imparts somewhat of its own Loveliness to all the rest. And you will not much wonder, that I place this Virtue among those that Constellate, if I may so speak, an Heroick Mind, if you consider, whence Humility may in such a Soul proceed, and what difficulties it may surmount. For if Wealth, Honour, and other outward Blessings exalt our Hero’s Condition; to be Humble, in the midst of such Advantages, argues a Mind elevated above the Presents of Fortune, and speaks a Soul Great enough to undervalue those things that ordinary Souls admire; and which even men that pass for Great, make the Objects of their Ambition, and, when attain’d, of their Pride. And if our Hero be ennobled with great Virtues, or famous for great Actions; his Humility argues, that he has so rais’d an Idea of Virtue, and dares aspire to such a pitch of it, that he cannot rest satisfy’d with greater attainments, than Persons, but ordinarily Virtuous, aim at; and looks upon himselfas oblig’d and born to an unwearied pursuit of Heroick and still increasing Degrees of Excellency. And if a laudable Practice, by being extremely difficult, is a mark of a Great Soul, Humility must not be deny’d that Character; for This is a Virtue more difficult to Excellent, than to Ordinary, Souls. In other Cases, a Hero is to contend but with his Vices, or his Passions, or his open Enemies; but to be Humble, he must overcome his Virtues too; and that, when they act unitedly as one Body: Since, tho’ other Virtues naturally assist one another, they all conspire to ruin Humility; which, having Pride to contend with, is to deal with so subtle an Adversary, that sometimes even by being foil’d he overcomes. And as the Torpedo poisons his Arm that wounds it; so sometimes in the best Arguments we employ against Pride, the very strength and seeming success of them, tempts the Maker of them to be Proud; and I will not swear, that, at this very time, I exalt our Hero’s Humility, without any Diminution of my Own.
To the attainment of an Eminent degree of this lovely both Vertue, and Grace, the Gospel conduces, by furnishing its Embracers with Express Injunctions; clear Directions; high Rewards, and other weighty Motives; and the Noblest Paterns and Perfectest Examples, that ever were, or can be, given·
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Footnotes
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Fourth Fragment. ↩