PRIDE AND ARROGANCY, AND THE EVIL WAY, AND THE FROWARD MOUTH, DO I HATE.

BEFORE HONOUR IS HUMILITY.

PRIDE GOETH BEFORE DESTRUCTION, AND AN HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL.

A MAN'S PRIDE SHALL BRING HIM LOW: BUT HONOUR SHALL UPHOLD THE HUMBLE IN SPIRIT.

I.

I LOVE in children to behold

Those modest manners soft and kind, Which charm me more than pearls and gold, And spring from humbleness of mind.1

II.

Such children are not loud of tongue,
But for the words of others wait,
Inclin'd, as well becomes the young,
To listen rather than to prate.

1 Col. iii. 12.

HUMILITY.

III.

With rev'rence and respect they treat
Superiors both in place and years;
They do not rudely keep their seat,
But rise, when honour'd age appears.2

IV.

In company they do not aim

The best and highest place to share;
Lest they be forc'd with grief and shame,
To take the lowest station there.3

17

V.

They meekly hear Religion's voice,
And, yielding to her wise control,
Make, once for all, that happy choice
Which cannot disappoint the soul.1

2 Levit. xix. 32.

Thus the Spartan youths rose to give the old man the best place they could, whilst the young Athenians uncivilly kept their seats. An old author has the following beautiful passage on the reverence anciently paid to age :

THE BEGINNING OF STRIFE IS AS WHEN ONE LETTETH OUT WATER: THEREFORE LEAVE OFF CONTENTION, BEFORE IT BE MEDDLED WITH. IT IS AN HONOUR FOR A MAN TO CEASE FROM STRIFE.

I.

WHAT mean these looks and words of hate?

Leave off these signs of war:

Come, let us stop this sharp debate

Ere it be gone too far.

II.

A little cloud, scarce seen at first,
Has often grown, and led

To heavy tempests which have burst
Upon a nation's head.

THE PREVENTION OF STRIFE.

III.

So quarrels, where there should be peace,
Though small when they begin,
How rapidly do they increase,

And lead us into sin!

IV.

Yes, when the bitter speeches flow,
And anger has its way,

Sin oft ensues, and thence comes woe;1
Thus Satan gains the day.

V.

Subdue in time this temper high,

And study to obtain

The power to check a fierce reply,

And passion to restrain.

VI.

2

Think well to whom we all belong;
Christ's bright example see;

Then though you seem to suffer wrong,
How light that wrong must be!

VII.

Seek, too, the Holy Spirit's grace,
His aid in prayer implore;
Unseemly wrath shall then have place
Within your heart no more.

19

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.

IN

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS STRONG CONFIDENCE; AND HIS CHILDREN SHALL HAVE A PLACE OF REFUGE.

I.

O THOU whose glory and whose grace

Celestial hosts proclaim,

Look down from heav'n thy dwelling place,
Teach us to fear thy name.

II.

We know that in thy sacred fear

All wisdom must begin;

'Tis this our pilgrimage will cheer,

And warn us not to sin.