11. Thus they dare not attempt to be eminent in the sight of God, for fear of being little in the eyes of the world.
From this quarter arises the greatest difficulty of humility, because it cannot subsist in any mind, but so far as it is dead to the world.
You can make no stand against the assaults of pride, humility can have no place in your soul, ’till you stop the power of the world over you, and resolve against a blind obedience to its laws.
For indeed, as great as the power of the world is, it is all built upon a blind obedience.
Ask who you will, learned or unlearned, every one seems to know and confess, that the general temper and spirit of the world, is nothing else but humour, folly, and extravagance.
Who will not own, that the wisdom of philosophy, the piety of religion, was always confined to a small number? And is not this expresly owning, that the common spirit and temper of the world, is neither according to the wisdom of philosophy, nor the piety of religion?
Therefore you should not think it a hard saying, that in order to be humble, you must withdraw your obedience from that vulgar spirit which gives laws to fops and coquets, and form your judgments according to the wisdom of philosophy, and the piety of religion.
12. *Again, to lessen your regard to the opinion of the world, think how soon the world will disregard you, and have no more thought or concern about you, than about the poorest animal that died in a ditch.
*Your friends, if they can, may bury you with some distinction, and set up a monument to let posterity see that your dust lies under such a stone; and when that is done, all is done. Your place is filled up by another; the world is just in the same state it was; you are blotted out of its sight, and as much forgotten by the world as if you had never belonged to it.
*Think upon the rich, the great, and the learned persons, that have made great figures, and been high in the esteem of the world; many of them died in your time, and yet they are sunk, and lost, and gone, and as much disregarded by the world, as if they had been only so many bubbles of water.