"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." PROV. xvi. 18. "He giveth grace unto the lowly." Prov. iii. 34. PRIDE AND HUMILITY. Rifing in fair proportion fide by side, 'Tis his who has-all told a well-filled purse; High as his neighbour sure he'd like to feel, Far different in the happy vale, behold Humility at ease, uncursed with gold; This engraving shows a rude mass of rocks rifing from the valley below. They appear to be thrown up by some volcanic explosion, or forced up by the agency of fubterranean fires, they are so steep, rugged, and unequal. On the tops of the ledges are seen bushes of thorns, high, and spreading in all directions. On the first ledge is a man who has scrambled up with fome difficulty to the place he now occupies. His object is to get as high as he can, and he is seen about to place himself on the elevation of Gentility. On the next ridge is seen a man and woman, who appear to think a good deal of themselves. They strut and swell like peacocks, although behind and before danger threatens. A little higher, see ! there is murder committed. One man has shot at and killed his brother, just because he would not move fafter out of his way, although there was room enough for both. At the end of the rocks and above all, is a man in uniform. He has attained the highest pinnacle. Thunder and lightning attend his path; storms gather round him. A man of thick skin, no doubt; thorns could not scratch him, nor daggers pierce him, nor bullets kill him. His glory, however, is almost gone. The next step he takes he falls, and disappears. A more pleasing picture presents itself to us below. A lovely vale opens, enriched and adorned with the choicest of fruits and flowers of paradise; there the fountains pour forth their living streams. The corn bends gracefully to the paffing zephyr. The lowly violet rears her beauteous head in the friendly shade; the rose of Sharon decks the border; the father, mother, and little one are seen walking together along this beautiful valley, with Wifsdom for their guide. The air is filled with fragrance and sweet sounds; no thorns grow there to obstruct their path; no lightning's Aash, nor thunder's roar, makes them afraid. Safe, peaceful and happy, they pass along, while Truth, Beauty, and Innocence, irradiate their pathway that leads directly to their own fequeftered cottage. This is an allegorical representation of Pride and Humility. The shelving rocks denote the rugged and thorny path of Pride. The way is raised by the agency of the devil. Having ruined himself by pride, he seeks to bring man into the fame condemnation; he tempts the children of men to walk on it. The most High has planted it with thorns, made it difficult in order to deter men from walking on it. Notwithstanding this merciful precaution, it is crowded with adventurers. Nothing shows the fallen character of man more than his filly and presumptuous pride, at once stupid and wicked. "Of all the caufes which confpire to blind Man's erring judgment, and misguide his mind, A man becomes possessed of a little gold, and he all at once becomes blind, or at least he sees things in a very different light from what he did once. He himself is altogether another man. He wonders that he never before discovered his own merit. He no longer associates with his former friends; Oh no! they are not respectable. He wishes to be confidered a gentleman; he will no longer work; he is above that. He fees his neighbour living in a higher style than he does, he is discontented. The thorns already begin to scratch him. Pride, however, can bear a little pain. Pride is very prolific. The man under its influence soon gets peevish, envious, and revengeful. The remonftrances of confcience are filenced, and he gives himself up to the guidance of Ambition. He next aspires after rank and fashion; but Pride is very expensive. In order to keep up appearances he does many things that at one time he would never have thought of doing. He can lie, and be very respectable. He can overreach and defraud his neighbour, and yet be respectable. He can feduce the innocent and unsuspecting, and destroy the happiness of entire families, and still be confidered respectable. By his slanders he has ruined the reputation of more than one. By his unrighteous schemes he attains the present object of his proud heart, and moves among the circles of rank and fashion. Yet his foul is restless. It is like the troubled sea; he pants for Power. He pursues after honours, that the trump of fame may found his name abroad, and hand it down faithfully to pofterity. He becomes now a candidate for high office. In his own opinion he possesses every qualification; he is aftonished that the world should be so blind to his many excellencies. He here meets with a competitor-he wishes him out of his way. "From pride comes contention;" he picks a quarrel with his rival. The challenge fucceeds; the duel is fought, and his antagonist |