"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." Prov. xi. 2.
The writings of Solomon are filled with such observations upon the nature and life of man, as were the result of long experience assisted with every advantage of mind and fortune; an experience that had made him acquainted with the actions, passions, virtues, and vices of all ranks, ages, and denominations of mankind, and enabled him, with the Divine assistance, to leave to succeeding ages, a collection of precepts that, if diligently attended to, will conduct us safe in the paths of life.
Of the ancient sages of the heathen world, so often talked of, and so loudly applauded, there is recorded little more than single maxims, which they comprised in few words, and often inculcated; for these they were honoured by their contemporaries, and still continue reverenced and admired; nor would it either be justice or gratitude to depreciate their characters, since every discoverer or propagator of truth, is undoubtedly a benefactor to the world. But surely, if single sentences could procure them the epithet of wise, Solomon may, for this collection of important counsels, justly claim the title of the "wisest amongst the sons of men."
Amongst all the vices against which he has cautioned us, (and he has scarce left one untouched,) there is none upon which he animadverts with more severity, or to which he more frequently recalls our attention, by reiterated reflections, than the vice of pride; for which there may be many reasons assigned, but more particularly, two seem to deserve our consideration; the first drawn from the extensiveness of the sin; the other from the circumstance of the preacher.
The first is the extensiveness of the sin.
Pride is a corruption that seems almost originally in-
