t, yet certainly
I am lower in some, and therefore the unity of the body may be preserved
by humility. I will consider in what I come short, and in what another
excels, and so I can condescend to them of low degree. This is the
substance of that which is subjoined. (Rom. xii. 16) "Mind not high
things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own
conceits." And this makes us meet in honour to prefer one another, taking
ourselves up in the notion of what evil is in us, and another up in the
notion of what good is in him. Rom. xii. 10, "Be kindly affectioned one to
another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another." Thus
there may be an equality of mutual respect and love, where there is an in
equality of gifts and graces, there may be one measure of charity, where
there are different measures of faith, because both neglect that
difference, and pitch upon their own evils and another's good.

It is our custom to compare ourselves among ourselves, and the result of
that secret comparison is estimation of ourselves, and despising others.
We take our measure, not by our own real and intrinsic qualifications, but
by the stature of other men's, and if we find any disadvantage in others,
or any pre-eminence in ourselves, in such a partial application and
collation of ourselves with others (as readily self love, if it find it
not, will fancy it), then we have a tacit gloriation within ourselves, and
a secret complacency in ourselves. But the humble Christian dares not make
himself of that number, nor boast of things without his measure. He dare
not think himself good, because, _deterioribus melior_, "better than
others who are worse." But he judges himself by that intrinsic measure
which God hath distributed unto him, and so finds reason of sobriety and
humility, and therefore he dare not stretch himself beyond his measure, or
go without his station and degree, 2 Cor. x. 12-14. Humility makes a man
compare himself with the best, that he may find how bad he himself is. But
pride measures by the worst, that it may hide from a man his own
imperfections. The one takes a perfect rule, and finds itself nothing. The
other takes a crooked rule, and imagines itself something. But this is the
way that unity may be kept in the body, if all the members keep this
method and order, the lowest to measure by him that is higher, and the
higher to judge himself by him that is yet above him, and he that is above
all the