Would a man take _ten years_ more drudgery in business, to add _two horses_ more to his coach, but that he knows that the world admires a _coach_ and _six_? How fearful are many people of having their houses poorly furnished, or themselves meanly cloathed, for this only reason, lest the world should place them amongst _low_ and _mean_ people? Many a man would drop a _resentment_, and forgive an _affront_, but that he is afraid, if he should, the world would not forgive him. How many would practise Christian _temperance_ and sobriety, were it not for the censure which the world passes upon such a life? Others have frequent intentions of living up to the _rules_ of Christian perfection; but they are frighted, by considering what the world would say of them? 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_.