(_a_) _Ambition._ The desire to distinguish oneself above others.
Harmless when moderate, evil when excessive.
(_b_) _Vain-glory._ The desire to make parade of those qualities one
has, and to attribute to oneself qualities one has not. Always bad.
(_c_) _Ostentation._ The affectation of making display of those
advantages we possess--wealth, cleverness, knowledge, &c. Always not
only bad, but vulgar.
(_d_) _Contempt for others_, leading to disparaging what is good in
others, and exaggerating their faults. Never other than bad.
(_e_) _Presumption_, which impels to attempt what is beyond one's
powers. It is not wrong to have self-confidence in what one has. It is
wrong when one presumes on what _one has not_.
(_f_) _Hypocrisy_, which seeks to show to the world a better face than
what one really has, to pretend to be what one is not. Ever bad.
(_g_) _Obstinacy_, which follows self-determination as if that must be
right; and a stubbornness which does not suffer a man to give way when
his reason has been convinced that he is wrong.
(_h_) _Disobedience_, which follows on self-conceit, making a man
follow his own wishes and opinions, and disobey just commands, because
he desires independence, or because he despises his superiors and those
in authority over him.
[Illustration]
Sixth Wednesday in Lent.
_AVARICE._
1. Avarice or Covetousness is a disorderly and unreasonable and
excessive attachment to the things of this world, especially to money.
Now the love of the good things of this world is by no means sinful
in itself, it is legitimate. God gives them to us to enjoy. God gives
to us earthly things to be possessions, to keep, and to enlarge, and
multiply. To throw away wantonly what has been given to us is sinful.
For instance, it is sinful to squander money in extravagance, in horse
racing, in gambling. Riches are a trust, land and houses are a trust,
given us from God, and we must not diminish what we have received, in
amount and value, but endeavour to make them more. It is a token of
gratitude to God for this gift that we appreciate them, and use them
profitably.
2. Worldly goods are given to us to satisfy the necessities of life,
not only in the matter of eating, and drinking, and clothing, but of
our mental and spiritual life also. Our worldly goods are given to us
to enable us to cultivate art, and science, and literature, all that
goes towards the furtherance of the amenities of life: music, painting,
architecture, sculpture, horticulture, &c.
Worldly goods are given to us that with them we may do what we can
to mitigate the miseries of the poor and suffering, and to advance
God's Kingdom, and enrich and adorn His Sanctuaries and His Service.
Consequently we are using our riches aright when we seek out means of
relieving distress, when we assist in the propagation of the Gospel
among the heathen, and when we build and decorate Churches, and provide
for the beautiful musical rendering of the worship of God.