; the Male will be seen to look on those about him with an habitual Self-sufficiency and Contempt of his Species; and the Female will be seen to regard Humankind, with an amiable Diffidence and a complacent Respect.
Let us see however, how far Education may be able to change these Sentiments; and, how far a Change of Sentiments may produce a Change of Face.
If the Scorner should be so happy as to meet with worthy Tutors, wise, and diligent to inculcate the Insufficiency of all Creatures, and more particularly the Wants, Weaknesses, and Vileness, of our lapsed Natures; and that no Honour can belong to Man in this his State of Depravity. But above all, should this Scorner prove so happy as to be educated in the never failing School of Christian Meekness; even the School of Adversity, of Pain, Sickness, depressing Poverty, and Mortification; his lofty Crest by Degrees will be effectually unplumed; his Sufficiency and high Mindedness will sink to an humble Prayer and look out for Relief; and he will respect even the Wretched, because he will acquire a social Sense and Fellow-feeling of their Wretchedness.
Here, then, is another Man, as new made and as different from his former Self as he can possibly be supposed from any other of the human Species. But, will this total Change of Sentiment produce no Change of Aspect, think you? Will this benevolent and lowly Man retain the same Front of Haughtiness, the same Brow of Overbearance, the same Eye of Elevation, the same Lip of Ridicule, and the same Glance of Contempt? It cannot be said, it cannot be imagined.
When God, by his inspired Penmen, expresses his Detestation of
a lofty Look,
was he quarrelling, do ye think, with the natural and unavoidable Cast of an unhappy Countenance? No, no, my dear Friends. In condemning a proud Aspect, he condemned a proud Heart; forasmuch as he knew that a Loftiness of Look and a Sauciness of Soul could not be divided.
But, to clear up this Question from any remaining Doubt, let us suppose that the female Infant, with bashful and lowly Propensities, is just brought down, blushing and trembling, from the Nursery. Let us suppose her Education to be taken in Hand, by a Mama of Figure and Fashion, and by other Dames of Quality, whose Estimate of Happiness is measured merely by the Mode. She now becomes instructed in more Instances of Self-Denial, than such as dictated and tuned by Christianity, would have sainted her for Eternity. She is taught to
