by Ashton Oxenden
The Touchstone of Humility, 1884

One way in which a really humble Christian shows himself, is by having a high opinion of others. Paul says, “In lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself.” “Honor one another above yourselves.”

Whenever you see a person who appears to take every opportunity of putting down others, mark him down as a proud man, and be sure that he does it in order to exalt himself.

On the other hand, whenever you see any one anxious to hide his brother’s failings, unwilling to expose his little defects, you will generally find that he is a humble man, and one who deeply feels the many faults of his own character.