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The Sixth Qualification of a Wheedle, Humility.
IF you will but consider, how ambitious man is, and how much he covets honour, and re∣spect, you will then conclude Humility to be an excellent Trap or Gin to catch such Wood-cocks, who having nothing splendid in themselves, seek, nay dearly purchase sometimes these outward appearances, and submissions from others, to force or extort an Estimation from the people; and never do these Fops more betray how con∣scious they are of the poorness of their own Merit, than when they liberally reward their cringing Admirers. Humility, as it is the low∣est step to the highest Stair-case, so it is always the dirtiest, and yet it is the first step to the top: he that will safely mount, and that securely too, to the summity of Honour, ought gradually to ascend, beginning with the lowest step, Humility, if otherwise, by precipitating, he may endanger the breaking of his Neck.
The wary Wheedle knows this very well, and will not omit any opportunity, wherein he may make use of so gainful, though seeming poor and ragged companion: & though he entertain within never so great a Pride; and Ambition, yet it is prejudicial to show it, and therefore he conceals