A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Examples of Humility.
COmmanded, Col. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 5, 6. Jer. 13. 18. Jam. 4. 10. Mich. 6. 8. 2 King. 22. 19.
Commended, 2 Chron. 34. 27 & 12. 6, 7, 12. & 30. 11. & 32. 26 Mich 6. 8. Act. 20. 19. Prov. 16. 19. Ps. 131. 2. Lam. 3. 20.
Promises made to it, Prov. 15. 33. & 22. 4 Luke 1. 4, 11. 2 Chron. 7. 14. Mat. 18. 4. & 23. 12. Job. 22. 29. Psal. 9. 12. & 10. 12. & 2, 9. & 34. 2. & 69 32. Isa. 57. 15. Jam. 4. 6. Lev. 26. 41. Isa. 2. 11. & 5. 15. & 10. 33. Prov. 29. 23.
Contrary complained of, Jer. 44. 10. Dan. 5. 22. 2 Chr. 36. 12. & 33. 23.
Scriptural examples, Abram, Gen. 18. 27. & 23. 7. Jacob, Gen. 32. 10. & 33. 3. Josephs brethren, Gen. 50. 18. Moses, Exod. 3. 11. & 4. 10. & 18. 7. Numb. 12. 3. Gideon, Jud. 6. 15. & 8. 2, 23. Reubenites, Jos. 23. 21, 22. Ruth, ch. 2. 11. Hannah, 1 Sam. 1. 16. David, 1 Sam. …8. 18, 23. & 24. 8, 14. & 26. 20. & 2 Sam 7. 18. & 15. 26, 30. Abigail, 1 Sam. 25. 41. Mephibosheth, 2 Sam. 9. 8. & 19. 27 28. Solomon, 1 King. 3. 7. Ahab, 1 King. 21. 27. the Captain, 2 King. 1. 13. Naaman, 2 King. 5. 9. Hezekiah, 2 King. 20. 19. 2 Chron. 32. 26. Josia, 2 King. 22. 19. Jehosaphat, 2 Chron. 19. 3. & 20. 5. Manasseh, 2 Chron. 33. 12. Job, ch. 1. 20. & 9. 15. Isaiah, ch. 20. 2. Jeremiah, ch. 1. 6. & 11. 19. Esekiel, ch. 2. 1. Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 2. 46. Daniel, ch. 9. 7, 18. John Baptist, Mat. 3. 1, 14. Mar. 1. 7. Christ, Isa. 53. 7. Mat. 3. 13. & 8. 20. & 11. 29. & 20. 28. Centurion, Mat. 8 8. Luke 7. 6. Woman, Mat. 15. 25, 27. Marke 7. 28. Apostles, Mat. 21. 7. Vir. Mary, Luke 1. 38. Elizabeth, Luke 1. 41, 42. Peter, Luk. 5. 8. Act. 10. 26. Publican. Luk. 18 13. Paul, Act. 9. 6. & 14. 14. & 22. 10. Rom. 15. 30. 1 Cor. 15. 8, 9. 2 Cor. 11. 7. & 12. 11. Eph. 3. 8. Phil. 4. 12. 1 Thes. 2. 7. 2 Thes. 1. 11. 1 Tim. 1. 15.
Other examples: The Grecians being ready to joyn battel with Xerxes his navy, the Lacedemonians would needs appoint an Admiral for the Grecian navy, which of right belonged to the Athenians, yet the Athenians preferring the safety of Greece before their own right, willingly condescended to it. Intelligebant enim interituram esse Graeciam, si de dominat… intempestive contenderent, &c. Herod.
The Grecians being ready to joyne battel with the Persians, there arose a contention between the Athenians, and Areadians about the precedency of place: the Athenians said to them: Though we might justly challenge the precedency in regard of our actions both ancient, and moderne, yet considering the present state of affaires, we will not now contend about it: but will humbly submit to the judgement of the Lacedemonians, let them place us where they please: onelyonly this we are resolved of, that where ever they place us, we will endeavour to honour the place by our valiant actions. Pez. Mel. Hist.
Mardonius the Persian General being beaten by the Grecians, and his army routed, himself with most of the Persian Nobility fled into the City of Thebes: Whereupon one Lampus perswaded Pausanias the King of Lacedemon to …lay Mardonius with the other Persian Nobles, telling him that it would much redound to his hounour: But Pausanias being no whit puffed up with the victory, answered him humbly, that such cruelty was fi…ter for the Barbarians then the Grecians, and therefore, …aith he, I am onelyonly content with the honour of speaking, and doing such things as may be pleasing to my Spartanes. Pez. Mel Hist.
See the example of Aristides in Constancy, and in Moderation.
In the Wars which the Grecians made with Darius, when the Genera…ship of the Athenians was conferred upon Aristides, he in humility transferred it to Miltiades, saying to the other Captains, It is not dishonourable, but honest, and safe to obey, and submit to the command of wise men. Plut.
Before the battel of Marathon the Tagaeatae strove with the Athenians about the chiefest place in the Army: whereupon Aristides said to them: Locus neque dat, neque ad…mit virtutem, &c. The place doth neither give, uor take away valour: therefore whatever place ye assigne unto us, we will endeavour to adorne, and defend the same, that so we may do nothing unworth our former victories: for we came hither not to contend with our friends, but to fight with our enemies; nor to boast of the actions of our Progenitors, but to prove our selves valiant men; for this present battel shall shew how much Greece oweth to every City, Captaine, and private souldiers. Pez. Mel. Hist.
Brasidas the Lacedemonian General having given the Athenians a great overthrow, yet shortly after died of a wound that he received in that battel: after whose death his mother hearing every one highly extolling his valour, said: My son truly was a good, & a valiant man, yet he hath left behinde him many of his fellow Citizens, that farre excell him in vertue, and valour: The Ephori hearing of this her speech, caused her to be publickly honoured, and praised, for that she preferred the publick honour of her countrey, before the private praise, and glory of her son. Pez. Mel. Hist.
After the death of Romulus, the Romanes chose Numa Pompilius, a Sabine of the City Cures for their King, and sent Ambassadours to him to acquaint him with their choice, and to desire his present repaire to their City: The Ambassadours thought that few words would have prevailed with him to accept of it: But he being a prudent, and humble man, answered them, that change, and alteration of a mans life. was exceeding dangerous, but for him that lacked nothing, neither had cause to complaine of his present state, it was great folly to leave his present known condition, and to enter into a new, and unknown, so that it was long before they could prevail with him to accept of the Kingdom. Plut.
Certaine fishermen of the Isle of Co, casting their net into the sea, some strangers that were passing by, would needs buy their draught at an adventure, and when they drew up their net, there came up in it a three-footed stoole of massie gold: hereupon the strangers, and fishermen fell at strife about it, and their Citizens taking part on both sides, Warre had like to have ensued betwixt them: But the Oracle at Delphos being consulted with, commanded them to give the stoole to the wisest man that then was: upon this they sent it to Thales at Miletum: But Thales sent the stoole to Bias, judging him a wiser man then himself: He again sent it to another as a wiser man then himself: and the third to a fourth; so that being thus posted from man to man, at last it came back to Thales again, who sent it to Thebes, and dedicated it to the Temple of Apollo. Plut.
Solon was earnestly solicited by the Athenians to take upon him the sovereignty of the City, and countrey: His friends also much pressed him to it, telling him that he was no better then a beast, if for fear of the name of a Tyrant, he should refuse the Kingdome, which is the most just and honourable estate if it be undertaken by an honest man: notwithstanding all which importunity, he absolutely refused it. Plut.
Epaminondas the Thebane General, that had gotten so many, and great victories, and thereby had advanced the honour of his countrey above all other countreys in Greece, yet withal was so humble, that he refused the governments that were proffered to him: and saith one, Honores ità gessit, ut ornamentum non accipere, sed dare ipse dignitati videretur. Plin.
Philopoemen the victorious general of the Megalopolitans, was a great contemner of riches, and fine apparel, and very humble. On a time he sent word to a Citizen of Megara, that he would come and sup with him: the Citizen told his wife, and so went into the market to make some provision: in the mean time the good wife hearing that she should have so great a man come to her house, bustled about to get all things ready: when presently came in Philopoemen, cloathed in a mean habit, whom the good wife looking upon and supposing him to be a servant sent before, she bade him to help her to get supper: Philopoemen presently obeyed, put off his coat, took an axe, and fell to cleaving of wood: presently came in the Citizen, and seeing him about such a businesse, said, What meane you, O Philopoemen, by this? Philopoemen answered, Quid aliud nisi deformitatis poenas luo? I am well enough served, for coming in such mean apparel. Polybius.
Agesilaus King of Sparta was of such an humble disposition, that though he excelled in honour, power, and in the Kingdome, whereby he had gained the love of all men, yet he was never observed to boast of his merits, or to endure that others should praise him. Plut▪
When the Thasian people, for some great favours received from him, had built Temples to the honour of Agesilaus King of Sparta, & offered sacrifices to him as to a god: they sent Ambassadours to him to certifie him thereof: But he said unto them, Can your countrimen make gods of men? to whom they answered, that they could. Well then, said Agesilaus, let them first make themselves gods, and then I will believe that they can make me one. Xenophon.
Claudius the Romane Emperour, was so humble, that he would not suffer any to give him divine worship as his predecessour had done: When he chose any to publick offices, he would not suffer them to returne him thanks in the Senate, as had been used: but said, You owe me no thanks, as if ambitiously you had sought these places, but I owe them to you for helping me to governe the Common-wealth: which if you performe well, I will give you greater thanks.
When Titus had taken Jerusalem, he had many Crowns sent him from Syria, Egypt, and all the neighbouring countreys, all giving him the name of Conquerour, but he refused them all, saying: I have not done this for my self: but have only lent my hands to God, who hath thus declared his wrath against the Jewes. Suidas.
It was a custome amongst the Romanes, that when they had gotten any notable victory the General used to send letters decked with Laurel to the Consuls at Rome, and to desire them Decernere supplicationes: whereby it seems that they thought that they stood in need of Prayers, rather then of Praises.
The humility of Scipio Affricanus was such, that after all his great victories against the Carthaginians, and triumphs over Hannibal, he was content to serve as a Lieutenant in the Warres of Asia under Lucius Scipio his younger brother. Plut.
William the Conqueror gave a Mannor, and certain yard-lands in Buckingam-shire to one upon this condition, that the possessour, or occupier thereof (marke ye proud and dainty ones) should finde litter for the Kings bed whensoever he came that way. Camb. Brit.
The Emperour Frederick, after his victory over the Gunzians in Hungary, said thus to his souldiers: We have done a great work, my souldiers: but there remains a greater behinde, viz. to use it humbly, to bridle our avarice, and desire of Revenge. Look. of the H. War.
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty; & before honour is humility,
Prov. 18. 12.
Be ye cloathed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble,
1 Pet. 5. 5.