A Christian Library, Chapter 11
CHAP. 11. That it makes them humble.
8 EIghtly, that we may have an humble conceit of our selves, and wholly depend upon God. We received the sentence of death in our selves (saith the Apostle) because we should not trust in our selves, but in God, who raiseth us up from the dead, 2 Cor. 1.9. When Babes are afraid; they cast themselves into the armes and bosome of their Mother. A Hen leading her chickens into the Sun; they fall a playing with the dust, she may cluck them to her long enough, they will not come: But when they see the Kite, then they come without calling ▪ and so it fares with Gods children, till afflictions come. The Prodigall never thought of his Father, till he wanted husks: The hemorrhoisse never made out to Christ, till all her money was gone. The widow that is left alone trusteth in God, saith the Apostle, 1 Tim. 5.5. who while she had an husband, leaned too much upon him. The poor man depends not upon the relief of others, untill he findes nothing at home. Till our means is spent, we are apt to trust in uncertain riches; but after, in the Name of the Lord, Zeph. 3.12. As a bore himself bold upon his forces, as being five hundred and fourscore thousand strong: till he was over-matcht with an Army of a thousand thousand Ethiopians: this made him cry, Help us O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, 2 Chron. 14.
God crosses many times our likeliest projects, and makes the sinews of the arme of flesh to crack; that being unbottomed of the creature; we may trust in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, 1 Tim. 6.17.
The people of Laish, because they wanted nothing, would have businesse with no man, Iudg. 18.7. Where is no want, is much wantonness: and to be rich in temporals; hastens poverty in spirituals. The Moon is never eclipsed, but in the full: but the fuller she is, still; the more remote from the Sun. I thought in my prosperity (saith David) I shall never be moved, But thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled, Then turned I unto thee, &c., Psal. 30.6, 7, 8. It is high time to humble them, that do not finde themselves to stand in need of God.
When a stubborn Delinquent, being committed, was no whit mollified with his durance, but grew more perverse then he was before; one of the Senators said to the rest, Let us forget him a while, and then he will remember himself: Loving Spaniels, the more they are beaten; the more tractable, and gentle do they appear, and apply themselves more diligently to their Masters call.
The Heart is so hot of it self, that if it had not the Lungs as Fannes to blow winde upon it, and kindely moisture to cool it; it would soon perish with the own heat: and yet when that moisture growes too redundant, it again drowns the Heart. Who so nourisheth his servant daintily from his Child-hood; shall after finde him stubborn. In prosperity we are apt to think our selves men good enough, we see not our need of God: but let him send the Cross; it confutes us presently, and shews us our nothingness. Even Saint Paul was sick of this disease: he began to be puft up until the Messenger of Satan was sent to take him down, 2 Corinthians 12.7. And Saint Peter, Matthew 26.33. Though all men should forsake thee; yet I will never forsake thee; bravely promised: but, Peter, the same night, sware I know not the man; cowardly answered. It is one thing to suffer in speculation, and another; in practice.
It is a wonder to see, how the best men may be mistaken in their own powers: When our Saviour propounds to Iames and Iohn, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? And to be baptized with the Baptism that I shall be baptized with? Out of an eager desire of the honour, they are apt to undertake the condition: and answer accordingly, We are able, Matth. 20.22. But, alas poor men! no thanks to them that they were able to run away, (as they did) when their Master was apprehended. For, God must give us his daily bread to feed us, and his daily breath to quicken us, or we quickly perish: yet how common is it for men to brag and crack of what they can do! yea, one that hath but a wooden head, and a leaden heart: how will he help it out with a brazen face, and a golden hand! for, being as great in pride, as he is small in desert: he will keep a do in an audacious masterliness, as if with Simon Magus he would bear down all with large proffers. But this cannot be so pleasing to nature, as it is hateful to God. Neither can there be a worse sign of ensuing evil, then for a man in a carnal presumption to vaunt of his own abilities. How justly doth God suffer that man to be foiled; purposely, that he may be ashamed of his own vain self-confidence!
When a great Prelate durst write, Ego et Rex meus, I and my King, the King subscribed in Act, Ego et servus meus, I and my slave: and quickly took down the main Mast of his Ambition: so will God do by all proud men, and make them know, that all their worthiness is in a capable misery: which he can soon▪do: for let him but make our Purses light, our hearts will soon grow heavy: at least, let him with that deprive us of his other blessings: we become as dust, coagulated, and kneaded into Earth by tears. And certainly, if God own such a man, he will quicken his sight with this Copris: Yea, he will leave him to himself, and let him fall into some foul sin, as he did Peter: And Saint Augustine is peremptory that it hath been profitable for proud men, to fall into some gross offence; for they have not lost so much by their fall, as they have got by being down. It is better to be humble under sin, then be proud of grace. Of the two, to be a Pharisee, is worse, then to be a Publican: to be proud of good Endowments, is worse then to have neither pride nor good Endowments. Yea, in this case; the party is not only bettered, but others learn Humility thereby: for who can do other then yearn, and fear; to see so rich and goodly a Vessel split, as David or Solomon was!
Again, it makes us pitiful, and compassionate to others: They (said Sophocles) are usually the most compassionate to others, who have suffered miseries themselves. And what saith that Tyrian Queen? Evils have taught me to bemoan; all that affliction makes to groan.
And lastly, the Devil hereby is cheated, who if he cannot beat us down to sin; will blow us up with pride: he will undermine us; if he cannot overthrow us: like a most cunning Wrestler, who, if he cannot crush a man to the ground with plain strength; he will lift him up, that he may give him the greater fall.
And nothing doth more advantage Satan then Pride: for first, a man shall never be a Proficient, that thinks himself already sufficient. Secondly, when he can poison our good works with Pharisaism; he makes us by over-valuing them; to lose them,
Confidence in God, doth only support us: without him we are like Vines unpropt, which on the Earth do crawle, And suppose a man is exempt from many vices; yet, he is not beholding to himself for it: Lord, saith Saint Augustine, thou hast forgiven me those sins which I have done, and those sins which only by thy grace I have not done: they were done in our inclination to them, and even that inclination needs Gods mercy, and that mercy he calls pardon. If we escape temptation; it is his mercy: if we stand in temptation; it is his mercy: if our wils consent not; it is his mercy: if we consent, and the act be hindred, it is his mercy: if we fall and rise again by repentance; all is his mercy. Neither are we sufficient of our selves, to think, much less to speak, least of all, to do that which is good, 2 Cor. 3.5. We have no good. we do no good; but we may, we must thank grace for it: which is all in all. Ye can bear no fruit (saith our Saviour) except ye abide in me: John 15.4. Yea, more expresly, without me can ye do nothing, Verse 5.
So that we cannot put too much trust in him, not too little in our selves. O God, let me ever be humbly dejected in the sense of mine own insufficiency: let me give all the glory to thee, and take nothing to my self, but my infirmities; lest it fare with me, as it did with that Armenian, Tigranes by name, who being encamped upon a Hill, with four hundred thousand men, and discovering the Army of the Romans, being not above fourteen thousand marching towards him: made himself merry with it, saying, Yonder men are too many for an Ambassage, and too few for a Fight: when before the Sun-set, he found them enough to give him the chase, with infinite slaughter. And pride seldome speeds better: especially if Hezekiahs heart be lift up, God will pull him down again.
By this time we see, that there is danger in being without dangers: that self-confidence is pride without wit: that the best mindes troubled yield inconsiderate motions: that as water violently stirred sends up bubbles; so the vanities of our hearts, and our most secret and hidden corruptions (as dregs in a glasse) shew themselves when shaken by an injury, though they lay hid before. And so the pride of man is beaten down, as Iob speaks, Iob 33.17. The sharp water of affliction quickens our spiritual sight. So proud are we by nature, that before we come to the trial, we think that we can repel the strongest assault, and overcome all enemies by our own power; but when we feel our selves vanquished and foiled by every small temptation, we learn to have a more humble conceit of our own ability, and to depend wholly on the Lord: as is set down, Deut. 8.2. & 13.3. to the end. We esteem our Inches, Elles; till, by triall of evils, we finde the contrary: but then alas, how full of feeblenesse is our body: and our minde of impatience? If but a Bee sting our flesh, it swels: and if but a tooth ake; the Head and Heart complain. How small trifles make us weary of our selves? What can we do without thee? Without thee, What can we suffer? If thou be not (O Lord) strong in our weaknesse; we cannot be so much as weak; we cannot so much as be. Yea, self-conceit, and desire of glory, is the last garment that even good men lay aside: Pride is the in most coat which we put on first, and which we put off last; but sore affliction will make us give all to him, of whom whatsoever we have, we hold. And we cannot ascribe too little to our selves, nor too much to him, to whom we owe more then we can ascribe.
Are we then molested with this guest? and would we be rid of him? return we when we smart, to him that smiteth us, and not think to gain by standing out: The Bird in the gin, the Fish upon the hook, the faster she strives, the firmer she sticks. The Childe under his Fathers rod, the more he struggles, the more stripes he gets.
God will not give his over, till he hath broken their stomacks, and made them kisse that rod, which the wicked bite: so, adding impatience to their impenitence, and passive disobedience to their active. And when he hath brought us to this, the greater submission, the more grace: if there be one hollow in the valley lower then another, thither the waters gather. And the more lowly we are in our own eyes, the more lovely we are in Gods: the more despicable in our selves, the more acceptable in him. O that we could be but as lowly, as we are unworthy. If then I be not humbled enough, let me want the peace or plenty I have: and so order my condition and estate, that I may want any thing, save my self.